BELOVED reader, your eternal destiny hangs upon your knowledge of the great blood-doctrine of Holy Scripture. Without it, you are lost; with it, you escape the outer darkness, and, cleansed from sin, you ascend to scenes of bliss and purity. Without it, though years may be yours to live on earth, yet it is as a stranger to God, in the darkness and uncleanness of fallen nature; be it cultivated or uncultivated, moral or immoral, learned or unlearned, it is all one; it is a nature sinful and away from God, a stranger to Him, and a servant of its own lusts.
God is holy―infinitely holy, and inflexibly just. Man is a sinner, with a heart deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. A distance exists between God and man; sin has caused that distance. Man is estranged from God; sin has caused the estrangement. Man is afraid of God; sin has implanted the fear. Man is on the broad road which leads to destruction; sin has put him there.
Oh, the awful ravages of sin! It has placed God upon the judgment-seat, and man at His righteous bar as a guilty creature.
It is just here that the gospel administers its divine consolation to anyone who believes it.
But “an atonement” means the glorifying of God about sin, and the meeting of the sinner’s need, so that God and he may be righteously together. This only could be by the shedding of blood, ―but the blood of a spotless victim.
In vain we search God’s earth, ―in vain we seek an untainted being among the sons of the fallen Adam. Not one is found; for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Sin has blighted all. The fairest specimen, the one nearest to the original stock, ere sin were known, has but to bow his head and own himself a sinner.
Above this scene of sin and defilement we must look for an untainted being. God must provide Himself a lamb. Blessed be His name, this He has done. He has turned to His own bosom, and given His own Son. And in giving His own Son, He has thought of two things, ―1st His own glory; 2nd Our salvation. God’s Lamb was able to meet the whole question of sin, whether we think of God’s holiness or man’s condition.
But God’s Lamb must die, for blood must flow. “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” God had said, “The life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar, to make an atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” The myriads of sacrifices offered up on Jewish altars pointed to the Lamb of God slain on Calvary. On the cross, then, we see infinite love providing what infinite justice demanded. When the life-blood of Jesus, the Son of God, was shed, an atonement for the soul was made, — an atonement which is as lasting as the efficacy of the blood that made it.
Blessed news this, dear reader, for you and for me, and all who stand in need of it. Do you know the blessedness of it in your own soul? Have you, like the Israelite (Ex. 12), appropriated it? Can you in faith say, He died for me, His blood was shed for me, it has made an atonement for my soul?
God has accepted the sacrifice, the satisfaction rendered to Him in the death of His Son. He has raised up Jesus from the dead, and given Him glory. On the cross, the Son glorified God; God, in return, has glorified His Son (John 13:31, 3231Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. (John 13:31‑32)). We now see Jesus crowned with glory and honor, after having made an atonement for our souls. “He was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)).
Now God can fully and righteously bless. From the very throne of God the wave of divine blessing flows forth, and rolls on until it sweeps the wide earth, and millions are saved thereby. They have but to stoop down and drink and live. All hindrance is removed; the vilest can be saved.
The same God who said, “Without shedding of blood is no remission,” now says, “Be it known unto you therefore, that through this man [the risen and ascended Jesus] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)). How great the change! The demand has been met; Jesus has died; now the blessing flows. A full and eternal forgiveness is preached through Him, and in His name. “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). It is proclaimed to all, of every race, land, and clime. The proclamation is as wide as the blessing. It is to every creature. All the ends of the earth are invited to receive the blood-purchased salvation. God makes no exceptions. “Whosoever will” may come, and take of the water of life freely (Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)). “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth” (Isa. 45:2222Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)).
Marvelous is the efficacy of the blood of Jesus. By it God’s throne is vindicated, and the sinner’s need met. He is vile, polluted, unfit for God’s presence, and His heaven of purity and love. But his case is met. “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all, sin,” (1 John 1:77But 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. (1 John 1:7)). What soul-cheering news! Convicted soul, let your heart be cheered, it is God who says, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)). You may yet be fit for the paradise of God. The Father is able to make you “meet for the inheritance of the saints in light,” through the blood of His Son. The eye of God rests upon the blood of His Son. He sets forth Christ a mercy-seat, through faith in His blood. Have you faith in His blood? If so, “it cleanseth from all sin.” Not one sin remains to be imputed to you, God says, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin;” and the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is that man.
Is it cleansing? I am cleansed by His blood (Rev. 1:4, 54John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:4‑5)).
Is it redemption? “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)). “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18, 1918Forasmuch 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; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18‑19)).
Is it fear of coming wrath that troubles me? “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Rom. 5:99Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9)). “How ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:9, 109For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9‑10)).
And when in the bright glory of God, our everlasting song will be, “Thou art worthy,... for thou west slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation,” &c (Rev. 5:9, 109And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9‑10)).
Beloved reader, in conclusion, let me ask, Do you know the value of the precious blood of Jesus for yourself? If so, with all God’s people you can join in saying with heartfelt gratitude, “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father: to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 1:5, 65And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6)).
E.A.