Colossians 1:12-15 KJV
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
1 John 1:7-9 KJV
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Since the beginning of time, humans have worshipped their “unknown gods.”
Included in this worship have been animal sacrifices to these gods, as blood has always been viewed as an atoning sacrifice for human sin.
The Romans had their gods, namely Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Apollo and Mars….the Greeks had their gods, namely Zeus, Hades, Athena, Adonois and Midas….the Egyptians had their gods, namely Ra, Amun, Osiris, Isis, Horus and Aten.
The Romans, Greeks and Egyptians all made animal blood sacrifices to their gods. There is also evidence that human sacrifices were made.
Why blood?
It was because animal and human blood was recognized as the life-giving source or sacred life force in animals and mankind.
The Old Covenant
At the time assigned in His master plan, God chose the tiny Hebrew nation to represent Him as the one true God, with the mission to tell the world about Him.
Included in their law was the sacrificial offering of animals with the atoning power of blood. This was all part of God’s master plan under the “Old Covenant” era.
Hebrews 9:22 NIV
22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
The New Covenant
BUT THEN, in the fulness of time, or at the assigned time in God’s master plan, Jesus was born.
He was God in the flesh, both God and human.
He lived for approximately 33 years and was crucified on the cross of Calvary, where His blood was shed for all mankind.
On the 3rd day after His crucifixion, God raised Him from the dead. From this point on, the “New Covenant” between God and humankind was in place.
- I love the promise of Colossians 1:14 where Paul tells us that in Jesus Christ, “we have REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, EVEN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.”
Colossians 1:14
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
- I love the promise of 1 John 1:7, where John tells us that “THE BLOOD OF JESUS HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN.”
1 John 1:7 KJV
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
- I love the promise of 1 John 1:9 where John tells us “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS GOD WILL FORGIVE OUR SINS AND CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOSNESS.”
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Blood Is The Source of Life
The connecting thread, is the blood.
Blood is the life-giving source within all earthly bodies. It is powerful and wondrous...even mysterious in a way.
- Through the blood of Jesus, we are made righteous in the eyes of God.
- Through the blood of Jesus, our sins are cleansed and we are made whiter than snow.
- Through the blood of Jesus, we become a child of God, reconciled with Him.
- The blood of Jesus Christ is the source of ETERNAL LIFE.
An old hymn says it well; “What can wash away my sin? NOTHING but the blood of Jesus”
Another old hymn says “There is power, power, wonder working power; in the blood, of the Lamb.”
Romans 3:23-25 KJV
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
1 Peter 1:18-19 KJV
18 Forasmuch 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;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Conclusion
As God ushered in His “New Covenant” with humankind, everything changed.
No longer was the blood of animals required. These sacrifices had to be repeated under the “old covenant” on a regular basis.
But NOT so with the blood of Christ. Christ’s blood was shed ONCE and for all. This was the ultimate and only sacrifice that could be made only ONCE, for the sins of mankind.
All we have to do is accept this amazing grace.
It is free.
Jesus was the propitiation, or atonement for our sins and through faith in His blood, we are redeemed.
Think about and meditate upon this blood...the blood of our Lord...praising God and singing with a thankful heart;
“What can save my soul from sin? NOTHING but the BLOOD of Jesus.”
RVH