The Precious Blood of Christ

The Bible calls Jesus Christ’s blood, “precious (1 Pet 1:19).” The meaning of blood in the Scriptures is, “a life poured out in death.” This is the idea of sacrifices, which is a prevalent theme in the Old Testament temple cult. Christ poured out or gave up His life unto death. Why is this important? What did it accomplish?

In laying down His life for His sheep (Jn 10:11, 15), the people of His own pasture, He secured eternal life for them (Jn 10:28). In His death on the cross, He shed His blood for the forgiveness of their sins (Col 2:13). This looks back at the Old Testament sacrificial system (Ex 30:10). This system revealed what was required for sinful humanity (elect of Old Testament Israel) to be reconciled to God.

God is the offended party and man is the offense. The sin of man has invited the wrath of God (Rom 1:18–32). This is the just punishment for sins committed against God (Ps 7:11). The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23), and in Adam, all die because all are guilty of sin (Rom 3:23; 1 Cor 15:22).

To be declared “not guilty” is justification (Rom 5:18), and the only way for one to be justified is the expiation of guilt (Jas 2:10), which comes from the cancelled debt of sin (Col 2:14). If one’s sins are fully and adequately dealt with, then he is righteous before God (1 Cor 1:30; Eph 1:7). He has right standing before the righteous Judge (Gen 18:25; Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5). Justification comes by the blood of our unblemished substitute, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29).

The death of the substitute sacrifice in the Old Testament meant the blood was proof the animal’s life was poured out in death (Lev 16:8, 10, 26). The high priest presented the blood at the mercy seat atop the Ark of the Covenant in the holiest place in the temple at Jerusalem (Lev 16:14–15).

God came down to see the blood, which then brought forgiveness of sins, expiation of guilt, and propitiation, which was the turning away of God’s wrath from elect sinners (Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10). This service of sacrifice was repeated each year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (Ex 30:10).

The propitiatory sacrifice of Christ on the cross (Rom 3:25), where His blood was shed for the remission of sin (Mt 26:28; Eph 1:7; Heb 9:22), was a one-time offering for all His people (Heb 10:12, 14), His church, the Israel of God (Gal 6:16). Jesus gave Himself over to death for the benefit of His church (Eph 5:25). He laid down His life for her, in love (Jn 15:13). He came to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). His people are those whom the Father gave to Him (Jn 6:37; 17:2, 6, 24), and the Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19).

The removal of sins means the removal of guilt, and with sins removed, the wrath of God against the elect redeemed is also removed (Rom 8:1). Their ransom paid for redemption was by His atoning blood (Mt 20:28). The extent of Christ’s atonement reveals the infinite worth of His life, given over to death. Every sin of His elect people is removed by His precious blood.

It is the blood that not only redeems God’s chosen people, but it washes us clean, purifying us from sins (Lev 8:15; 14:52; Ezek 43:20; Heb 9:13–14, 22). It is the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, which cleanses us from all sin (1 Jn 1:7).

The value of the precious blood of Christ reaches to the world, and it is only limited by the election of God. Christ shed His blood for the people God chose for salvation (Jn 10:11, 14; 1 Pet 2:24; 3:18; Eph 5:25).

Just as the Israelites of the Old Testament came under the sprinkling of blood for protection (Heb 11:28), so everyone belonging to Jesus Christ must come under His blood (1 Pet 1:2). This is done at the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:11; Jn 1:33; Acts 1:5; 2:38; 10:47; 11:16; 1 Cor 12:13).

The application of the blood of Christ by the Holy Spirit brings faith through regeneration (Eph 2:8–9; Gal 3:22; Phil 1:29; 1 Pet 1:3). Christians are justified by the blood of Christ (Rom 5:9). They are justified by the grace given to them (Rom 3:24), and we say they are justified by faith in the Son of God (Rom 3:28), who loved us and gave Himself for us (Eph 5:2).

Without the death of Christ on the tree (1 Pet 2:24), there would be no blood, and with no blood, there would be no forgiveness. Guilt would remain and the wrath of God would still loom against all people, dead in their trespasses and sins, even as it does for those who have no redemption and no application of the blood, today.

Every soul either has the application of the blood of Christ or they do not have it. They either have eternal life in Christ Jesus, the Son of God or they do not have the Son, nor life (Jn 3:36; 1 Jn 5:12).

It is our great High Priest who has brought this blood into the presence of God. It is His own blood. It covers absolutely all the sins of God’s people. Jesus is the just substitute for these unjust sinners. This is the reason the blood of Christ is precious to the redeemed child of God, who sings, “His blood avails for me.”

To have an interest in the Savior’s blood is to have faith in the sure payment for one’s debt of sin. What joy there is for the Christian to speak of the blood of the Savior, and there is only one God and Savior…Jesus Christ (Titus 1:3–4; 3:4–6)!

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

February 19, 2022