Church Speak - Part 7 - Why So Much Blood?

Christians sing about blood.
- "Are You Washed In The Blood?"
- "O The Blood"
- "Love Ran Red"

 

Christ-followers talk about blood and its power. 
Some churches display images of Jesus with varying amounts of blood on His body.

Why so much blood?

To help us find the answer to that question, we can read the words of the biblical writer of the letter to the Hebrews.

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Hebrews 9:14 (NIV)

Those words immediately follow the writer's (possibly Paul) assertion that the old (former) way of symbolically atoning for sins, which involved the sacrifice (killing / shedding blood) of goats and bulls proved, while meaningful, incomplete.  In fact, the shedding of the blood of "Innocent" animals foreshadowed the death of the innocent Son of God - Jesus the Christ.

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
Hebrews 9:15 (NIV)

Other passages of Scripture help answer our question of Church Speak.  The writing of Matthew in the book bearing his name serves as a prime example.

27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:27-28 (NIV)

The Lord's Supper (Communion / Eucharist), as established by Jesus serves as an unmistakable reminder of the significance of Jesus' death.  Jesus' death, best symbolized by blood (think "life blood"), serves as the open door to salvation for all who believe.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
John 1:12 (NIV)

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Romans 3:22a (NIV)

Christians, I am quite sure, will continue to sing and talk about blood, specifically the blood of Jesus.  For without His blood (death), all are without hope; but with His blood (by His death), all who choose to believe and follow hold firmly to hope.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Romans 5:9-10 (NIV)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading these blogs on Church Speak.  Next week I will return Ordinary Lives to more ordinary themes.  😉
Next week's topic - Waiting on Jesus.

#ordinarylives