Precious Blood of CHRIST

"Knowing  that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" 1 Peter 1:18, 19 

ALL BLOOD IS PRECIOUS

When Cain killed Abel God confronted him with this charge, "…The voice of your brother’s blood cries to Me from the ground." Genesis 4:10
     After the flood God instituted the death penalty for the shedding of man’s blood. "And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast…and…at the hand of every man…Whoso sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed…" Genesis 9:5,6 
     To Moses God revealed this great biological and spiritual truth: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul." Leviticus 17:11.

MOST PRECIOUS OF ALL IS THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST

His blood:
     is the blood of the God/Man born of woman but conceived by the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit.
   is the only blood in the history of the human race since the fall of Adam that is holy, spotless and undefiled.
     Is the only blood that was acceptable to redeem lost mankind from the curse of sin and to cleanse from the defilement from sin.

The blood of Jesus Christ is especially precious to every believer because:
  1. The Blood of Jesus Provides Atonement for Sin(s)

     The book of Romans is the most logical and complete book on the doctrine of salvation in the Bible. The first three chapters are taken up with the fact that all mankind needs salvation because they are sinners and under the curse of God’s law. The conclusion is, "Now we know that whatever things the law says, it says to those who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." Romans 3:19 
     Since all mankind is under the curse of sin what provision has God made to enable mankind to be set free from that curse? 

     In Adam and Eve’s case it was coats of skin that spoke of shed blood. In Genesis 3:6 Adam and Eve sin. In Genesis 3:15 God promises a Redeemer. In Genesis 3:21 God clothes Adam and Eve with coats of skins to replace their unacceptable coats of leaves.

     In Abel’s case it was faith in redemption by shed blood that enabled him to be accepted by God (Genesis 4:3-5; Hebrews 11:5; 12:24)

     In Israel’s case it was redemption through shed blood. Down in Egypt God pronounced the curse of death on every first born male. God provided for Israel to escape that curse by the blood of a lamb. To every family that took the blood of that lamb and placed it on the top and sides of their front door God "passed over" them and the curse did not fall. With the giving of the Mosaic Covenant Israel enjoyed the privilege of being set free from the curse of sin for 1400 years by the blood of the sacrificial goat as a sin offering on the Day of Atonement. (See Exodus 12:1-29; Leviticus, chapters 16, and 17.)
     In the whole world’s case the blood of Jesus shed as a sacrifice for sin provided for sin to be taken away forever: "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;...For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." Hebrews 10:10-12, 14. All of this looks back to the truth summed up in Hebrews 9:22 "…And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." 

  1. The Blood of Jesus Gives Peace With God

     Surveys have been conducted in virtually every nation of the world asking people to list things they wanted more than anything else. One thing always mentioned -peace. Peace among nations? Yes. Peace with fellow man? Yes. Peace of mind and heart? Yes. But more than anything else, peace with God.
     Deep within the being of every human is a conscience. The indication is that with most people their conscience is tossed with raging turmoil. It seems as if conscience is pointing an accusing finger and saying, "someday you will stand in judgment as a sinner before a Holy God." The sense of guilt has snapped the minds of many. Others have busied their minds with other activities. Some have spent a lifetime trying to stifle those accusations with alcohol, drugs, and sensual activities.
     The good news is that, to reconcile all things to Himself...(Jesus) made peace through the blood of His cross."  Colossians 1:20.
     The very best and the very worst of the lost sons of Adam can come into a relationship of peace with God. In effect, they come to God and say, "I accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for my sin and, by faith, I trust Him as my Savior from the penalty of sin" They will then experience the truth of "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"  Romans 5:1
     We enter into peace with God through the blood of the cross.

III.    The Blood of Jesus Gives Justification

     "Justification" is a legal term which means "declared righteous before the law."
     In our earthly courts we are "justified" when we are found innocent of the crime with which we are charged. What is truly amazing about God’s justification is that our just God takes a sinner He knows to be guilty; the sinner knows he is guilty and everybody else knows he is guilty and God declares that guilty sinner "righteous before the law." How can God do that? Once again, the answer is the blood of Jesus Christ. Romans 5:9 "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."
     The shed blood of Jesus Christ has made possible "The Great Exchange".
     In the first part of The Great Exchange Jesus Christ took full responsibility for our sins and received the full punishment for them. In the second part of the Great Exchange we receive Jesus Christ by faith as our Savior and He gives us His righteousness. "For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us,  that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2nd Corinthians 5:21 (See also 1st Peter 2:24 and 3:18). Justification before God can be obtained by the worst of sinners because of the shed blood of Christ.
  1. The Blood of Jesus Gives Cleansing From the Defilement of Sin

     The most shocking experience that comes to a new believer is that even after they know they are saved they discover they still have the sin nature in their flesh and they are capable of sin. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1st John 1:8.
     Sin will not cause a believer to lose relationship with God, but sin will cause him/her to lose fellowship. Again, the solution is the blood of Jesus. "…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin"  1st John 1:7. The believer appropriates cleansing from sin by confessing (admitting) his/her sin to God and believing God to cleanse his/her sin. (1st John 1:9). Every believer can experience cleansing from the defilement of sin because of the shed blood of Christ.
  1. The Blood of Jesus Gives The Believer Access To God’s Throne of Grace

     Who does not need access to God’s throne of grace? Who among us have no sins that need to be forgiven?…no sicknesses that needs to be healed?…no broken hearts that need to be mended?…no physical, emotional or material needs to be met?…no obstacles that need to be overcome?…no battles with Satan and his hordes that need to be won?
     Surely, every mortal needs access to God’s throne of Grace. That access has been made possible by the blood of Jesus Christ. As His blood drained from five wounds while hanging on the cross the time came when He knew His sacrifice for sin was complete. He cried with a loud voice, "It is finished!" and then "Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." A lightning bolt from heaven pinpointed the veil in the Temple that served as a closed door to the Holy of Holies. That veil was ripped from top to bottom. Hebrews 9:8 tells us that veil signified that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest and verse 12 goes on to tell us "…With His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place, once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." The thought is picked up in Hebrews 10:19, "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter  the Holiest by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way,… Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,…" No wonder that we read "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16. A poet wrote,
          "Why do you tarry, O Christian, bowed down with your burden of care?
          God is waiting for you in His throne room…waiting with listening ear."

VII The Blood of Jesus Gives Sanctification

     "Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate." Hebrews 13:12
     "Sanctify" means "set apart." There are three aspects of sanctification:

  1. The believer is set apart in position from those who are lost and under condemnation to those who are saved and under no condemnation. Paul could write to the carnal, divisive Christians at Corinth that they were "sanctified in Christ Jesus" and "called saints" . 1 Corinthians 1:2.
  2. Believers are encouraged to proceed on to a practical and progressive sanctification. Their lives are to become more and more set apart from the carnal life they lived as an unsaved person to the godly, spiritual life of a child of God. (John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23)
  3. In their future glorified bodies believers will enjoy perfect sanctification. There will be no sin in the environment. There will be no sin nature in the flesh. There will be no temptation to sin from Satan and demons.

     How precious is the blood of Christ? That probably varies from believer to believer on earth. However, we get a glimpse of how precious it will be to all redeemed children of God in heaven. It will be a constant theme of their song. "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 kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;" Revelation 5:9

The blood of Jesus is and will forever be precious.

Copyright © 2002 Thomas E Berry
All Scripture quotations from NKJV unless otherwise noted.