For the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. (Leviticus 17:11 NLT)
Have you ever considered the gruesomeness of some of the old time hymns? Lines like:
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emanuel's veins.
What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Alas! And did my Savior bleede.
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Do those lines seem bloody and gruesome? Why did so many hymn writers emphasize the blood of Christ in worship? Isn't the Psalmist's hymn book full of lament and sorrow over sin, as well as uplifting praises of thanksgiving and gratitude?
The Old Testament worshipers couldn't approach God apart from sacrifices and shedding of blood. Death, the shedding of innocent blood, is the only means of atonement for sin. Jesus paid the ultimate price by shedding his precious blood while giving his life on Calvary.
Present day post-modern religious expression of worship seeks to eliminate the blood entirely. These so-called Evangelical members of Christianity emphasize to the extreme the goodness and love aspects of God's character, while completely ignoring the many Scripurres related to his wrath and punishment for sin. These feel good, prosperity, seeker friendly churches will all have to stand before God someday and answer for their false teaching that has drawn many people away from the blood-stained cross.
What are you relying upon for your slavation? Will good works apart from the shed blood of Jesus get you there? God said, "Without the shedding of blood, there is remission for sin."
Thought for the day: God is still singing, "Nothing but the blood of Jesus."
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