The Precious Blood Of Christ
The blood of Christ is precious above all that is in this world. It is precious because of the priceless spiritual blessings it brings to those who avail themselves of its power. To such persons, those who axe Christians, Peter wrote, "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; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (I Pet: 1:18-19.)
The blessings of the blood of Christ are extended to two classes of people. First, to non-Christians to the extent that if they obey the gospel of Christ his blood will make them Christians. Second, to Christians that they might be forgiven of sins which they commit after obeying the gospel.
The Blood Of Christ And The Non-Christian
The blood of Christ will make Christians of those who are not Christians. To bring about this change of condition in the lives of men and women it accomplishes certain specific things:
1. Forgiveness of sins. Jesus Christ the Son of God came to this earth to cure men of the spiritual sickness of sin. As he instituted the Lord's supper which was afterward to be observed in the church he told his disciples how this cure was to be effected. "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matt: 26:27-28.) Christ shed his blood that sinners might have forgiveness.
2. Redemption. Those who walk in sin are in bondage to it. Christ said, ". . . Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." (John 8:34.) Moreover, those in sin suffer spiritual death. "For the wages of sin is death . ." (Horn. 6:23.) Man having gotten himself into such a plight obviously cannot free himself, but must depend upon the power of Christ "In whom we have redemption through his blood; the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." (Eph. 1:7.)
3. Reconciliation. Men are alienated from God by their sins. God will not countenance sin; neither will he permit those who are in sin to dwell in his presence. It was, therefore, his purpose to send the Son that men might be purified of their sins for ". . . in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (Eph: 2:13.)
4. Sanctification. To sanctify is to separate or set apart; to make holy. Jesus separated men from their sins and set them apart to the holiness of God by the shedding of his blood. "Wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." (Heb. 13:12.)
5. Justification. Man does not and cannot justify himself. Only the Son of God can justify men and that through the shedding of his blood. "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Rom. 5:9.)
By the blood of Christ all these blessings are extended to the non-Christian. However, while it is vital for one to realize the blessings brought by Christ's blood; it is equally important for him to know how to contact that blood to receive them.
It is in Christ that we have redemption through his blood. (Eph. 1:7.) It follows, therefore, that to enjoy redemption (and all other spiritual blessings) one must be in Christ. Further, one gets into Christ by obedience to the gospel. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:27.) Hence, the non-Christian contacts the blood of Christ by baptism into him. All must realize that the blessings of Christ's blood come only to those who obey his gospel for " ...he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Heb. 5:9.)
The Blood Of Christ And The Christian
The question is often asked, "When one obeys the gospel and thereafter is overcome by sin, how can he be forgiven?"
Let us first emphasize the fact that Christians, those who have obeyed the gospel of Christ, do sin. John wrote, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (I John 1:8.) Even though Christians have been forgiven of their past sins they still live in a fleshly body and in a life fraught with temptation, and they do fall to sin. The Christian who denies he sins according to John deceives himself, and one who, knowing this, continues to deny it is a liar and God's word is not in him. (I John 1:8,10.)
Nevertheless, the Christian who sins still has contact with the blood of Christ through confession of his faults and prayer for forgiveness. "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9.) Hence, though Christians will sin, if they are penitent and will confess their sins and pray God for forgiveness they may be pardoned, and that by the blood of Christ. "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 John 1:7.) "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have a advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (I John 2:1.)
Conclusion
The blood of Jesus Christ is indeed precious. It is precious to the non-Christian because it will cleanse him of past sins and make him a Christian. The non-Christian may obtain the blessings of the blood by initial obedience to the gospel. It is precious to the Christian because it will cleanse him of sins which he commits after initial obedience to the gospel and may be reached by penitent prayer to God through Christ Jesus.