Cleansed by Blood

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64: 6)

The best efforts of man to save himself by his own good deeds will avail nothing with God in the Day of Judgment. They are esteemed by him as all an "unclean thing" and as "filthy rags." For men to use these rags to hide and cover over their spiritual nakedness is folly.

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1: 18)

Sin has left its crimson stain on all men. Men are blackened and polluted by sin. They are unclean as lepers. Man is morally and spiritually filthy in his soul, in his heart, and in his mind. The good news is that God has provided a way in which sinners may be both forgiven and fully cleansed. Though they be ever so filthy, yet the blood of Christ can make them purest white.

"And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." (Exodus 12: 13)

Here was the first Passover, a time when the Lord would "pass over" the houses that had the sacrificial blood applied to the doorposts. The message is clear - the blood of Christ is the only way for God to "pass over" a sinner when he comes to destroy the transgressors.

"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26: 28)

The blood required for cleansing has been graciously provided. The only thing left is to have that blood "applied" to the sinner, as it was first applied to the "door" of the houses of the believing ones. The unforgiven sinner needs this blood applied to his heart, mind and soul.

"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...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: 7,9)

"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6: 53, 54)

"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God" (Romans 3: 24)

Thus, this blood is applied when one comes to trust in that blood, and to partake of it in the gospel.

One will either be saved by this blood or destroyed by it.

"Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." (Acts 5: 28)

"Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children." (Matthew 27: 25)

"Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." (I Corinthians 11: 27)

Friend, what is your relation to the blood of Jesus, God's sacrifice for sin and uncleanness? Are you guilty of his blood? Or, are you covered by the blood?

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 14)