Chris' Corner -- Sunday, October 31, 2021
Blood is a gruesome topic. Yet, scripture is full of references to blood. It's impossible to calculate how much blood has been shed just from following the commandments of God throughout history. This offends many. But to God, blood is the very life of men and women physically and spiritually (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22).
The great theme of the Bible is the blood of Jesus Christ and the power it has to save the world from sin. Even though God's Son died on the cross years ago, the world as a whole still benefits from His blood. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7).
Jesus shed His blood on the cross many years ago. The power that existed in Christ's blood, then and now, affects where we will spend eternity (Hebrews 10:19). Again, in Hebrews 9:12, 14, 15, "...with His own blood, He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason, He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."
Here are a few things the blood of Christ does for us: 1) His blood cleanses us from sin. "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). In Revelation 7:14 "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
2) Christ's blood redeems us. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). "And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9).
3) Through the Lord's blood, we are sanctified, purified, and made holy. Paul speaks of "the blood of the covenant" by which we are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:29).
4) The blood of Christ cleanses our conscience. Scripture tells us "how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14).
5) Jesus brought us near to God by His blood. "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). Bringing us near to God is having access to the Father.
6) The precious blood of Christ purchased the church. Paul told the overseers to "shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28). Later, the apostle said the church was the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:23).
An abundant amount of righteous blood has been shed throughout human history (Matthew 23:34). But the total sum of all righteous blood could not do what Christ's blood does. John the Baptist identified the Lord as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29).
We join with Paul in saying, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15).