The Blood of Christ

The Blood of Christ gives us salvation for our sins, (Romans 3:25 “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed before hand unpunished 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” Romans 5:9 “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”) For, we have all sinned (Romans 3:23 “We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”).

But, why, you may ask. Why is blood used for atonement? Why does God value blood so highly? What happens when God sees blood?

Lets go to the story of Adam and Eve. Eve ate the fruit, gave it to Adam and they committed the first sin. They knew that they were naked, and then: Genesis chapter 3. Lets look at verse 21 in particular. “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” Well, I ask, where did our Lord God get the skins? He had to kill some animals. Therefore, we have the first animal sacrifice for our sins. God made that first sacrifice Himself for Adam and Eve (us). From then to Christ man had to make his own sacrifices as set down by God’s law. The spilt blood showed God that some sin had occurred and the sinner was trying to atone to God for the sin.

Let’s ‘fast-forward’ to the Passover in Exodus 12. First let’s look at verse 7; “Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.” … 15 “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are:” So, What happens when God sees the blood? “and when I see the blood, I will pass over you…” We must reason that the blood satisfies God. “The Blood is first for God to see. We then have to accept God’s valuation of it. In doing so we shall find our salvation.” (“The Normal Christian Life”, Watchman Nee, American Edition 1977, p. 19, 20) It is a sign of our redemption.

“Fast-forward” to Leviticus 16: 14 “[Aaron] is to take some of the bull’s blood and with his finger sprinkle on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover. 15 He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. 16 In this way he will make atonement…” Why? “[continuation of the same verse] …because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been.” Once again blood was shed for their redemption. At that time the blood satisfied man’s sins.

Let’s really ‘fast-forward’ to Hebrews Chapter 9:11-28: The Blood of Christ
( I know that this was in some of the other replies, but the full text is necessary to keep context with my previous thoughts.)
11When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here,[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not manmade, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14How 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,[b] so that we may serve the living God!
15For 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.
16In the case of a will,[c] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[d] 21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ did not enter a manmade sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. "



Therefore, we must conclude that the Blood of Christ is the ultimate in saving grace. “I approach God through his merits alone, and never on the basis of my attainment; never, for example, on the ground that I have been extra kind or patient today, or that I have done something for the Lord this morning. I have to come by way of the Blood every time.” (IBID p 22,23)



I hope this might help… There is more but I can not do Mr. Nee justice. You need to read him to get a full understanding of this concept.

Your brother in Christ,
Russ


All verses NIV