The Blood of Jesus

I’m so thankful for the blood of Jesus.  We sing with gusto: “It washes white as snow.”  Truly, ours is a “crimson” salvation!

Let me explain this phrase by quoting Matthew 1:18, "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:  His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit."

Mary had never "known" a man before; she was a virgin in the very technical sense of the word (verse 23).  Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit without the intervention of a human father.  Joseph and Mary did not have sexual intercourse until after Mary gave birth to Jesus.

Now, for a brief biology lesson!  When the male sperm and female ovum (egg) unite in what we refer to as conception, it is the male seed that determines both the sex of the child and the blood type of the fetus.  Therefore, when Mary conceived, it was in fact the very blood of God that began life in Mary's womb, and that later coursed through the veins of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It was blood that was uncontaminated by sin.  The blood of God bypassed the genetic code of Mary and remained untouched by sin.  Jesus was the spotless Lamb of God.  That's why Paul could write in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us..."

The blood that Jesus shed for our redemption was the blood of God, precious blood, and atoning blood.  Entire books have been written on this subject.  This doctrine has been challenged, debated and ridiculed by those who try to eliminate our "crimson" salvation, but the Bible makes it clear in so many places that the blood of Jesus was truly an acceptable sacrifice for the sins of mankind.  

 Let's allow Hebrews 9:12-14 to speak for itself:

"He [Jesus] did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once and for all by His own blood having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who were ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.  How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God."

Only the blood of Jesus--the pure, spotless blood of God qualifies to save us from our sins! Are YOU washed in the blood?

The Rapture!

One of the cornerstone doctrines of our Faith is the Rapture of the Church.  This is when, according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Jesus Christ will “airlift” the redeemed from across the ages to be forever with Him.  The late Dan Ronsisvalle used to say, “It will not be an airplane ride, but a plain air ride!”  The Scriptures are clear.  This glorious event will take place “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:51).  This is called the Church’s Blessed Hope. 

Yet as a kid, I feared the Rapture because of my unhealthy theology.  During my youth, a popularly acclaimed Christian film hit the church scene.  Most of my Christian acquaintances gave A Thief in the Night raving reviews, but I left the theater greatly disturbed.  I remember thinking, “I don’t have a chance.  I’m not as holy as those people who disappeared!  Certainly, I’m not good enough to go in the Rapture.”  I’m not blaming the producers of the film, but I viewed it through the lens of fear and law-based theology.

My fear of the Rapture continued for several years.  The blessed hope became the terrible tormentor.  The Scriptures tell us that “the trumpet will sound and the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). 

During my boyhood, my family lived seven miles south of Ashtabula Harbor.  Distant train whistles and ship foghorns penetrated the still summer nights and I can remember lying in bed crying – afraid that I missed the Rapture.   That’s how tormented I was.  It was wonderful when later I saw godly people and realized I had not been left behind.

Subsequently, a sermon on the “Catching Away” was the catalyst the Holy Spirit used to bring me under conviction and to saving grace!   It was Tuesday, August 4, 1970.  The late Donald Schorsch used as his text,  “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

He painted wonderful word pictures when he preached.  I “saw” Jesus stepping down on a cloud, as those who died in Christ rose from their graves.  Then we who were alive on earth joined them in the clouds.  I “saw” teeming masses of people “caught up.”  I “heard” the trumpet blast.  I was SO READY to give my life to Christ.  I couldn’t wait for him to quit preaching and to give the invitation to accept Christ.  That night, I became “Rapture-Ready!”

I still love to hear preaching on the Rapture.  It never grows old!   During difficult days, the Holy Spirit reminds me that Jesus is coming again!  “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3).  I’ll see you on the way up.  Get ready.  It could happen today!