The Blood Matters

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. [Hebrews 10.19-22]

It simply does not get any better than this.

I am so thankful as I write this that I am seeing how Jesus' blood matters. I can boldly enter God's very presence because of Jesus' blood! I am immersed in every good thing God is and does through the blood of Jesus. Think about that!

But why "blood"? Let's back up a bit and we are clearly told:

Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. The will goes into effect only after the person’s death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect. That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.” And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. [Hebrews 9.16-22]

Regarding God's will (all His promises to us about all He has and passes on to us), we must understand that His will is of no effect until He dies. Stay with me! There was no such thing as a 'death certificate' when all this took place, and so, to prove 'death,' the blood of the testator (God) was offered as indisputable evidence. God's will is forgiveness to all. Literally everything God has is in His forgiveness. However, in His perfect system of justice, evidence of death must be provided to legally validate the passing on of that forgiveness (and every blessing it affords) to any beneficiary. This is where the blood of Christ (God's own blood) fulfilled the requirement of death that forgiveness might be transferred from the testator to the beneficiary (man). Forgiveness is unavailable until proof of death of the testator (the blood) is presented: For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

There is a caveat however. The beneficiary who does not 'come forward' to receive his benefits does not receive them! This process is accomplished in one very specific way: faith.

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3.16]

It all makes sense. However, it brings every individual to a decision...

Father, thank You for being so clear about Your love for us and desire to give us everything You have. I believe in Jesus. May my life be found in Him and may His blood cover me. In fact, when You look at me, may Jesus be all You see!