DEVO 02
The Blood of Christ
“for the life of the body is in the blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.” (Leviticus 17:11 NLT)
There’s a reason that in medical situations, the very first things checked and dealt with relate to the person’s blood. In an emergency situation, the pulse is checked, the heart is pumped, the hemorrhage is stopped. Even in a routine checkup, blood pressure is taken and monitored. All of this occurs because, more than anything else, blood is vital to life. In this precious substance is the breath of life. It carries oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the body, fights and heals infections, and even brings life saving warmth. Because of its essential role, blood has become a symbol of and even synonymous with life. The spilling of blood is the loss of life, and the reception of blood is the reception of life, both figuratively and literally. This dichotomy of the image and function of blood is essential for understanding God’s plan of redemption, the reason for Christ, the forgiveness of sins.
01. The Blood Required
“In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.” (Hebrews 9:22-23)
The sorrowful reality of our condition is that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Sin must be paid for, and the required payment is one’s life, the only payment which is fitting for the degree of depravity made clear in our iniquity against a holy God.
However, in God’s great grace and compassion towards his people, he created a system of animal sacrifice to allow for their temporary cleansing of sins so they could come into his presence and worship him. And although this system did purify them, the effect was imperfect as each sacrifice was only temporary, creating the need for animal sacrifices to be as constant as the peoples’ sin.
02. The Blood Spilled
“Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.” (Hebrews 9:13-14)
Animal sacrifices under the old system could never completely forgive and purify, but were only a temporary placeholder until the perfectly effective sacrifice came. The perfection of Christ is what made his sacrifice perfect. This sacrifice was once for all, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18). What gave such power to the blood of Christ? It was Christ's offering himself without any sinful stain in his nature or life. It was the life of the Son of God given up as atonement for whoever would believe in him.
A life for a life. His life for your life. A sacrifice made willingly, bound by love.
03. The Blood Applied
“So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come.” (Hebrews 9:11)
None of us can enter, either into God's gracious presence here, or his glorious presence in time, but by the blood of Jesus. Access to God, communion with him, and admission into his kingdom of heaven come only by his blood. Not only is Jesus our perfect sacrifice who has given his blood, he is also our High Priest who administers the blood as the mediator of a new covenant. He is our advocate who pleads our case before the Father. As we plead the blood here on earth, he is pleading it for us in heaven.
In the application of the blood of Christ, your sins are forgiven, you are set free, you have peace with God and are released to worship.
Does anybody want to be holy, righteous Purified and spotless? Let me tell you, it's only by the blood Does anybody want to be worthy, forgiven Justified, really living? Let me tell you, it's only by the blood
“And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, ‘Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.” (Matthew 26:27-28)
In following the direction of our Lord, who became the sacrificial lamb for our sake, look to his blood.
Remember it, plead it, rely on it, rest in it, and give thanks for it. For without it we are dead in sin but with it we are alive in Christ.
It’s only by the blood.