“Morality may keep you out of jail, but it takes the blood of Jesus Christ to keep you out of hell,” once quipped the 19th century English evangelist, Charles H. Spurgeon.
While Spurgeon’s comment may seem to some as borderline flippant, it’s true nonetheless.
The Bible speaks often of the efficacy of blood, especially the blood of Christ.
“When I see the blood I will pass over you,” God promised the children of Israel as He spared their firstborn when He saw the lamb’s blood on the doorposts of their houses (Ex 12:13).
When He instituted “The Lord’s Supper,” Jesus said the fruit of the vine represented His blood that was shed “for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28).
Paul reminds us that the church Jesus’ built was purchased by His blood (Ax. 20:28)
Furthermore, it is through the blood of Christ that we receive redemption, obtain justification, and enjoy cleansing from our sins (Eph. 1:7; Rom. 5:9; I Jn. 1:7)
Not surprisingly, many of our hymns remind us that “There is Power in the Blood.” One of my favorites, is “Nothing But the Blood,” by the preacher and educator Robert Lowry (1826-1899).
“Nothing but the blood” forcefully focuses on a single theme and emphatically hammers home its powerful message.
It begins with a soul probing question: “What can wash away my sin?”
The resounding response is “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
“What can make me whole again?” we wonder.
Once again the answer is unambiguous and unequivocal. “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
The song explains that our search for pardon, peace, hope, cleansing, atonement, and righteousness can all be discovered and realized in “nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Today, as assemble to worship, we’re reminded through our songs, our prayers, the scripture and especially in our communion service, that we’re nothing spiritually apart from the blood of Jesus.
We will never receive salvation and enjoy the blessings of God’s mercy and grace by our own meritorious works. Our religiosity. Our social standing. Our morality. Our philanthropy. Or our spiritual ministry.
In the final analysis, it’s one thing.
“Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
Note: For further study on this vital topic, these previous posts will be helpful.
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