Do Not Neglect the Blood

Around the blogosphere recently there has been much talk of blood. Not the blood of goats or lambs, but of The Lamb – Jesus Christ. Most of the conversations stems from Rob Bell’s release of a recent work, Love Wins.

Does ‘Love Win’? Absolutely. God is love. God wins. But it’s not going to happen like Rob Bell thinks it will. I understand his desire for compassion, but I abhor his conclusion.

“…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Hebrews 9:22

In our western, civilized world we do not have animal sacrifice ceremonies constantly in our thoughts or before our eyes. This idea is distant to us, yet we all can understand the weight of the appearance and discussion of ‘blood’. Dr. Russell Moore, in his recent episode of The Cross and the Jukebox discusses just this idea: that though we’re separated from animal sacrifice to ‘gods’, we are well aware of the seriousness of blood. I highly recommend the podcast to you.

Why the connection of blood discussion to Rob Bell? It seems he leaves the discussion of the necessity of Jesus’ blood to cover my sins in order for me to have right standing before God. If you’ve not read Kevin DeYoung’s review of Rob Bell’s latest publication, it’s worth your time to read through the entire 20 pages. I would also recommend the book he and Ted Kluck wrote, Why We’re Not Emergent for a more thorough read of Bell and some of his colleagues.

As Dr. Moore states in the podcast, the churches who understand the necessity of Jesus’ blood for the remission of the sins of the church and keep that central to their lives, live on: from generation to generation to generation. The need for a substitute of Jesus in my place on the cross, is as beautiful as I’m sure the original sight was horrific. I’m thankful for His blood, thankful for my church heritage which understood and passed on the centrality of Jesus’ substitution on my part, and will ever sing about the Power in His Blood.

There is Power in the Blood
by Lew­is E. Jones

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

After all, when it’s all you have, it’s all you’ll ever need.

Challenge to Men on the Occasion of Valentine's Day

I wrote this post originally for Treasuring Christ and was published on February 11, 2010. Please visit the original post and subscribe to Treasuring Christ.

Valentine’s Day is approaching. Quite soon couples will be exchanging tokens of their affection for one another over dinner, a night at the ballet, cheese and wine, beautiful jewelry, a stroll along the river, and countless other ways in order to celebrate love.

In observing how our culture advertises, promotes and celebrates Valentine’s Day, it concerns me that perhaps we have distorted the very definition of love.

Let’s review definitions for “love”:

• Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude… (1 Corinthians 13)
• Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25)
• See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God (1 John 3:1)
• By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. (1 John 3:16)

These statements indicate that love is selfless, sacrificial, intentional, seeking another’s best interests, adoptive welcoming another into a deep familial relationship… The love described in these passages is so much more than a feeling – it’s a decision; a commitment.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines “love” differently:

• a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties
• warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion
• unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another
• an amorous episode
• the sexual embrace

Can you see a difference? The scriptures speak of something deep, committed and action based. Our modern usage of the word emphasizes affection, feeling, and sexual relationships.

My attempt is not to deny the validity of affection, but rather to emphasize that “love” is much more.

On this Valentine’s Day, what will you celebrate? Will you celebrate affection? An “amorous episode”? Warm attachment, enthusiasm or devotion?

I hope that you will seek to celebrate a love that is all that, but much more. Celebrate commitment. Celebrate sacrificial love. Celebrate love that seeks another’s best interest even at the loss or possible loss of your own. Celebrate a love that builds another up. Celebrate love that will be there through thick and thin, gladness and mourning, sickness and in health, in wealth or poverty.

“Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” Ephesians 5:25 Happy Valentine’s Day.