by H. H. Snell
Scripture gives us several lines of instruction concerning the blood. It is found in the types given in the books of Moses, as well as in the epistles of the apostles. We propose to look at three aspects of the blood of Christ that speak to us of peace, communion and consecration. We can enjoy them all for present comfort and blessing.
1. Remission of sins is the general thought of Christians when considering the blood. Knowing ourselves to have been sinners against God, the blood was necessary How could we have a moment's peace unless we knew that our sins had been judged, and were assured of His forgiveness? The testimony of our Lord Himself was that His blood was shed for many for the remission of sins, and this gives unutterable relief to the troubled conscience.
We read in Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43) that the universal witness of the prophets is that whosoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ shall receive remission of sins. This settles the soul in rest and peace before God, because the intolerable load of sins is gone. By the testimony of the Holy Spirit, we know that we are cleansed from all sin, and that God will remember our sins and iniquities no more. Precious and comforting is the truth that Jesus made peace through the blood of His cross!
2. Communion with God inside the rent veil is, however, another thing. It is this communion into which we are introduced by the precious blood of Christ. Besides the blood being shed for the remission of sins, we are sweetly taught that "by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place." Heb. 9:1212Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12). That is, into the holy of holies, or "into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”
So we see that blessed Savior who loved us and gave Himself for us, now in heaven, the veil being rent, or heaven opened, and He having gone in by His own blood. There is everything to encourage us to be, in spirit, inside the veil by faith.
It is no marvel that it says, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having a high priest over the house of God; let us draw near." Heb. 10:19-2219Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19‑22). This is where God in His grace has brought us. This is where the blood of Christ gives us title to be now by faith, and in glorified bodies when Jesus comes. This is where we have access with confidence.
Communion with God by the Spirit, as well as worship and thanksgiving, are founded on the blood. We are, therefore, enjoined to "offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually." It is our highest and happiest occupation.
Communion Broken
When we lose this communion we soon become unhappy, and should be alarmed. Our communion with the Lord is very easily broken, but not always soon restored. It is restored by simply approaching God through the rent veil and the blood of the Lord Jesus.
What a blessing to the troubled soul who gets away from the true ground of fellowship, and then with all the struggling to get back, has to learn that all his ways of doing so were wrong, and that it is only by the rent veil and the precious blood of Christ, who is gone into heaven itself for us, that we can draw near. When we have wandered from Him, it is an immense thing to have really learned from God that there is no other way of approaching Him than by the blood of Jesus. On no other ground would we have title to be there.
Then the soul is at home again where he can pour out his heart, judge himself, and through wondrous grace confess his sins. There he finds the One who died for his sins; there he knows Him as his Priest, and there the blood of sprinkling always speaks on behalf of all who come to God by Him.
The Rent Veil
It is one thing to know these things doctrinally, but it is another to know them in our own experience—to be consciously inside the veil where all the perfectness of that peace and love is realized. All believers are entitled to it, but a careless walk, the practice of unjudged evil, or not abstaining from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, will hinder our enjoyment of the Lord and every privilege He has graciously given us. To be where Jesus now is with worshipping and thankful hearts is what should characterize the saints of God. Happy indeed are those who know the sweetness and blessedness of having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
3. Consecration, or the blood of Christ on us is another aspect of the blood that we may connect with those that we have already noticed. We read of "having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience." This is the blood applied to us, brought to bear on the conscience to purge it, and also to mark us out for God. Thus we are sanctified, or set apart, to God. "Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate." Heb. 13:1212Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. (Hebrews 13:12).
The priests of old, having been first washed with water, were afterward sprinkled with blood. The blood of the sacrifice was not only shed for them, and carried into the holiest of all and sprinkled on and before the mercy seat, but it was sprinkled on them. The blood (and the oil also) was sprinkled on parts of their bodies so as to set forth with remarkable significance how they were set apart for God.
They were to hearken to God, to receive communications from Him, to hear His voice and not the voice of a stranger. Hence the tips of their right ears were sprinkled with blood. They were to minister obediently to His Word, and do His will. Therefore we read that the thumbs of their right hands were also sprinkled with blood.
They were also to walk in His ways, and not in evil ways, all these steps being ordered by Him. They were thus to be detached from every unclean path, and walk in paths suited to His holy name. This, no doubt, is why the great toes of their right feet were also sprinkled with blood. (Lev. 8.)
How little we really know of the power of the precious blood of Christ practically setting us apart for God. Many who thank God with their whole hearts for the blood of Jesus giving remission of sins have no idea of the liberty they have of now being in the presence of God inside the veil. It is because Jesus, our forerunner, has gone into heaven itself by His own blood. There may be comparatively few of God's children who live and walk day by day as those who consciously have the blood on them, and the Holy Spirit in them. When these wondrous truths are realized as facts, what practical separation and devotedness to the Lord there must be. Who then can do otherwise than wait for God's Son from heaven?