Verse of the week -- I Corinthians 5:7-8

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Over 130 years ago Robert Lowry penned the moving words to the hymn, Nothing but the Blood. In more recent years, Matt Redman placed these words in a new context in his song by the same name. This song stirred me this morning in church:

Your blood speaks a better word
Than all the empty claims I've heard upon this earth
Speaks righteousness for me
And stands in my defense
it's Your blood

[Chorus]
What can wash away our sins?
What can make us whole again?
Nothing but the blood
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can wash us pure as snow?
Welcomed as the friends of God
Nothing but Your blood
Nothing but Your blood King Jesus

Your cross testifies in grace
Tells of the Father's heart to make a way for us
Now boldly we approach
Not by earthly confidence
It's only Your blood

[Chorus]

We thank You for the blood
We thank You for the blood

We praise You for the blood
We praise You for the blood

Nothing but Your blood
Nothing but Your blood King Jesus


I then found this powerful article from the late 1800's by R.A. Torrey that talks about the power of the blood. In it he said, "We must know the power of the blood if we are to know the power of God. Our knowing experimentally the power of the Word, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the power of prayer, is dependent upon our knowing the power of the blood of Christ." Do I really know the power of the blood in my daily experience?


As I struggle with my sinful nature, and sometimes my apparent apathy for removing it, I was challenged by the power of the blood. Challenged to acknowledge the power of the work of Christ on the cross. Challenged to daily keep pressing on in great gratitude for all He has done for me. I Corinthians 5:7-8 say, "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."


Paul is especially talking about removing sinfulness from the church as a whole, but I took this personally. Christ offered himself as my passover lamb. His righteousness will stand in my place and I will be found worthy only because of His work.


What can I ever do to show appreciation for that? Nothing will come close to expressing my thanks. However, I can daily work to express my thanks by purging out the "old leaven." Not letting that sinfulness remain in my life unchallenged. Was His blood powerful enough to change everything about me? Absolutely. I need to continually open my life to that sincerity and truth and let Him change me, completely. My pastor brought up this verse as well and as I focused on the power of the blood it spoke to me, "And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him, purifies himself just as He is pure." (I John 3:3) As I mediate on His purity I will become more pure as well.

Nothing but the blood of my Jesus has power like that.

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

~I Corinthians 5:7-8~