In Robert Lowry’s revival hymn
“Nothing but the Blood”, the simple question is asked, “What can wash way my
sin?” and answered, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus”. Nothing could be more simple, straightforward
or theologically correct. We have a
need. We are doomed sinners. In loving grace God sent His Son to die for
our sins. There was no other way,
absolutely no other way, by which we could be saved from our sin and our
doom. What God did in grace was
necessary for us and our eternal destiny.
Grace is necessary.
It is not that man hasn’t tried to
reach God without grace; it is just that man has and always will fail in the
attempt to do so. Adam and Eve bought
into the satanic lie that we could be like God or equal to Him. We have kept that same egoistic mentality for
all the history of humanity. Men have
attempted to be gods by self declaration.
They have created gods more amenable to their own condition to feel more
able to measure up to a godlike expectation.
Even when they consider the one true God they remain futile in their imaginations
by assuming that they be worthy in themselves of His approval and
acceptance. All of this is a fantasy and
leads to failure, death and doom.
But, that is not the outcome desired
by God. We can never, we must never,
forget the words of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son!” Our church choir
sang that yesterday as a beautiful reminder for us all. Paul puts it this way in Romans 5:8, “But God
demonstrated His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ
died for us.” To restore men to
fellowship with Him; to save them; to redeem them from the enemies possession;
God had to do something. It was
necessary and He did it. He gave His
only Begotten Son. It was the only way
to buy back man from sin and its condemnation.
God’s grace excels all other graces in that He has done what is
necessary even at the cost of the cross of His own dear Son Jesus Christ.
It was and is necessary grace. Nothing else can ever satisfy God’s demand
for justice and righteousness. Ask it, “What can wash away my sin?” Answer it,
“Nothing but the blood of Jesus!” When
nothing else can do, then that particular something is necessary. Grace is God’s necessary response to our
need. Praise Him for it today. Sing these lasting words of praise, “O
Precious is the flow that made me white as snow; no other fount I know, nothing
but the blood of Jesus.”
The
Friday Benediction
Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop
you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in
the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be
enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend. Amen
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