The Wondrous Blood of Christ

"It was the blood that was of infinite merit and value in the sight of God. It was not the blood of one who was nothing more than a singularly holy man, but of one Who was God's own 'Fellow,' very God of very God (Zec. 13:7). It was not the blood of one who died involuntarily, as a martyr for truth, but of one Who voluntarily undertook to be the Substitute and Proxy for mankind, to bear their sins and carry their iniquities. It made atonement for man's transgressions; it paid man's enormous debt to God; it provided a way of righteous reconciliation between sinful man and his holy Maker; it made a road from heaven to earth, by which God could come down to man and show mercy; it made a road from earth to heaven by which man could draw near to God and yet not feel afraid. Without it, there could have been no remission of sin. Through it, a fountain has been formed wherein sinners can wash and be clean to all eternity (Rom. 3:26)

"This wondrous blood of Christ applied to your conscience can cleanse you from all sin. It matters nothing what your sins may have been: 'Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool' (Isa. 1:18). From sins of youth and sins of age, from sins of ignorance and since of knowledge, from sins of open profligacy and sins of secret vice, from sins against law and since against Gospel, from sins of head, heart, tongue, thought, and imagination, from sins against each and all of the Ten Commandments--from all these the blood of Christ can set us free. To this end was it appointed; for this cause was it shed; for this purpose, it is still a fountain open to all mankind. That thing which you cannot do for yourself can be done in a moment by this precious fountain. YOU CAN HAVE ALL YOUR SINS CLEANSED AWAY" (J.C. Ryle, Old Paths: Being Plain Statements of Some of the Weightier Matters of Christianity, printed in Issue 227 of Free Grace Broadcaster, p. 18).

Lord Jesus, very God and very God: thank You for shedding Your holy, innocent, and priceless blood for a vile sinner like me. Had You not humbled Yourself to take on human flesh, had You not yet further humbled Yourself to endure the cross, shed Your blood, and die there would be no hope for me. Only death, judgment, and eternal punishment in hell would be my lot and my just desserts for a life of rebellion against You. But because You shed Your blood, Your wondrous, efficacious, atoning blood I am filled with hope eternal. Because of the precious flow that has made me white as snow, I am forgiven! There is no other fount so pure, so clean, so holy that can wash me clean. Nothing but Your blood, Lord Jesus.

I know I am cleansed from all my sin, not because of anything I have done, but because of the mercy shown my by God the Father, which was manifested when He crushed His own Son, You my Lord, under the weight of His wrath. Father, thank You for allowing Your Son to be my Substitute. Thank You, Father, for receiving the priceless payment made by Your Son, my Lord--a payment I could never pay. Thank You, Father, for allowing Your Son's sacrifice to suffice to mark my ledger of sin "PAID IN FULL!" Thank you, Almighty God, for being just and the justifier of one so wicked as myself. Thank You for receiving Your Son, my Savior, in my place. Lord Jesus, thank You for justifying me through your perfectly meritorious sacrifice, by taking on the wrath I deserved and clothing me in Your righteousness. I am white as snow because You dripped drops of scarlet life.

Holy Spirit, please remind me every moment of every day what price Christ paid for me. Remind me every moment of every day what debt Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross canceled on my behalf. Fill me with such thankfulness that I would feel as though I would burst if I not tell at least one lost soul every day about the wondrous blood of Christ. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.