Kevin Halloran
French philosopher Voltaire and American President John Adams are famous for their criticisms of Christianity because they thought it was a “bloody religion,” with all its wars, its frequent mention of blood, and the bloody death of its founder, Jesus Christ.
What
is it about blood, which we normally think of as grotesque, that has caused
Christians in every generation to actually celebrate it?
Here
is just a sampling of the hymns and songs that have been written throughout the
ages about the blood of Christ:
-
“Nothing But the Blood”
- “Are You Washed in the Blood?”
- “Oh, the Blood of Jesus”
- “Power In the Blood”
Here
are six things from the Bible that help us to see why the blood of Jesus holds
such a special place in the hearts of believers:
1.
We gain bold access to God in worship and prayer
The
Bible is clear that every person is alienated and separated from God because of
sin (Colossians 1:21).
That
means even the best of us are actually unable to
approach God to offer worship
or prayer. Because of our sins, we remain at a distance from Him.
But
the Bible tells Christians to come boldly into God’s presence, “We have confidence to enter the holy places
by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19).
If
you are a Christian today, you can have boldness and confidence as you
approach God with your prayers and your worship, because you are no longer
far away from God, “Now in Christ Jesus
you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of
Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).
It
is because of the blood of Jesus Christ that we have the great privilege of
pouring our hearts out to God (Psalm 62:8).
We
cast our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7)
We
can pray any time and any place in the power of the Spirit (Ephesians
6:18).
Does
your prayer life reflect the kind of relationship you have with God through the
blood of His Son?
2.
Forgiveness of sin
In
addition to being able to enter into God’s presence through the blood of
Christ, we are also forgiven of our sins.
Ephesians
1:7 says that, “In
Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of His grace.”
.Because of Christ’s shed blood, God is able to forgive us for our sins and give the punishment that we deserved to Christ.
Christ
had a special way of explaining this to his disciples during the Last Supper,
which also was the Passover meal celebration.
He
said, “For this is my blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew
26:28).
He
was telling His disciples that just as the blood of the lamb delivered the
Hebrews from the night of terrors in Egypt, so Christ’s own blood would deliver
the people who were covered by it from the judgment of God on the last day.
This
truth is expressed beautifully in the hymn,
“Nothing
But the Blood”
“What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! Precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus…
”
Take
joy, Christian, that Christ has cleansed you from your sin with his blood!
3.
Consciences cleansed
Through
the blood of Christ, Christians receive the cleansing of their
consciences.
Hebrews
9:14 says, “…how
much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve
the living God.”
This
is an amazing promise! Christ cleansing our consciences from acts that lead to
death! How does He do it? By the blood of Christ, because on the cross He
offered Himself unblemished to God! He offered Himself—His unblemished, perfect
life—as a sacrifice to God for us on account of our sins. Therefore, He alone
is able to cleanse our consciences through His blood.
Even
though all of our minds have been corrupted by sin and seared as with a hot
iron, Christ can cleanse our consciences (1 Timothy 4:2).
We
are able to live right lives and think right thoughts once again in
Christ. This is great news for those who are burdened by sinful pasts and
corrupted consciences.
4.
We are progressively cleansed from more and more sin
Not
only are we forgiven from sin, but we are also sanctified through the blood of
Christ.
Hebrews
13:12 tells us that “Jesus
also suffered…in order to sanctify the people through his own blood”
God is calling his people be holy as He is, which is one of the reasons Jesus suffered. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
After
we are forgiven of our sins and able to enter into a new relationship with God,
it makes sense that God wants us to be in a new relationship with the sin that
previously condemned us as well. That is why he gives us the power,
through the blood of His Son, to be cleansed from our sinful behaviors.
5.
We are able to conquer the accuser of the brethren
Because
of Christ’s sacrifice and the pouring out of His blood on our behalf, we
can trust in the righteousness of Christ and not our own righteousness when we
are accused by our enemy.
Revelation
12:11 says, “And they have conquered him
[Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they
loved not their lives even unto death.”
As
believers, we know that we cannot stand on our own merit or because of our own
deeds. We know that our good deeds are as filthy rags before God (Isaiah
64:6).
Christ’s
righteousness attributed to us is how we are able to stand up against the accusations
of the evil one.
Charles
Spurgeon spoke these comforting words:
“I know what the devil will say to
you. He will say to you, ‘You are a sinner!’ Tell him you know you are,
but that for all that you are justified. He will tell you of the
greatness of your sin. Tell him of the greatness of Christ’s
righteousness. He will tell you of all your mishaps and your backslidings,
of your offences and your wanderings. Tell him, and tell your own
conscience, that you know all that, but that Jesus Christ came to save sinners,
and that, although your sin be great, Christ is quite able to put it all
away.”
6.
Rescued out of a sinful way of life
“…you
were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with
perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of
Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)
Being
ransomed from futile ways is another benefit Christians have through the blood
of Jesus. We are rescued from a life lived devoid of meaning and are
brought into a relationship with God and the ability to live in his will and
with purpose.
Compared
to the precious blood of Jesus Christ, the most valuable things of this earth
(like silver and gold) are reduced to meaningless, perishable things.
That
is because the blood of Jesus gives Christians salvation of their souls,
forgiveness from sins, access to God, victory over the enemy, and the power to
live with a clear conscience, something that the gold and
silver items in the
Old Testament temple could never do.
Would you want to have a
deeper relationship with God?
God has made it possible
for you to know Him and experience an
amazing change in your own life by
receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, and have eternal life.
Say the following
prayer:
“Father
God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You.
I am
truly sorry. I now want to turn away
from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please
forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I
believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the
dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I
invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from
this day forward. Thank You that according to your Word, I am now born again.
Please
send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of
my life. I promise to study Your Word - the Bible.
Please
use me for Your glory.
In
Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
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“Nothing but the blood of Jesus”
Robert Lowry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJnD272vmns GaitherVEVO
Bill & Gloria Gaither performing Nothing But the Blood
(feat. Buddy Greene) [Live].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaB5Kjfqcaw HillsongUnitedyashuasaves
CLICK HERE . . . to view complete playlist . . .
lyrics
1 What can
wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain:
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
2 For my
pardon this I see:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this my plea:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this my plea:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
[Refrain]
3 Nothing can
for sin atone:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
[Refrain]
4 This is all
my hope and peace:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
[Refrain]
Kevin Halloran is a Christian, blogger, and coffee aficionado. He serves with Leadership Resources International, training pastors to preach God’s Word with God’s heart. Follow Kevin on Twitter or visit his blog.
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