The Overwhelming Importance of the Shed Blood of Jesus at the Cross of Calvary!

04 May 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hebrews 9:22.        And almost all things are by the law purged with (cleansed by) blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission (forgiveness) of sin.

And then it was the Third Sunday after Easter; more time to celebrate God’s awesome goodness to the disobedient children of men, through Christ’s sacrificial death and magnificent resurrection. And all God’s children said a loud and very grateful; ‘Thank You Jesus!’ 

But yuh know what, some of us still don’t understand the great or the full significance of Christ’s death and resurrection in regards to our having the option of salvation and eternal life, and no longer headed straight for hell fire and eternal separation from God. Many of us don’t take it as seriously as we ought to, and consider it a trifling matter. But the truth is my brethren, Christ’s deeds at Easter produced the biggest change in the story of mankind since creation and the sinful disobedience of our forefathers Adam and Eve. 

And the resounding truth is as Bruh Paul writes to the Roman church: ‘Therefore as by the offence (false step) of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (by one righteous act) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.’ (Rom. 5:18-19) 

And that’s the unalterable fact; for as sin came to mankind through Adam, so did righteousness come to man through Jesus. And to kick of today’s fellowship we have a hymn detailing possibly the most important fact of Jesus’ sacrifice. It’s a hymn we know quite well, and oftentimes invoke it’s contents, though without the seriousness it deserves. It’s a traditional American hymn titled ‘Nothing but the Blood of Jesus,’ written by Robert Lowry, a hymn writer who was a Baptist minister and professor at Bucknell University. 

The hymn was published in 1897, and deals with the blood atonement and propitiation for sin by the death of Jesus as explained in Hebrews 9. So without further ado, let’s raise our sweet sacrifices of praise to high heaven in an upbeat version of the song, with true heartfelt sincerity and gratitude, because without the shed blood of Christ we’d all be hell bound. 

Singing: ‘What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain: Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.) For my pardon, this I see, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; For my cleansing this my plea, Nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain) Nothing can for sin atone, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; Naught of good that I have done, Nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain) 

This is all my hope and peace, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; This is all my righteousness, Nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain) Now by this I’ll overcome; Nothing but the blood of Jesus; Now by this I’ll reach my home, Nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain) Glory! Glory! This I sing; Nothing but the blood of Jesus, All my praise for this I bring, Nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain) Nothing but the Blood…Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.’ 

And that’s for certain sure my fellow believer’s: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus can cleanse us from sin! And let’s note, that it’s not simply Jesus’ blood that brings forgiveness, but His shed blood at the cross of Calvary. That’s what paid for our sins. Because, as Hebrews tells us: ‘And almost all things are by the law purged with (cleansed by) blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission (forgiveness) of sin.’ (Heb. 9:22) 

Now, in the Old Testament the blood of animals was used to offer sacrifices for sins, but that blood only covered them for a while, it could not completely wash away their sins. And the high priest had to enter the Holiest of Holies every year to make renewed sacrifices​ for their sins. But as Hebrews tells us: ‘Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he (Jesus) entered in once into the holy place (the Most Holy Place), having obtained eternal redemption for us. 

For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth (sets apart) to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot (blemish) to God, purge (cleanse) your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.’ (Heb. 9:12-14)  

That’s why John in his first epistle could quite unequivocally claim: ‘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.’ (1 John 1:7) And I like how this commentary explains the overall situation. 

‘Because the just penalty of human sin against God is death (Romans 6:23), the death of sanctioned animal sacrifices, through the presentation of their blood, stood in temporarily for the requirement of death for sinners. Yet the high priest had to return year after year, “repeatedly” (Hebrews  (9:7; 9:25), because “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). The repeated animal sacrifices were delaying the inevitable, waiting on God’s fullness of times. 

One day a final reckoning for sin must come. Christians, of course, believe and celebrate that now in Christ, and under the terms of a new covenant, the reckoning has come. Jesus willingly “offered himself” (Hebrews 9:14) by “once for all” shedding “his own blood” (Hebrews 9:12), bringing to its intended completion the temporary covenant that came before (the old covenant) and inaugurating in its place an “eternal covenant,” (Hebrews 13:20), which we call the new covenant.’  

That shows how important, precious and valuable the shed blood of Christ is to us. It’s the covering that allows us to enter into the presence of a perfect and holy God. And let’s also note that the shed blood of Christ not only offers us forgiveness of sin, but also sanctification, as Hebrews tells us. ‘Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify (set apart) the people with his own blood, suffered without (outside) the gate.’ (Heb. 13:12) 

And I believe it is most fitting for us to end with the verses that come after that one. ‘Let us go forth therefore unto him without (outside) the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks (confessing) to his name. But to do good and to communicate (share) forget not: for with such sacrifice God is well pleased.’ (Heb. 13:13-16) 

Yes my fellow saints; hopefully we offered up sincere sacrifices of praise today, and we’ll not forget to do good and to share with our fellow believers in the upcoming week! Much LOVE!

…only the blood of Jesus…yes…only the blood of Jesus can atone for human sin…forever and ever…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   8 May 2022 Proverbs 6:20.

08 May 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Proverbs 6:20.      My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law (teaching) of thy mother.

HAPPY  MOTHER’S  DAY ! 

And thankfully, another Mother’s Day has come around. It’s one of the best days in the calendar, because on that day many Mothers receive the kind of LOVE, treatment and appreciation that they ought to receive all year long. And it’s rather sad and disgraceful that in these supposed enlightened times, that women are still generally being treated like second class citizens, like servants and slaves. 

In many countries of the world, they have no rights whatsoever, they are beholden to the males in the family, who take advantage of their glorified manly positions and abuse the women folk with absolutely no thought to their welfare. But those are sins that men will eventually pay for, because God is like a mother to us, and He has a special affection for mothers. 

Anyway, on this Mother’s Day Sunday we are going to open our worship with a hymn specially dedicated to the Mothers of this world, appropriately titled ‘Honour Christian Mothers,’ and it’s sung to the wonderful tune of ‘Onward Christian Soldiers.’ So, let’s remember the mainstay, the very foundation of our families, as we belt out this tune, offering up sincere sacrifices of praise in their honour. 

All together now: ‘Honour Christian Mothers, instruments of God, Raising faithful families, worshipping the Lord, Following His commandments, showing us the way: LOVE and faith and kindness; teaching us to pray. (Chorus: Honour Christian Mothers, instruments of God, Raising faithful families, worshipping the Lord.) “Let it be,” say mothers, trusting to obey, finding strength and courage, grace for every day. Challenges surround us, but we will not fear. God’s LOVE will sustain us, help, our cross, to bear. (Chorus) 

God be with our mothers who have gone before, certain of His promise: life forevermore. In His many mansions, LOVE again we’ll share, He will take away all sorrow, wipe away each tear. (Chorus) Honour Christian Mothers—Heaven’s gift of LOVE. Join with them in service to the Lord above. Follow their example, let your lights so shine—All will see your goodness, praise the One Divine. (Chorus) Onward, still, ye mothers, tho’ the time will come; Sons will leave their parents, daughters leave their homes. We’ll remain united, Mother’s legacy; One in LOVE and faithfulness, One in charity. (Chorus: Honour Christian Mothers, instruments of God, Raising faithful families, worshipping the Lord… Raising faithful families, worshipping the Lord.’  

Oh friends, mothers are indeed the most important part of our families. They bear us in their own bodies for nine months, then painfully give us birth, ofttimes promising never to repeat the process, (smile) but soon do it again, because they LOVE children and it’s part of their godly heritage, their godly cross to bear. Then they nurture us all through our formative years, doing things for us that only mothers can enjoy doing. They teach us about LOVE, caring, compassion, humility and all the other important things we need to know. 

Most of us learn how to successfully live this live through our godly mothers. That reminds me of my own mother Molly, who went to be with the Lord some eleven years ago, because it’s she who taught me all I knew about life and LOVE in my formative years…and was still trying to teach me even in my adulthood. (smile) But that’s how mothers are. 

And I like how the ESV version of the Good Book describes mothers in Proverbs. ‘Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” … (Prov. 31:25-29) 

And in these turbulent times many women are doing double duty, without complaining too, that’s working both within the home and outside it too, so that their families can make ends meet. And don’t think that we are doing something so great on our own initiative by honouring mothers nuh, because that was one of God’s first directives to the children of Israel in the Ten Commandments. It boldly and purposefully reads: ‘Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.’ (Ex. 20:12) 

Yes sir, it’s right there in the Good Book! And if you think that was only in the Old Testament, then look again for Bruh Paul repeats it again in his letter to the Ephesians. ‘Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and thy mother: which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.’ (Eph. 6:1-3) Oh my brethren, honouring, obeying respecting and giving reverence to our parents is indeed called for by God, and it’s the first rule that God gave His people, that bore an attached promise; long life on the earth. 

And in Cousin Sol’s teaching on wisdom in Proverbs, he continually exhorts us to pay serious attention to what our parents teach us. For example: ‘My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law (teaching) of thy mother… For the commandment is a lamp; and the law (teaching) is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.’ (Prov. 6:20, 23) It is therefore imperative that we listen to our parents if we expect to live a successful life. 

And although the father is technically the head of the household, it’s often the mothers in the families who teach us the right way of living. That’s sort of become their duty, their legacy, down through the ages. A duty and legacy they’ve usually borne with honour and compassion, although it often costs them dearly. But that’s what a mother’s LOVE is all about; giving unselfishly of herself to her family. 

Jesus knew and appreciated the importance of mothers so much that on the cross, shortly before He gave up this earthly life, He saw His mother standing next to John, the disciple whom He LOVED. ‘He saith unto his mother, woman, behold thy son. Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.’ (John 19:26-27) 

Yes friends, Jesus made sure that His mother was looked after when He was gone. And that’s how we ought also to be; make provision for our mothers, for without their LOVE and hard work, we would not even exist, much less have a long and joyful life in the land that the Lord God has given to us. And I’d like to think that Jesus’ provision for her, was another of the many things which Mary treasured in her heart about her remarkable, eye-opening experiences with her wonderful Son, like the Good Book says in Luke 2:51. ‘…but his mother kept all these saying in heart.’ 

And so she should, because she had been given possibly the toughest role a mother ever had, especially in the emotional department, but one that she executed with grace, strength and faith. And so do most mothers. So please let’s celebrate them not only today, but each and every day of their lives, for that’s the Lord’s command! Much LOVE!

…without mother’s…there’d be no children…and thus…no LOVING families… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8​     ​