Nothing But the Blood

In Old Testament times an animal sacrifice was required year after year. This blood sacrifice was the atonement for sin. The problem was, it didn't last. But thank God he had a better plan. That plan was to send His Son, Jesus to die on a cross for us. The sacrifice that Jesus made was one that eliminated the need for any other sacrifice. And when he made that sacrifice we were provided access to God Himself. In Hebrews 9:11-12 we're told:

"But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he entered into the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

The good things to come would be the access his bloodshed would provide to the Father. I want to relate that to another verse. Let's take a look at Hebrews 10:19-20 which says:

"Therefore brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh."

The Amplified translation says "...we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and the virtue] in the blood of Jesus." Did you catch that? We have FULL FREEDOM and CONFIDENCE to enter.

If you recall, Matthew 27:51 tells us how the veil was torn from top to bottom when Jesus was crucified. This was something man could not have done. Okay, so what is my point here? In Old Testament times High Priests had to pass through a veil which led to the Most Holy Place. This was where the presence of God was. So now we have the veil being torn, thereby giving us access to the Holiest (God). And we can access Him freely, without fear. That is the result of Jesus' bloodshed. Amazing, isn't it?

We live in a country that grants us freedom. It is a marelous thing. If you've ever been to another country, you know just how great this freedom is. But you know, the freedom that Jesus offers is so much more precious. It is the freedom from the bondage of sin. There is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. That is the requirement. The penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23), so clearly we all needed a sacrifice. Once we accept Jeus as Lord of our life, the chains are broken. And we can come boldly to the throne of grace to receive mercy and help in times of trouble. We can now walk in the freedom of Jesus Christ. We can be free from fear, we can be healed as a result of that bloodshed, we can have peace and a joy unspeakable, and we have hope for our eternal future. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking this is a far better plan than the previous covenant. Jesus' blood was the perfect remedy for our sin.

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow, no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.