Nothing But the Blood

I often think of one of my favorite hymns, that goes like this:

 

What can wash away my sin?"  with a refrain, "Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

 

The song is simple yet profound in its meaning—the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross, is God's way of washing away the guilt and stain of sin in our lives!

 

In one of the Apostle Paul's letters to the church at Corinth, he spoke on the issue of the blood of Jesus.  Here is some of what he said: 

 

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound."

 

20 Where is the wise person? Here is the scribe. Here is the debater of this age: as God did not make foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

 

Paul explained that the wisdom of God, as manifested through the Cross of Christ, was a "stumbling block" to the Jews, and the Gentiles as well.  On the cross, Jesus, the Son of God, shed his blood for us. Through his death and resurrection, God worked to cleanse us of the guilt of sin, pay the penalty of the sin of humanity, and, finally, conquer death for us all.  This is the Gospel message!   It is all based upon the work of Jesus on the cross; His blood, shed for us on the cross, is God's plan to save humanity.

           

The Jews resist this message, because it means that their religious experiences and rituals, and their lineage as the 'people of God,' cannot save them.  Too,  the Gentiles rebel against the message of the cross, because the wisdom of this world, and the accomplishments of man, cannot separate them from the guilt of their sin.  Only the message of the cross can save anyone!

 

Modern man has a problem when confronted with talk of the "blood of Jesus;"  that sort of talk seems so outdated and barbaric!  However, this is the wisdom of God that guides us, invites God's power to work in our lives, and enables us to live in a relationship with God, both now and in the life that is to come.

 

Here is another passage from the Apostle Paul, this time from his letter to the church at Rome.  "But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  Romans 5:8-9

 

 Let us all accept this wisdom that is from God, and live!

 

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