THE PRECIOUS BLOOD (b)

"But (ye are redeemed) with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." -- I Peter 1:19

     It was Peter who called attention to the withering of the fig tree which Jesus had cursed. The mind of the fisherman grasped the fact of the curse, for he had been trained in the old law, but it did not catch the other lesson which Jesus desired to teach, -- all things are possible to him that believeth. Both lessons are helpful, the one to that timid soul who trembles in sight of the awful majesty of God, and the other to those bold souls who presume to rush into the presence of God as a horse rushes into battle, but take little heed to their lives and spirit.

     A fruitless life, as well as a fruitless tree, is useless and accursed. Justice demanded the death of the barren fig tree, mercy prevailed and it was spared. Justice demands the death of every impenitent sinner, mercy and love prevail and they are spared.

     Now mercy and truth meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other, but it will not always be thus. At the judgment justice will prevail and mercy towards the impenitent will be unknown. The results which flow from the lives of every individual will then be gathered up and reward or punishment will he meted out accordingly. Benjamin Pomeroy says, "Human existence is not a chain of so many links, but a network a -- woven web running through the ages and dispensations -- relation intersecting relation, relation crossing relation -- a perfect network; so that, although an individual is taken away by death to another sphere, he is only removed as the fountain. The streams are left, and left flowing. A stream sent out from its fountain, either literal or moral, is only indebted to its fountain for its origin and outlet; the flowing is its own, independent of its fountain. The closing of a fountain may be but a trifle, but who is equal to the streams? Who can say to the distant outlettings, 'Return ye,' and it is done? To prostrate the individual, and hush him still in death, is quickly done, but gather him up! Oh, when can he be gathered up? For he has gone out in word and act, -- in soul emittings -- in moral breath!"

     We are now living in the only world in which redemption can be secured. The inexorable laws of justice have been turned aside by the Almighty's gift of an Almighty Sacrifice. Infinite justice could only be satisfied by an infinite sacrifice, infinite mercy could be secured only by the payment of an infinite price, and, thank God! we have both in the Christ who trod the, wine-press alone. The devil went to the depth of infernal ingenuity to ruin man, and Jesus Christ went to the length of divine power to redeem him.

     The blood of Jesus Christ makes possible a change in the divine attitude towards man, and while it makes possible the redemption of men it also enhances the majesty of the law. To see the almighty Christ suffer because of the sins of the world is a visible proof that the law of God cannot be violated with impunity, and should warn every careless trifler that he should flee sin as he would a venomous reptile.

     Christianity without blood is like a cloud without water, or a stove without fire. Such a religion is a promise without power or fulfillment, it is the letter, comely and symmetrical when viewed from without, but lacking the Spirit and possessing no saving efficacy. The "new religion," the religion which has been evolved by modern thought, contemns the idea of blood-redemption as revolting, but such an evolutionary religion as this leaves the soul untouched, and does not change one unholy tendency.

     There are four powers possessed by healthy blood, which are directly or indirectly noted in nearly every physiology, and which illustrate the powers of the "most precious blood of Jesus Christ."

     1. "The blood is the life." These are the words of the great lawgiver of Israel, who again says, "For it (The blood) is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof ... for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof." No scientist has ever been able to give a satisfactory definition of life, and until they are able to do so they must pardon credulous persons if they are foolish enough to think that Moses got an intimation from God, and gave a real definition, God's own definition. After all, does not every person know that in proportion as our blood escapes in that same proportion our strength decays and death advances?

     In like manner the blood of Jesus Christ is the life of the soul, and in proportion as we partake of this blood, in the same proportion we become strong and are filled with the Spirit of grace, for His blood is drink indeed.

     2. Blood is purifying. One great office of the blood is to carry away the effete or worn out matter and replace it with new and vigorous material. When the blood ceases to do this the body decays and death swiftly follows. The multitude of redeemed ones who came out of the great tribulations were those who had washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Those who walk in the light realize that the "blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses from all sin," and they sing praises "unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood."

     3. Blood is upbuilding. Let the body be wasted and emaciated by fever or any sickness, but if the blood is good the damage is quickly repaired, and in many cases, the last estate is better than the first. Thus, when the blood of Jesus courses through the poor, emaciated human soul, the bones which are broken begin to rejoice, the desert blossoms as the rose, it rejoices even with joy and singing, yea, the righteous flourish as a palm tree, they grow as a cedar in Lebanon, they are fat and flourishing, they still bring forth fruit in old age. This may be a mixed metaphor, but what simple metaphor can anywhere near express the glorious truth? We must turn again to the men of inspiration. The apostle prays that God may "through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will." Christ gave Himself for the church "that He might' sanctify and cleanse it -- (making) it a glorious church holy and without blemish."

     4. Blood is strength-giving. Cases are on record of persons, who, through loss of blood, were about to die, when not only life but health and strength were given by the infusion of healthy blood. My strength was almost gone, death had boasted of the near-approaching victory over my soul; despondent and sad, yet hoping against hope I peered through the gathering gloom, when, lo, before my astonished sight a crimson stream appeared. My poor heart bounded with gladness, its door, so long bolted and ivy-covered, flew open, and over my enraptured, astonished soul flowed the warm, strength-giving current; I arose, my ankle bones received new strength, my sadness fled and the power of the Lord pulsated within.

     "I awoke, my dungeon flamed with light;

     My chains fell off, my heart was free,

     I arose, went forth, and followed Thee."

     And now I am enabled to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. Glory be to God!

     There are three things which the Bible declares are accomplished by the blood which we wish to notice. These things in some ways are much alike, but since they technically differ we will separate them, but if you wish to confuse the three, be sure your experience encompasses the three, and the error of the intellect will be forgiven.

     1. "It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." We were far from God, dead in sins, and aliens to the covenant of grace; God could not approach us, for His coming would mean death. What could be done? Jesus Christ stepped between, He became our Mediator, our Daysman, our Atonement, for that is what the word means. He made it possible that God could approach man and yet that man should live, and He made it possible for man to approach God and be accepted.

     2. "Without the shedding of blood is no remission." Some imagine that they can bury their past sins in their religious activities and charitable works; but such an endeavor is like bandaging a cancer and believing it is healed. The core of the ugly thing is still eating into the vitals. The only hope is in complete removal. The only hope for forgiveness for past sins lies, not in righteous works, but in the efficacious blood.

     3. "Thou hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood." Man was so irretrievably lost that eternity had but one redemption price; how freely that was given we can never know, or how great was the Gift we can never tell.

     "None of the ransomed ever knew

     How deep were the waters crossed;

     Or how dark was the night that the Lord passed through

     Ere He found His sheep that was lost."