The Blood of the Lamb

Happy Sabbath. I am Pastor Kyle Baldwin, and I welcome you to Gentry 7th Day Adventist Church. Today is a high Sabbath and we will share communion together. Before I move into the message, a few quick announcements from our bulletin so you have context for where our congregation is spiritually and practically.

Announcements and Invitations

• Our Wednesday evening prayer meetings continue to be a blessing; we are studying Early Writings and growing together. There is also a teen/young adult Bible study meeting concurrently in the youth center — you are invited.
• If you are considering church membership here at Gentry, please pick up a card at the greeters' desk. We want all hands on deck as ministries expand and opportunities to serve increase.
• The nominating committee report received its second reading and was approved. A supplemental reading today adds a few deacons and a Sabbath School superintendent; the second reading for those additions will be next week, August 2nd.
• Our offerings today are designated for Ark-La-Tex Advance. Remember that everything we have is stewardship entrusted to us for God’s work.

Introduction — A Prayerful Beginning

We opened in prayer asking for the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts so we might understand salvation and what God desires to do in our lives. I want to frame today's thoughts around one powerful theme: salvation comes from the Lord, and that salvation is available to us through the blood of the Lamb.

Salvation and the Blood — From Passover to Our Hearts

On the eve of the original Passover, God instructed Israel to put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts as a token so the angel of death would pass over their homes. That physical sign pointed to a spiritual truth that applies to us today. Instead of doorposts, God asks that we receive the blood of Jesus into the doorway of our hearts.

"And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you..." (Exodus — the Passover account)

The "token" language is striking — the same word is used about the mark God placed on Cain. It is an important reminder: God places a sign not to exalt wrongdoing, but to show mercy. When we accept the blood of Jesus, it becomes a sign that God will pass over us in judgment because our sins have been covered.

We Are Stewards — Blessings, Wealth, and Responsibility

In 1 Chronicles 29:12 David reminds us:

"Both riches and honor come from you; and you reign over all. In your hand is power and might; in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all."

And from Deuteronomy 8:11,18 we are warned not to forget the Lord, for He is the one who gives us power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant. Psalm 24:1 confirms the foundational truth:

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."

We are stewards of God's gifts — talents, time, and treasure — put here so we might bless others and advance His kingdom. As Ellen White reminds us, God owns all and we are called to a spirit of liberality: to sustain the cause of God and supply the wants of the needy.

Forgiveness — The Heart of God and the Call to Forgive

God's heart is to forgive. John 3:17 captures this wonder:

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

We all have sinned. We all need forgiveness. When we receive the blood of Jesus into the portal of our hearts, we accept the freedom from sin's penalty. That freedom should change how we relate to others. The way we forgive and love is a sign of whether we have truly received salvation.

Consider two profound examples of forgiveness:

• The Amish response after the tragic school shooting in Nickel Mines (2006). Faced with unimaginable grief, the community offered forgiveness, comforted the shooter’s family, attended his funeral, and even provided financial support. Their response stunned the world and embodied Christlike forgiveness.
• Corrie ten Boom, who endured the Holocaust, later wrote: "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you." Forgiveness releases us as much as it releases the offender.

God’s mercy is lavish and undeserved. When we truly understand what Christ gave — not merely His earthly years but His eternal union with humanity — we are moved to respond with grateful, voluntary devotion, not obligation.

Communion, Footwashing, and an Open Invitation

On communion Sabbath we remember the blood on the doorposts and renew our commitment to the King. This is not a ritual of obligation but a celebration of what Christ accomplished for us. I want to remind you of a few practical points about how we observe the ordinance here:

• We practice an open communion. If you have been baptized — whether in the Seventh-day Adventist Church or another Christian denomination — you are welcome to participate in taking the emblems.
• Communion is best experienced after the footwashing service, an ordinance of humility where we serve one another. In our church today the men meet at the back of the youth center, couples at the front near the kitchen, and ladies in the community center. After footwashing we will return to the sanctuary, sit every other row, and take the emblems in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice.
• If you have not been baptized and feel drawn to this step, I encourage you to speak with me or our church leaders about baptism and membership. Communion is most meaningful when it renews the vows made in the waters of baptism.

Return to the Cross — Remember Your First Love

Many of us will need to come back to the foot of the cross repeatedly in our Christian walk. When we stray or feel the weight of sin, look to Jesus. Remember what your sins cost the Savior and how He calls you with compassion:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

When you return, allow God to remove anger, bitterness, and resentment so His forgiveness can flow through you to others. Come to the altar with a willing heart and a cheerful spirit.

Conclusion — A Call to Recommit

Today I ask you to remember the blood of the Lamb: the Passover token, the seal on our hearts, the price that purchased our salvation. Let that remembrance lead you to renewed commitment, to practical stewardship, and to the holy work of forgiving as you have been forgiven.

If you would like to talk further about baptism, membership, or what it means to accept the blood of Jesus into your heart, I invite you to speak with me after the service or contact our church. Thank you to Gentry SDA Church for allowing me to share these thoughts with you — and if you found this message meaningful, please consider engaging with the full service recording on our channel.

May the Lord draw us ever closer to Himself as we receive His mercy and live out His love. Amen.