THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

By Charles Ashcraft

Read Hebrews 9:11-28

Text: "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered once into the holy place, having obtained etemal redemption for us" (Hebrews 9:12).

The death of Christ, or the blood atonement is no myth. The apostle Paul, in writing to the church at Phillippi, said: "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8).

Christ is the one person who undressed Himself and laid down His life that His naked shame might clothe my body. Do you, dear soul, get the picture? Oh, how the freshness of the blood atonement of Christ needs to be revealed unto us.

Our religious high days are so disassociated with the real meaning of the death of Christ. It seems to me that Christmas and Easter are so unattached to the real meaning of the birth and death of our Lord. The commercialism of Christmas, and the paganistic practices of Easter, have all but hidden the true meaning of why we assemble together.

Too often we sing the song, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you," never one time thinking of Christ's blood that made the atonement for our sins some two thousand years ago. You see, it is almost beyond our concept to think that the "Man Christ Jesus" could make atonement for man's sins two thousand years ago, and that offering still be effective today. To the natural mind this is unthinkable.

We do well in this age of close scrutiny, to examine the fluid factors of our body and find out where the sin of man really lies.

In view of my own sinful heart and the condemnation of my soul, how may I become absolutely pure? How may I determine the true meaning of repentance? Let me analyze the difference in the fluid factors of my body.

My becoming pure isn't in tears of remorse. My tears fall far short of cleansing my soul from sin. I have seen many who sweat great drops of perspiration and whose burden of sin was never lifted. Most people have a problem in understanding the blood atonement of Christ. If you have never made a study of the blood atonement of Christ, I would advise you to do so. You will never be the same.

1. The Problem of the Atonement

The problem of the Blood Atonement is: The God of the average American never did exist. I remember preaching a sermon in a church on the blood. At the end of the service a lady came out of the church building mumbling, the blood, the blood, the blood, that was the bloodiest message I have ever heard in my life. I will never darken the door of this church again. But, she is not alone. This God of the average American never did exist. Could this be the reason that many of our churches are half full of unsaved people? It is strange indeed how we human beings go on in our quest of life, with a heavy heart, trying to solve our own problems. Yet, we cannot possibly have the right concept of God outside of the Scriptures.

Our problem is simply this. How may I, a sinner, who has sinned against God, rightly stand in the divine judgment before Him? Whether man realizes this or not, this is what he really wants to know. Perhaps we should start by examining this avenue of thought: the mind. Paul said, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5).

2. The Purpose of the Atonement

What is the purpose of the atonement? The doctrine of the atonement deals with the moral gulf between God and man.

Again, may we let the scripture speak. "For he hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor. 5:21). Thus, the purpose of the atonement is that I might stand before God sinless, without condemnation. The death of Christ is God's way of bridging the gap between a holy God and sinful man.

3. The Presentation of the Atonement

What is really involved in the presentation of the atonement? It means that the blood of Christ was the necessary price for my salvation. Note the following scriptures: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby wo must be saved" (Acts 4:12). It is said, when the books were opened only Christ was worthy. "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book" etc. (Rev. 5:5).

Let us note the text verse once again: "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heb. 9:12).

When one's sins are covered by the blood of Jesus one has eternal life. "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood is no remission" (Heb. 9:22). The word "remission" here means forgiveness. Without the shedding of the blood of Christ there is no forgiveness.

The blood of Christ was not a symbol as some would have us believe. It was never a symbol. It will never be a symbol. It was chosen by God for what it is. The blood of Christ was the act of God chosen for man's redemption from all eternity. It is God's designed plan. The word "blood" occurs three times as often as the word "cross" in the Bible. The word "blood" occurs five times as often as the word "death." There is something very special about the blood of Jesus.

Two thousand years ago Christ made the atonement for the sins of the whole world. Why? Because His blood was sinless. Most of us seem to know more about the hands and the feet of Jesus than we do about the blood.

We are born sinners because the Adamic sin is in our blood, but the blood of Jesus contains no sin. It was Adam's sin that was transmitted to mankind, not Eve's. Christ had a human body but not human blood. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost. His blood was pure. You may have your opinion, but I do not believe the blood of Christ ever curdled. Why? Because it was pure. It was sinless. The blood of Jesus is still flowing to give life. If God could cause Aaron's rod, that had no life-giving substance, to bloom, and He did, is it a hard thing to believe that the blood of Christ that was sprinkled on the mercy seat in Heaven two thousand years ago is still as fresh as it was the day He atoned for our sins? Not for me, my friend. It was sinless.

Note again this scripture: "For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation 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).

How true the old song:

"What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothinq 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."

Are your sins under the blood of Jesus? If not, by faith simply trust Him as your personal Saviour. You can know today that your sins are blotted out.

This brief summary has by no means exhausted this most important subject. I trust it has provoked you, dear reader, to a deeper appreciation of the blood of Christ that made an atonement for your soul and mine. This is my humble prayer.

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the Euerlasting Couenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20-21).