The precious blood of Christ

[Bible verses]

I Peter 1:19-20

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

I John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Hebrews 13:12

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.

Ephesians 2:13

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

Hebrews 9:14

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

John 6:54

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
[My reflections]

Haggling in the market used to be a common scene in local markets when I was growing up in Korea. A lady may go to a clothing store and argue vehemently how one can charge such a high price for such a low quality dress. She is just saying things so that she can get as low a price as possible. But once she buys it and wears it, she wears it as if it were the most expensive, highest quality product imported from Italy or some such country known for high-quality clothing. If she had to pay a truly high price, she would be all the more proud of her dress.

When God our Father redeemed us, I don't think He was going for bargains at all. He chose to pay the full price by letting His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross. As Jesus died, He said, "it is finished" (John 19:30), meaning "it is paid in full." With Jesus' blood that is more precious than all the world, all the creation, God chose to redeem our lives.

Because God paid such a high price to redeem us, there is no way that He is going to let go of us. Our redemption is totally assured and is at no risk of being lost, because nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). In fact, He put a seal on us, marking us as His own, and the seal is the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of our redemption and inheritance in the kingdom of God (Ephesians 1:14). All the rich glories of the heavenly kingdom have been assured to be given to us as inheritance, because of the precious blood of Jesus.

"O Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my cleansing this I see -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
FOr my pardon this my plea -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Glory! Glory! thus I sing -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
All my praise for this I bring -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

O Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other found I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus." (Robert Lowry, 1876)