Scripture gives us various lines of instruction concerning the blood. They are largely referred to in the types given in the books of Moses, as well as in the apostles' ministry in their epistles. We now propose to look briefly at three aspects of the blood of Christ which speak to us of peace, communion, and consecration. They are all to be known for present comfort and blessing.
Remission of sins is the general thought of Christians when considering the blood. It is necessitated, for, knowing ourselves to have been sinners against God, 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 that His blood was shed for many for the remission of sins, gives unutterable relief to the troubled conscience, and the word of an apostle that the universal witness of prophets is that whoever believes on the Lord Jesus Christ shall receive remission of sins, settles the soul in rest and peace before God. Thus the intolerable load of sins is gone, and by the testimony of the Holy Spirit, such know that they are cleansed from all sin, and that God will remember their sins and iniquities no more. Precious cleansing, and oh, how comforting the truth that Jesus made peace through the blood of His cross!
Communion with God inside the rent veil is however another thing, and it is this also 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 He, "by his own blood 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 that 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 gone in by His own blood. Thus there is everything to encourage us to be in spirit inside the veil by faith.
It is no marvel that it is said, "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 an 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 upon the blood. We are therefore enjoined to "offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually." It is our highest and happiest occupation; and when we lose it we soon become unhappy. Directly we cease to have personal intercourse and communion with the Lord we should be alarmed. Everything should give way for it, so that whatever we do we might do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. All our business should be transacted inside the veil.
Communion with the Lord is very easily broken, but not always soon restored. When we have lost it, what are we to do? Many a soul struggles, re-doubles his efforts, prays, groans, fasts, and is troubled night and day, because he has lost the comfort of being in the Lord's presence, and this may go on for days, and months, or even years, and after all he learns that it cannot be regained in this way. All these exercises no doubt are useful in breaking down self-confidence, and in teaching that there is no good thing in the flesh, but communion is only restored by the simple way of approaching God, through the rent veil, and Him who is gone in there by His own blood. Then the soul is at home again, where He can pour out His heart, judge himself, and, through wondrous grace, even confess his sins; for there he finds the One who died for his sins, there he knows Him as his priest, and there the blood of sprinkling ever speaks on behalf of all who come unto God by Him!
What a blessing to the troubled soul who, first yielded to the flesh, the world, or Satan, and got away from the true ground of fellowship, and then, with all the struggling to get back, had to learn that all his ways of doing so were wrong, 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." It is an immense thing to have really learned from God that there is no other way of approaching Him, when we have wandered from Him, than by the blood of Jesus. This souls who are abiding in the grace of God know. It is because Christ is gone into heaven itself by His own blood, that we have access with confidence to God. On no other ground could we have title to be there.
It is one thing after all to know these things doctrinally, but it is another to know them in our own experience; to be consciously inside the veil, in all the perfectness of that peace and love which is there realized. All believers are entitled to it, but a careless walk, and the practice of evil unjudged, 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 there, however, 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. There is another aspect of the blood which we may profitably connect with those which we have already noticed. It is consecration, or the blood of Christ on us. 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 off 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, and on such parts of their bodies, too, as to set forth with remarkable significance how they were thus (and with the oil too) 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; and this, no doubt, is why the great toes of their right feet were also sprinkled with blood. (Lev. 8) Alas! how little we really know of the power of the precious blood of Christ thus 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 being now in the presence of God inside the veil, because Jesus our forerunner has gone into heaven itself by His own blood; but there may be comparatively few of God's saints who live and walk day by day as those who consciously have the blood on them, and the Holy Spirit of God in them. When these wondrous truths are realized as facts, what practical separation and devotedness to the Lord there must be. Then who can do otherwise than wait for God's Son from heaven? H. H. S.
We are always in the presence of God without a veil. Happen what may, He always sees us. We are there now, by virtue of a sacrifice which, has put sin away; which has accomplished the purification of our sins.