1730. The Blood of Christ in the New Testament

The Blood of Christ in the New Testament

"Much more then, being now justified by His Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him" (Rom_5:9).

We will not endeavor in our study of the New Testament to take one statement from each Book. A fuller view of the New Testament meaning of the Cross may be had from a subject study of the Blood. We will seek to catch the connection of the Blood of Christ to every vital doctrine of the faith.

1. The doctrine of justification. "Justified by His Blood" (Rom_5:9). Through the Blood we stand justified before God–the Law cannot touch us; sin's penalty cannot reach us, we are reckoned as though we had never sinned. This is possible only by the fact that our guilt was transferred to Christ, and the penalty of our sins was borne by Him.

2. The doctrine of propitiation. "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His Blood" (Rom_3:25).

We have here the blessed doctrine of God's approach to man, by way of the mercy seat. The mercy seat was sprinkled with blood, in type of the Blood of Christ Jesus. When Christ died, the veil that stood guard in front of the Holy of Holies was rent in twain, and access to God, was given to all who come the Blood-marked way.

3. The doctrine of redemption. "Redeemed * * with the precious Blood of Christ" (1Pe_1:18-19). Christ gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a people. The Blood that Judas valued at thirty pieces of silver was so precious in God's sight that it became the purchase price of our redemption.

"I am redeemed, but not with silver;

I am bought, but not with gold;

Bought with a price, the Blood of Jesus,

Precious price of love untold."

4. The doctrine of forgiveness. "Through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Col_1:14).

The cry of penitent hearts may find no place in certain theological circles, but it is found constantly in the Word of God.

The prodigal son sought forgiveness, when he said: "I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight" (Luk_15:21).

The publican sought forgiveness when he cried: "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luk_18:13).

The Lord dying on Calvary prayed: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luk_23:34).

Surely there is forgiveness with God (see Psa_130:4), but it is a forgiveness made possible by the Blood of Christ.

5. The doctrine of cleansing. "The Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1Jn_1:7).

Water may cleanse the hands, but the Blood cleanses the soul. Blessed truth–"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isa_1:18).

David prayed: "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin" (Psa_51:2). This cleansing is made possible through the Blood of Christ.

6. The doctrine of the purged conscience. "How much more shall the Blood of Christ, * * purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God" (Heb_9:14).

The Bible tells of "the evil conscience;" "the defiled conscience;" "the seared conscience." How blessed it is that the very sense of our own sins, which condemns us so mercilessly, can be purged by the Blood of Christ. The conscience is robbed of its accusing power. We can say with rejoicings: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom_8:1).

Thank God, the Blood removes the fear of death's sentence, gives us all confidence in Christ Jesus.

7. The doctrine of eternal life. "Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My Blood, hath eternal life" (Joh_6:54).

Such words as these cause the radicals great uneasiness. We need to remember that there were also many doubters in Christ's day; for, when Christ had finished His message upon His Body, the Bread of Life, and upon His Blood, the Giver of Life, "from that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him" (Joh_6:66).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR