BY THE BLOOD

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…” (Hebrews 10:19-20, NIV)

“Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.” (Hebrews 4:16, NET)

No one can “confidently approach the throne of grace” (“the Most Holy Place”) on the merit of their own achievement or self-righteousness. We can only approach God and enter in His presence through Christ on the grounds of His atoning sacrifice.

It’s on the merit of the spotless life which Christ lived and the sacrificial death He died that anyone who seeks a relationship with God today can stand without any sense of guilt or condemnation. That is, to stand behind the blood of Jesus that speaks better things – the blood that speaks forgiveness!

The Bible teaches in Hebrew 9:22 that, “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” And through the Scriptures we also understand that:

“The life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (Leviticus 17:11, NIV)

The efficacy of “the blood” to atone for one’s life rest on the fact that blood represents a life. The blood which makes purification and the forgiveness of sins possible is given in exchange for a life, for the wages of sin is death and acceptable to God.

Our own blood is inadequate for this purpose seeing as we are the ones who have sinned against God and now stand in need of atonement. The blood of animals as prescribed in the Old Testament economy was only a temporary measure that only covered sin for a season (Hebrew 10:3-4). And in due time God provided His acceptable solution: Jesus Christ, who the Bible describes as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Jesus Himself, on the night before His before His betrayal and crucifixion, spoke of His imminent death in these terms, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt 26:28). His death was an atoning sacrifice. When His blood was poured out, it signified the sacrificial giving of His sinless life in exchange for our sinful lives.

Only the blood of the Lamb which God Himself provided can wash sin away once and for all. It is the blood of Jesus that purifies us, secures the forgiveness of our sins, and makes us righteous thus allowing us unrestricted access into the throne room of grace. We have nothing but our sinful life to give in exchange for the precious blood of the Lamb of God which purchased our freedom.

When we stand before God today we do so with just one valid plea for the acceptance of our person, and that is the precious blood that Jesus Christ of Nazareth shed on the cross at Calvary for the remission of your sin.

The blood of Jesus, for the want of a better word, is your password! In 1835, shortly after accepting Jesus Christ as her Saviour, Charlotte Elliott, reflecting upon the powerful worth of the blood of Christ, wrote this wonderful Hymn –

Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Yes, the blood of Jesus is our one plea. It is our password – a new and living access is by the blood! All of man’s self-righteousness is as a filthy rag before God, but when God sees the blood of the Lamb of glory He passes over our sins – He forgives our sins and forgets them; and treats anyone who comes “by the blood” as if they never had a past life of sin!

Be blessed in the new and living reality in Christ which is “by the blood” He shed for our atonement!