Mary Baker Eddy says: "The material blood of Jesus was no more efficacious to cleanse from sin when it was shed upon the 'accursed tree', than when it was flowing in His veins as He went daily about His Father's business." (Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures, 1908 Edition, Page 25, Line 6.)
The Bible says: "For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." -Matthew 26:28.
"Without shedding of blood is no remission."-Hebrews 9:22.
Dear reader, carefully consider the above statements regarding the blood of the Lord Jesus. You will discover a very striking contrast - yea, a palpable contradiction. Both perspectives cannot be true, therefore the very nature of the case necessitates a choice. Your eternal weal or woe depends upon the attitude you assume toward the "precious blood of Christ" (I Peter 1:18-21).
In Mrs. Eddy's estimation the shedding of the blood of Christ amounts to nothing; whereas, in God's reckoning, it means everything. The "life of all flesh is the blood thereof." (Leviticus 17:14.) The shedding of the blood speaks of the laying down of that life in sacrifice.
Had an Israelite merely taken a living lamb and fastened it by a cord to the door of the house wherein he lived, there was no assurance from God that his first-born would escape the sword of the destroying angel as he passed through the land of Egypt that night [of the Passover] (read Exodus 12). It was not "blood in the veins" that God desired to see, but "blood on two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses" (Exod. 12:7). It was essential that the blood be shed and sprinkled to assure the safety of the firstborn.
The Scriptures mention a "must needs be" in connection with the sacrifice of Christ; plainly teaching that it is not the "blood in His veins," but His "shed" blood that avails. In other words, it is not the life which He lived but the death which He died that saves the believer from the doom of his sins. The Lord Jesus said: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal Life." (John 3:14-15.)
Again we read: "Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead." (Acts 17:3.)
It was the shed blood of the lamb that made the difference between Abel and Cain (Hebrews 11:4) and between the Israelites and the Egyptians (Exodus 12:13). It is the shed blood of the Lamb of God that marks the difference between the Saved and those still in their sins, and that will differentiate between the song of the redeemed and the wailing of those cast into the furnace of fire (Revelations 5:9-10, Matt. 13:49-50).
The precious shed blood of Jesus Christ is that which procures every blessing which the Christian enjoys. It is -
The Power of our Sanctification. Hebrews 13:12 "Wherefore Jesus, also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate."
The Pledge of our Blessing. Luke 22:20 "This cup is the New Testament in My blood which is shed for you."
The Price of our Purchase. Acts 20:28 "The church of God which He hath purchased with His own blood."
The Liberty of our Access. Hebrews 10:19 "Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus."
The Theme of our Praise. Revelation 5:9 "Unto Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood."
The Certainty of our Overcoming. Revelation 12: 11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb."
The Ground of our Peace. Colossians 1:20 "Having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself."
The Channel of our Forgiveness. Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sins."
The Means of our Cleansing. I John 1:7 "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin."
Do not allow Mrs. Eddy or anyone else to rob you, dear reader, of these matchless blessings which are yours to enjoy "through faith in His blood." (Romans 3:25.)
by Tom M. Olson, distributed by Gospel Tract Society, P.O. Box 1118, Independence, Mo. 64051
Go to Literature Index Page
This URL is abcog.org/blood.htm