Redemption Through His Blood

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.

Ephesians 1:

The "eulogy" of Ephesians 1:3-14 begins with a celebration of how God blessed us even before the creation of the world. Because of his love and grace, God chose us and predestined us to belong to him as his children. All of this happened in and through Christ.

The next section of the eulogy continues this focus on Christ, now focusing on the impact of his death. In Christ, "we have redemption through his blood" (1:7). Redemption means buying someone out of slavery or, more generally, freeing someone from some sort of bondage. New Testament uses of "redemption" are based, most of all, on the Jewish experience of being redeemed by God from slavery in Egypt (for example, Exod. 6:6).

The story of the Exodus includes the shedding of blood (the firstborn of the Egyptians and the "Passover" lambs). But the redemption we have in Christ is even more deeply connected to his "blood," that is, to his death. Christ offered himself as a sacrifice in the mode of old covenant sacrifices. Yet he provided a unique, one-time sacrifice. As it says in Hebrews 9:12, " [Christ] did not enter [the perfect tabernacle] by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." Thus, through his death, we are redeemed from slavery to sin and death.

The language of sacrifice and the specific mention of blood can be off-putting to many people in our day for a variety of reasons. For this reason, some Christians back away from the "bloody" imagery of Scripture. But, we must never lose sight of the fact that the death of Christ, which was indeed a bloody one, was essential to our redemption.

I am often reminded of this fact by Ashley Cleveland, who is one of Laity Lodge's most beloved musicians. This Grammy-award-winning singer/songwriter talks passionately about the centrality of the imagery of blood in our understanding of Christ's sacrifice. Then, she belts out a moving version of the classic hymn, "There's Power in the Blood." You can hear an excerpt here, or buy the song, if you wish. I'll use it as our closing prayer for this reflection.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: In what ways have you experienced the reality of redemption? Why do you think God associated redemption with sacrifice, even with the shedding of life?

PRAYER:

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.

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.

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. Amen.

"There's Power in the Blood," by Lewis E. Jones, 1899. Public Domain.