Dear GracePoint family,
During this Advent season we have been looking into the birth narrative from the first two chapters of Luke. In this account we see the birth of two baby boys, John and Jesus. Both of these baby boys would grow up to be slaughtered, John as the forerunner of the Messiah and Jesus The Messiah. Their blood was shed, but only the blood of Jesus is sufficient to save us from our sin and separation from God. The writer of the book of Hebrews declares that “without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22). In the New Testament there are 97 occurrences of the word “blood” in 87 verses.
The teaching of the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, is very clear regarding God’s forgiveness of man’s sin. Only a perfect blood sacrifice would satisfy the Father’s requirement of holiness. The Apostle Paul writing to the church at Ephesus says:
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7) and,
But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)
There is a Robert Lowry hymn published in 1876 entitled “Nothing But The Blood.” Though simply stated . . . this gospel song has had an important place in the church’s ministry in teaching both young and old the absolute necessity of trusting implicitly in the precious blood of Christ for this life and for eternity.
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 pardon this I see—nothing but the blood of Jesus; for my cleansing, 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.
Refrain: Oh! precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus
My hope is that you can sing that song because you have believed in Jesus for everlasting life and can claim Romans 5:8-9 with believers through the ages.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. (Romans 5:8–9)
This Christmas season do not forget the purpose for the arrival of baby Jesus. Teach your children well. Believe and teach the importance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
By the way, this is the reason why the GracePoint logo above has a blood-red Cross on a blood-red hill.
We have redemption through Jesus’ blood. We are the recipients of God’s grace which is the point of life.
Grace and Peace,
Gary Nock
