It’s difficult to talk about bloodshed in a positive way. Particularly at the moment with so many atrocities happening around the world resulting in innocents losing their lives. And yet perhaps shockingly to many, innocent bloodshed is really one of the crucial positive messages of Christianity.
Hebrews 9:22 reminds us that as revealed in the law God gave to Moses, there is no remission of sin (forgiveness of debt) without the shedding of blood. And not just any blood – the blood of a spotless, guilt free sacrifice is required to wipe away the stain and the guilt of wrongdoing. After all the life is IN the blood (Lev 17:11) – making blood a kind of spiritual currency. A life for a life. Being the perfect judge that He is, God cannot simply ignore the debt owed to Him when we mess up. Any more than we would when someone wrongs us terribly – in fact we usually expect to take them to court to see justice done.
But whilst God’s perfect justice demands payment, His great love for us wants mercy. Cue the innocent sinless sacrifice of Jesus Christ on behalf of all mankind – stepping in willingly to give his life to pay our debt fully and wipe away our stains of guiltiness. What a plan! God Himself paying the debt that we owed Him.
These are the truths expressed in the track ‘Blood Bought’ from my first EP ‘My Beloved Calls’ Our debts really have been completely paid for and we are washed clean by the innocent blood of Jesus. Hebrews chapters 9 and 10 lay it out clearly for us that Jesus entered the Holy places in Heaven to make a new and living way for us to approach God with confidence. Where the way had been shut because of our sin – now He has opened the path again for us to enjoy relationship with God our Father. God’s justice satisfied so His great love could be fulfilled (Eph 2:4)
For those who have accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on their behalf, His blood works continuously today to purge consciences from dead (fruitless) works. I thank God for the perfect, powerful blood of Jesus!