As we enter the New Year our hearts take with us a journey of a couple whose child and His future was prophesied, guaranteeing in blood to be sufficient for the forgiveness of any and all sin. It was Jesus who came to this earth and shed His “blood” at Calvary, making our salvation possible.
The apostle Paul wrote about how disobedience and suffering entered into the world when he stated, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…” Romans 5:12 (KJV). The good news is that God devised an all-inclusive way to clean up the “mess” brought by sin and its consequences: Atonement!
Atonement means reconciliation. It refers to the condition of being one with others. More distinctively atonement is a reference to the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made in order to reconcile to a holy God. In the book of Leviticus, shedding of blood in sacrifices has a special significance. The sprinkled blood is a "covering" for sin. The life of the animal was poured out in death as a replacement for the people. Judgment was carried out by transferring the sin of the people to the animal sacrifice. The animal sacrifice was a sign that death had already taken place. Therefore, the death angel passed over that individual. It is the termination of life, the root of death that atones.
These sacrifices were not meant to be beautiful, it was meant to paint a picture of the awfulness of sin. Sin is ugly and it is deadly. In Romans 6:23 (KJV) it says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Life is associated with blood that flows through our veins. The dominant thought of the Old Testament is the blood is the symbol of sacrificial death; it is not the releasing of life, but the end of the life—death. Redemption is only possible by blood life poured out. But these blood sacrifices were temporary and only atoned for sin partially and for a short time, hence the need to repeat sacrifices yearly.
When Christ entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, God obtained our full complete eternal redemption through the blood of Jesus. This is what Jesus meant in John 19:30 by His dying words on the Cross, “It is finished.” Never again would the blood of goats and bulls be needed to cleanse men from their sin. Only by accepting Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross for the remission of sins, can we stand before God covered in the righteousness of Christ. The writer of 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) says: “For He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
He willingly was the perfect sacrificial Lamb. Without His sacrifice we would be eternally lost. The “Blood of Jesus” is sufficient for the forgiveness of any and all sins still to come, because Christ was crucified on the Cross two thousand years ago. God sent His only begotten son because He loved us so. Isn’t God amazing?
One of the major ways we allow God’s Word to dwell in us so abundantly is singing hymns and other truth-filled songs that minister to our hearts, filling us with joy, giving us hope and faith. They help unite us with Christians, and help us to focus on Christ. Hymns are cherished because they share and preach the richness of the gospel and tell the story of Jesus Christ in an appealing and memorable way of what He came to do in order for us to have a sustainable relationship with God the Father.
"There is Power in the Blood" is a hymn which highlights that we are redeemed by the blood of Christ. It is in Christ’s blood that frees us from the burden of sin and gives us victory and power for living. There is wonder working power in the precious blood of the Lamb, Christ Jesus. "There is Power in the Blood" was written and composed by Lewis Edgar Jones, who was born in Yates City, Illinois, on Feb. 8, 1865. This hymn is an appreciative tribute to the sacrifice made by Jesus, giving his life to redeem our souls.
May we never forget the importance of it and the sacrifice that was involved. May we ever be thankful that Christ did this for us.
1 Peter 118-19 (NIV): 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 ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
“THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD”
Songwriter: Lewis Edgar Jones
Discover the lyrics and story of this hymn’s objective showing us the advantages that are obtainable in the blood of Jesus Christ.
VERSE 1
Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you o'er evil a victory win?
There's wonderful power in the blood. [Chorus]
In verse 1, we are told that this wonderful power in the blood can make us free from the burden of sin that gives us a victory over evil.
In Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
1 Corinthians 15:57 (KJV) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelations 1:5 (KJV) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
VERSE 2
Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary's tide;
There's wonderful power in the blood. [Chorus]
In verse 2, again due to this wonderful power in the blood we can be cleansed from our passion and pride by Christ’s blood being shed at Calvary.
Colossians 3:1-4: (NIV) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Luke 23:33 (NIV) When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals – one on his right, and the other on his left.
1 John 1:7-9 (NIV) 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. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
VERSE 3
Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Sin stains are lost in its life giving flow;
There's wonderful power in the blood. [Chorus]
In verse 3, it is articulated that are sin stains are lost in Christ’s life giving flow of blood, and his blood will cleanse us to an unimaginable whiter than snow purification.
Isaiah 1:18 (KJV) Come, now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Psalm 51:7 (KJV) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Revelations 7:13-14 (KJV) And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
VERSE 4
Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There's wonderful power in the blood. [Chorus]
In verse 4, we are interconnected with the blood of Jesus that enables us to serve Christ our King and Savior and live for Him.
Colossians 3:24 (KJV) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Revelations 19:16 (KJV) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, and Lord Of Lords.
Colossians 1:13-14 (KJV) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
CHORUS
There is power, power, wonder-working power
In the blood of the Lamb.
There is power, power, wonder-working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
The chorus in its reiteration reminds us that in Christ’s blood there is an almighty wonder-working power that gives us strength to do all these things through Him. Through his blood I am justified, I am forgiven and I am spared from God’s wrath.
Romans 5:9 (KJV) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) In whom we have redemption of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Revelations 12:11 (KJV) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
One of the most important things for people who are lost in sin and even for Christians when we sin is to know that “There Is Power in the Blood.”