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“But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

The Bible makes it very clear: We’re all sinners (Romans 3:23). In fact, we’re not sinners because we sin…we sin because we’re sinners. If you don’t want to take this truth from God’s Word, just watch a toddler for, say, five minutes. No one has to teach them to lie, be selfish, or lash out with verbal or physical retribution when things aren’t going exactly how they want it. And whether or not you are a follower of Christ, you know that you know this is accurate—God reveals Himself and His law by His creation and our conscience (Romans 1:18-20).

In this sin, we are separated from God. There is a chasm that we humans—throughout history and in every corner of the globe—have tried to make our way across. Every world religion puts forth a plan of action to accomplish this—there is work to be done, sacrifices to be made, even money to be paid. Sin makes us filthy in God’s eyes, so we do everything we can to wash ourselves clean enough for His holy presence. It’s so very exhausting…and it’s never enough. We step out of the bath and fall immediately into another mud puddle.

Oh, but God and His grace! Through Jesus Christ, we don’t have to “do” to span that unspannable chasm. Jesus lived the perfect life we could not live, took the wrath of God meant for us, died the death we deserve, and rose again in victory—extending to us both the forgiveness of sin and giving us the righteousness of Christ Himself. We are made clean.

Think about this mind-blowing truth for a minute. We cannot wash ourselves clean—not through good works or penance or payment. We could bathe in clean hot water for days, so to speak, only to come out just as filthy (and really pruney). Friend, only the blood of Jesus can accomplish what we cannot…only by this bloodbath can we be washed as white as snow and reconciled with God (Isaiah 1:18; Psalm 51:7; Revelation 7:14).

In 1876, Robert Lowry penned a hymn called “Nothing but the Blood” that eloquently expresses this Gospel truth…and the magnificence of this bloodbath. (There are 6 verses and the refrain, but here are just a few.)

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

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.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for making a way back into Your presence through the precious blood of Jesus—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Thank You that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, not by our efforts.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life