Many non-Christians look upon Christians as having a “bloody religion” and want no part of it. We are considered to be out of step with modern thought and therefore ignorant in our beliefs. Unfortunately, many who “claim” they are Christians echo the same attitude.
It isn’t that Christians do anything that is bloody. Christians are peace loving. No animal sacrifices are made, nor even thought of. But we do believe in the Word of God, and in the following verse it cannot be more clear concerning the blood.
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)
The very first sin against God resulted in an innocent animal being slain by God to provide covering for the naked bodies of Adam and Eve. God has said that this is what must be done, and there is no other way. An innocent life must pay for the guilty. Why you ask? The Lord provides the answer in the following verse.
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:11)
I have read of several churches who have removed every song from their worship service that speaks of the blood. I must ask, “How can you call it a “worship” service and not mention the blood?” How can you refuse to acknowledge the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for our sins and call yourself a Christian? I will say very emphatically that to refuse Christ’ offering of His shed blood for our sins is more than clear that you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Regardless of anything else you say, your father is Satan, not God. You do not know Jesus Christ.
Following are church hymns that I recall from my childhood that were faithfully sung in our worship services: Are You Washed in the Blood, At Calvary, At the Cross, Because He Lives, Christ Arose, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Glory to His Name, He Lives, Jesus Paid It All, Near the Cross, Nothing But the Blood, Onward Christian Soldiers, Redeemed, The Old Rugged Cross, There is a Fountain, There is Power in the Blood, The Way of the Cross Leads Home, and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. There are more, but every one of these hymns refers to the blood of Jesus that was shed for us.
Many churches have replaced these hymns and others with what they call “praise music.” Explain to me, “How can you praise God in song, but remove every song from your repertoire that speaks of the blood of Jesus?” You cannot. It is a farce. It is a lie. You are singing to the wind, and the Spirit of God does not exist in your assembly. You are not a Church. You are just a group of people playing church.
Good luck, by the way, if you can find a church in your community that still faithfully sings these, and other, great old hymns. Most of us have gotten too “sophisticated” for them.
Now before some of you start hyperventilating, I am not saying that all “praise music” is bad. I am referring to those who use “praise music,” but refuse any song that mentions Christ’s blood. If you like praise music, I recall a wonderful old hymn called “Praise Him, Praise Him.” What’s wrong with that one?
Those who ignore the blood are refusing to accept what it represents. What does it represent you ask? As the animal had to die by God’s hands to clothe Adam and Eve, Jesus Christ had to die to clothe all of us in righteousness. To refuse the greatest gift God could give mankind is to remain in our separated condition from God and leave this world spiritually naked, facing judgment in hell.
The blood tells us that something or someone died. In this case, that someone is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He freely died upon a Roman cross and took our penalty upon Himself. Let’s not leave it there though. Three days later, as He said would happen He rose from the grave. Without His death, shedding of His blood, we cannot be saved. Without His resurrection from the dead, on the third day, we cannot be saved.
Consider the lyrics to the following hymns.
THE OLD RUGGED CROSS
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
CHORUS
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
CHRIST AROSE!
Low in the grave He lay, Jesus, my Savior
Waiting the coming day, Jesus, is my Lord!…
Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus, my Savior
Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus, my Lord!…
Death cannot keep his prey, Jesus, my Savior
He tore the bars away, Jesus, my Lord!…
CHORUS
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes
He arose a Victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS?
Jesus is standing in Pilate’s hall,
Friendless, forsaken, betrayed by all;
Hearken! what meaneth the sudden call?
What will you do with Jesus?
Jesus is standing on trial still,
You can be false to Him if you will,
You can be faithful through good or ill:
What will you do with Jesus?
Will you evade him as Pilate tried?
Or will you choose Him, whate’er betide?
Vainly you struggle from Him to hide:
What will you do with Jesus?
Will you, like Peter, your Lord deny?
Or will you scorn from His foes to fly,
Daring for Jesus to live or die?
What will you do with Jesus?
“Jesus, I give Thee my heart today!
Jesus, I’ll follow Thee all the way,
Gladly obeying Thee!” will you say:
“This I will do with Jesus!”
CHORUS
What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Some day your heart will be asking,
“What will He do with me?”
To deny the blood is to deny the sacrifice. To deny the sacrifice is to deny the Savior. To deny the Savior is to deny the most precious Gift the world has ever known. To deny the Gift is to deny the salvation offered by God’s grace. To deny salvation is to choose judgment in hell.