“The Blood of Christ”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

 

Our Lord shed His blood on the cross 2000 years ago. Yet, it has the same power it has always had. It has cleansing power, the likes of which have not been equaled by man. Let us study about our Lord’s shed blood and what it means to us today.

 

Christ’s Blood Remitted Our Sins.

                   I know we are aware of what Christ’s blood did for our souls, but let us still consider some pertinent passages on this subject. First, Jesus said His blood would be shed “for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28). The word “remission” means “freedom; (fig.) pardon:-- deliverance, forgiveness, liberty” (Strong’s). Can we think of anything more wonderful than liberty? Many today would love nothing more than to live in a country where they could experience freedom. Yet, more important than political liberty is the fact that we can have liberty or freedom from sin because of the shed blood of Christ! This is truly a gift from God.

                   Read Paul’s words as he stated the importance of Christ and His shed blood. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:21-26).

                   Put simply, Paul was saying that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for “all have sinned.” This being true, our Lord justified all and became the “propitiation” (sin offering) for all mankind by shedding His blood at the cross. Therefore, as we believe in Jesus Christ and do what He has said to do to be saved (Rom. 10:16; Acts 2:36-38), we can have forgiveness of sins (liberty) because He shed His blood for us! What a wonderful thing for men to consider! Without the blood of Christ, there is no salvation. When he wrote to the Ephesian and Colossian brethren, Paul also made it clear that Christ’s blood brought about the forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14).

                   Peter told the “strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” that they “were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Pet. 1:18-19). This same truth applies today. Our redemption does not come through physical power or prowess; nor can we “earn” our way into Heaven. Redemption is not realized because we live in the U.S. or because we are blessed financially by God. Redemption is not something we have based on the color of our skin. Instead, Christ’s shed blood has made it possible for all mankind to one day see Heaven! Thus, the question is whether or not we are willing to do what is necessary to receive that remission of sins, made possible by the blood of Christ (Heb. 5:9; Mk. 16:16; Rev. 2:10)!

                   Another text worthy of our study is John’s words in the book of Revelation. “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Rev. 1:4-5). We cannot say enough about what the blood of Christ means to every man and woman on earth!

 

Christ’s Blood Purchased The Church.

                   We know that Christ promised to build His church in Matthew 16:18. Concerning this subject, we see that Paul declares that Christ’s church was purchased when He shed His blood on the cross. This fact is recorded in Paul’s meeting with the Ephesian elders at Miletus. He said, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Paul later wrote to the Ephesians and told them that Christ “loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Eph. 5:25).

                   After learning this, how can anyone belittle the importance of the Lord’s church with a clear conscience? Jesus Christ thought the church was so important that He died and shed His blood to purchase it (Jn. 19:33-34). If it was that important to Christ, it must be that important to me! If the Lord saw the church as a prized possession, I will not belittle her! Let us make sure that we hold the Lord’s church in high regard. Let us realize that the church is precious and valuable and deserves our honor and respect!

                   Seeing that these things are true, it is no coincidence that when one becomes a Christian, having been washed in the blood of the Lamb, he is added to the Lord’s church at the same time (Rev. 1:5; Acts 2:47)! There is a connection between being saved and being added to the Lord’s church, and this connection is seen in the blood of Christ and how we become spiritually cleansed when we contact His blood through baptism (Acts 2:38, Rom. 6:3-6; I Cor. 6:11).

 

Christ’s Blood Can Be Counted Unholy.

                   Despite what Christ has done for us, some would count Christ’s blood as “unholy” or common (Heb. 10:29). Who are these people? They are the ones who would “sin wilfully” after receiving “the knowledge of the truth” (Heb. 10:26). The word “wilfully” is defined as “voluntarily; willingly” (Strong’s). Therefore, when one will voluntarily forsake God’s laws, whether it be forsaking the assembling of ourselves together (Heb. 10:25, this is in the context) or speaking filthy language (Eph. 5:4), engaging in lascivious actions (Gal. 5:19-21), engaging in vain worship (Jn. 4:24; Matt. 15:9), or by partaking of drinking/drugs (I Pet. 4:3-4); etc. When we leave the commands and precepts of God in disobedience, we are guilty of counting Christ’s blood as unholy or common.

                   This is why we need to be reminded daily to stay faithful to the Lord God (Rev. 2:10). We need to be “steadfast and unmovable” (I Cor. 15:58). We need to continue to “walk in the light, as he is in the light” (I Jn. 1:7). One way we do this is by remembering who we are, and remembering where we once were. Paul reminded the Ephesians of this, telling them they were once “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). At one time, they were “without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, ... having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). He then reveals that it was the blood of Christ that made them “nigh” to God (v. 13, 16)!

                   Since we were once in the same position as the Ephesians, let us never consider Christ’s blood unholy or common through willful sin, but let us live according to the will of God as Christ did (Jn. 12:49-50) so that one day we can be with our Lord in Heaven for eternity! How excellent is the power of the blood of Christ!

 

Conclusion

                   There have been volumes written concerning the blood of Christ, yet this study never grows old. It never grows old because there are men and women still in sin (Rom. 3:23). So long as this is true, there will be a need for the redemption made possible by Christ’s blood. Have you come in contact with the cleansing effects of Christ’s blood? You can do so today through baptism (Acts 2:38)!