The blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin

When it comes to blood, I am squeamish.  On two separate occasions I’ve almost fainted while making a pastoral hospital visit.  When a hospital scene comes up in a television show, I always avert my eyes.  When someone wants to show off a scar or wound, I ask not to be shown.

Yet there is some blood that I cannot avoid, and in fact, that I love.  It is the blood of Christ.  Without this blood, there is no cleansing of sin, as the New Testament writers continually affirm.  These verses affirm that truth and serve as a fitting meditation as we prepare for communion on Sunday:

• “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
• For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed… (Rom. 3:23-25)
• Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. (Rom. 5:9)
• Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? (1Cor. 10:16)
• In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. (Eph. 1:7)
• But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:13)
• For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. (Col. 1:19)
• But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,  how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb. 9:11-14)
• Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus… (Heb. 10:19)
• Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. (Heb. 13:12)
• Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord… (Heb. 13:20)
• …according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. (1 Pet. 1:2)
• If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (1 Pet. 1:17-19)