Over the last few weeks as I have been contemplating and praying about this article I could not help but recognize that not only is the blood missing from much of our preaching, but also from our worship. Most of you, like myself grew up singing about the blood, we sang Power in the Blood, Nothing but the Blood, Oh the Blood, and There is a Fountain filled with Blood. God always seem to bless and anoint when we sang about the blood. Today in most churches, it is not only missing in our preaching, but when we do sing and occasional hymn it is done in a perfunctory manner to appease the older people who pay the bills. The great part about it is that God still anoints and blesses, the sad part is that the leadership doesn’t seem to care, it might interfere with their program. As we stated earlier the blood of Jesus Christ is
the foundation of salvation without it there would be no salvation. If you attend a church like most that doesn’t preach or sing about the blood I challenge you to take out your Bible and study the blood. Find you an old hymnal and sing about it, just you and him I guarantee you will be blessed.
Let us move on to today’s benefits of the blood. The first comes in Revelation Chapter 7:14” These are they which came out of great tribulation, and help wash their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb”. The first benefit we will see today is Meetness, it is an old English word which simply means suitable or proper. There will be no one in heaven who has not been washed in the blood of the lamb. It is therefore suitable and proper for us to be clean, no defilement will be accepted only those washed in Jesus blood.
The second benefit we will look at is access. Hebrews Chapter 10:19” having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus”. The thought that his blood has given me access to come boldly to the throne of God is one of the most amazing thoughts I’ve ever had. Hebrews Chapter 4: 16” let us therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in the time of need”. The great theologian Dr. AT Robertson translates this verse “that we may obtain grace and mercy in the nick of time”. I don’t know about you, but I’m glad I don’t have to be timid or afraid to ask my heavenly father to intervene immediately in any situation. Thank God for the blood of Jesus Christ.
The third benefit we will look at is Sanctification. Hebrews 13: 12 “wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate”. People have attempted today to try and turn the doctrine of sanctification into legalism, but nothing could be further from the truth. Sanctification, simply means to be set apart unto God to do his will. When we are washed in his blood we are to be a separate holy people. We are in the world, but we are not of the world. There was a time when we were known as the sanctified church, I am afraid we may never be called that again unless we return to preaching the whole counsel of God.
The fourth benefit is Liberty. Revelation Chapter 1:5” unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”. The revised version states that we were loosed from our sins when he washed us. Thank God we’re not only clean, but we are free to live a life pleasing unto our Savior. When you come from a background of bondage as I did, it is incredible that he was not only willing to wash me, but to set me free.
The final benefit we will look at today is Nearness. Ephesians Chapter 2: 13” but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ”. Long ago we used to sing a song, that said I was lost and undone without God or his son when he reached way down for me. Thank God he did. The message Bible translates this verse” now because of Christ dying that death shedding that blood-you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything”. Praise God that due to the blood of Jesus I am a member of the family of God and a candidate for everything God has.
Our brother Simon Peter told us that his blood was precious unique one-of-a-kind. It is the only blood that has ever been shed that procured so many benefits. In an effort to get you to understand the cost of this blood, please allow me to share the true biblical picture of what it cost. When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane he could see the Roman soldiers and Judas coming from fifteen minutes away. He could have easily slipped away into the night and have avoided Calvary, but thank God he did not or you and I would be lost. The prophet Isaiah told us that his visage was marred more than any man. The crown of thorns on his head had caused his head to swell to twice its normal size. His eyes hung down in their sockets from being beaten in the face. His own mother would not have been able to recognize him in the shape. They plucked out his beard by the handful. He was unrecognizable. He was truly a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. His back was beaten open until one commentator said,” pieces of flesh the size of a man’s hand fell to the floor of Pontius Pilate’s judgement hall”, he went on to say that you could see his internal organs due to that beating. He was beaten so badly until he could not carry the cross up the hill. Roman soldiers stood in sandals soaked in the blood of God, so close to salvation, yet altogether lost. Gambling over his garments, perhaps it was this that set the precedent of the church today gambling over what sins they can keep and still be saved The answer is none. Jesus paid too high of a price to grant me all these benefits for me to play around with sin. Thank God I am free and clean and close to my heavenly father.
Robert Pilgrim
