For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. - Leviticus 17:11 ESV
What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
What can make me whole again?
Nothing 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
For my pardon, this I see;
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my cleansing, this my plea;
Nothing 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!
Nothing can for sin atone;
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Not of good that I have done;
Nothing 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!
This is all my hope and peace;
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness;
Nothing 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!
- Robert Lowry
As I listened to the words of this song while I was driving home yesterday, I was struck by the gravity of what was being said. The content of the lyrics became real to me. Dutch Theologian and Statesmen, Abraham Kuyper once stated:
"In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, 'That is mine!'"
It is in the same manner which Christ's blood covers the lives of Christians. There is not a single square inch of our lives that the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross cannot cover. All too often this is forgotten--and excluded from the modern day gospel. This should be our centerpiece; that Christ shed his blood for the atonement of sins. Sadly, we seem to forget. The christian life should look like a grizzly murder scene; the blood of Christ should cover every corner of every room of our hearts and lives--every square inch! A bloodless gospel is a myth and is never mighty enough to save. Much of the failure in our day (as in any other day) is largely due to the lack of concentration on this topic. Most of the focus is given to the life of Christ--Jesus as the ultimate "example" of how to live. Then, with a little editorial work in the theatres of our minds, we are able to skip to the good part "Christ, the lord has risen today! Alleluia!". This is true and good. But it is by the blood that our conscience can be cleared of the guilt of sin. It is only by the blood that our sins can be forgiven. Christ took our place and punishment due to us so that now we can stand justified by faith in him before God.
When Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ hit the cinema, there was much controversy behind it. But regardless of the opinion one may have had about the movie, I think that it is safe to say that it was an extremely bold and courageous move on Gibson's part to focus solely on the crucifixion. In essence (whether knowingly or unknowingly), Gibson plants a flag firmly on the apex of the Christian faith--Christ and him crucified. In ancient creeds and confessions this is of the utmost importance, as it should be for us today. Every Sunday is an Easter celebration; Christ bearing the sins of the world that he might save many. To lose this would be to lose everything. The old hymn writers were well aware of this:
"Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness..."
"There's a fountain filled with blood..."
"Friend of sinners, spotless lamb; Thy blood was shed for me..."
"And can it be that I should gain and interest in my Savior's blood?"
"Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness..."
"For nothing good have I whereby your grace to claim--I'll wash my garments white in the blood of Calvary's Lamb..."
The list could go on and on. May this always be at the forefront of our message to the world; covered in the blood of Christ that takes away the sin of the world (Isaiah 53; John 1:29).
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed in the blood,In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless?
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!
- Elisha Hoffman
What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
What can make me whole again?
Nothing 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
For my pardon, this I see;
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my cleansing, this my plea;
Nothing 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!
Nothing can for sin atone;
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Not of good that I have done;
Nothing 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!
This is all my hope and peace;
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness;
Nothing 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!
- Robert Lowry
As I listened to the words of this song while I was driving home yesterday, I was struck by the gravity of what was being said. The content of the lyrics became real to me. Dutch Theologian and Statesmen, Abraham Kuyper once stated:
"In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, 'That is mine!'"
It is in the same manner which Christ's blood covers the lives of Christians. There is not a single square inch of our lives that the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross cannot cover. All too often this is forgotten--and excluded from the modern day gospel. This should be our centerpiece; that Christ shed his blood for the atonement of sins. Sadly, we seem to forget. The christian life should look like a grizzly murder scene; the blood of Christ should cover every corner of every room of our hearts and lives--every square inch! A bloodless gospel is a myth and is never mighty enough to save. Much of the failure in our day (as in any other day) is largely due to the lack of concentration on this topic. Most of the focus is given to the life of Christ--Jesus as the ultimate "example" of how to live. Then, with a little editorial work in the theatres of our minds, we are able to skip to the good part "Christ, the lord has risen today! Alleluia!". This is true and good. But it is by the blood that our conscience can be cleared of the guilt of sin. It is only by the blood that our sins can be forgiven. Christ took our place and punishment due to us so that now we can stand justified by faith in him before God.
When Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ hit the cinema, there was much controversy behind it. But regardless of the opinion one may have had about the movie, I think that it is safe to say that it was an extremely bold and courageous move on Gibson's part to focus solely on the crucifixion. In essence (whether knowingly or unknowingly), Gibson plants a flag firmly on the apex of the Christian faith--Christ and him crucified. In ancient creeds and confessions this is of the utmost importance, as it should be for us today. Every Sunday is an Easter celebration; Christ bearing the sins of the world that he might save many. To lose this would be to lose everything. The old hymn writers were well aware of this:
"Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness..."
"There's a fountain filled with blood..."
"Friend of sinners, spotless lamb; Thy blood was shed for me..."
"And can it be that I should gain and interest in my Savior's blood?"
"Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness..."
"For nothing good have I whereby your grace to claim--I'll wash my garments white in the blood of Calvary's Lamb..."
The list could go on and on. May this always be at the forefront of our message to the world; covered in the blood of Christ that takes away the sin of the world (Isaiah 53; John 1:29).
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed in the blood,In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless?
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!
- Elisha Hoffman
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. - Romans 3:21-26 ESV
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. - Hebrews 9:11-14 ESV
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. - Revelation 7:13-14 ESV
Happy Easter,
From the Balcony
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