Daily Devotional

This morning, as I write this devotional, an old hymn from my childhood, keeps going through my mind.  “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. O precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow.  No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.” (Nothing But the Blood of Jesus, Robert Lowry, 1876) The Scriptures say it this way, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.”  (Hebrews 9:22) The following verses of the hymn go on to state that the blood of Jesus is the only means of pardon, cleansing, atonement, hope, peace, and righteousness.  All of this is provided by faith and not by any good works that we might do.  This forgiveness that Jesus’ blood provides, established a New Covenant.  

When Jesus observed the last Passover with His disciples, the Gospel of Matthew records for us, “Then He (Jesus) took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”  (Matthew 26:27–28) The word “Covenant” means an agreement.  It carries the idea of a last will and testament. This Covenant makes possible our salvation and the forgiveness of our sins.  Jesus was looking ahead to the cross where He would pour out His blood for our sins.  There Christ’s blood would be shed for each of us so that we might have the forgiveness of sins.

In the Old Testament, animal sacrifices only covered sin.  It was God’s way of dealing with sin until the sacrifice of His Son that would take away sin forever.  Jesus Christ’s death made provision for our forgiveness.  It was complete and brought about this New Covenant.  This New Covenant was based on a better sacrifice.  How was Jesus Christ’s sacrifice better?

• Christ became sin for us.

 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The sins of the world were placed on Christ so that He could, in turn, give His righteousness to all who put their faith and trust in Him as their Savior. On Christ, representatively, fell the collective consequence of sin. He took our sin to the cross and died in our place. Jesus is our substitute so when He died on the cross, God the Father sees each of us dying in His Son. It is the only way sin could be forgiven.
 

• Christ offered a once for all sacrifice.

“…He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.”  (Hebrews 10:12)

The animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were offered repeatedly. They could not completely take away sin. They only covered sin. Christ’s sacrifice was far superior for He offered Himself once. His sacrifice did not have to be repeated. He then sat down, showing that His redemptive work was done.  

• Christ’s death satisfied God’s righteous demands.

“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

Christ’s one sacrifice satisfied God’s righteous demands for sin.  In Romans 3:24–25, Paul states, “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.”
The sacrificing of animals under the Old Covenant could only cover sin.  On the Day of Atonement, blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies, to cover Israel’s sins for another year.  This sacrifice was offered annually.  Christ’s death brought God’s complete satisfaction for all sin past, present, and future.  The word “propitiation” in this verse speaks of the place of mercy.  As Christ gave His life on the cross, that sacrifice became the place of mercy.  God the Father was satisfied with this one sacrifice.  Christ’s death became the only means of our forgiveness of sin and mercy.
 

• Christ’s blood continually cleanses from all sin.

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  (1 John 1:7)

Jesus, in His sacrifice on the cross, paid for all sin – past, present, and future.  No other sacrifice is needed.  The Apostle John writes that the blood of Christ, “Cleanses us from all sin.”  As John writes this verse, the verb “cleanse” is in the present tense meaning that Christ’s blood continually cleanses us from all sin.  Forgiveness is a continuing gift given to us by a merciful God.  There is nothing I have done or ever will do that the blood of Jesus does not or will not cleanse.  As I walk in fellowship with the Lord today, the blood Jesus shed 2000 years ago is continually cleansing me from sin.  As I recognize my sin, I confess it to the Lord. (1 John 1:9) Today I am so thankful for God’s continual forgiveness of my sin.  I need that forgiveness daily.

Prayer: Thank you heavenly Father that my sins are forgiven through the one sacrifice Jesus gave of His life and blood on my behalf. My sin is completely forgiven and will never be held against me. Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful gift. “Nothing but the blood of Jesus” makes this possible. May I never take it for granted. Amen.

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.