THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
1 Pet. 1:18-19
Morning Meditation 7/18/16
Verses 18-19 say, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
Peter called the blood of Christ “The precious blood.” Peter uses this word seven times in his two Epistles. It if found five times in First Peter and five is the number of Grace. It found two times in Second Peter and this is the number of witness. There are two things in Second Peter that witness to our salvation. It is our faith (2:7) and the Word (2:4).
Since “precious” is found five times in the First Epistle, and it is the number of grace, I looked and discovered that the word “grace” is found eight times in First Peter which is the number of the New Birth and new beginning. It is the grace of God on the ground of the precious blood that gives us our new beginning. The Word of God is a marvellous God breathed book.
The word “precious” (timios) in our text means “held in honor, esteemed, especially dear.” So the “blood” in Peter’s estimation (and the Holy Spirit’s) is held in high honor. It is especially dear. What makes this blood so precious?
It is precious because it is uncontaminated blood. The Bible teaches that we are sinners by nature and sinners by choice. Romans 5:12 says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” The sin nature that we receive we receive through natural birth. It is passed to us “by one man” and that man was Adam. All of Adams children are by nature sinners (Eph. 2:3). Jesus was virgin born. Man had nothing to do with the birth Christ. Joseph was about to put Mary away because she was found with child before marriage. This would have revealed fornication on her part if it had not been for God’s intervention by sending an angel to Joseph to explain. This story is recorded in Matthew 1:18-23: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” God very carefully explains that the birth of Christ is to be different. Our salvation is dependent on Jesus offering uncontaminated blood on the alter as the basis of the atonement. Hebrews 13:20 says, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.” The blood is one of the things Satan attacks. The blood of Christ is precious because it is uncontaminated blood.
It is precious because it is the price of our redemption. This is what Peter says. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” Believers through the Church take the Lord’s Supper regularly to celebrate their new faith and in doing so the elements of that supper draw attention to the sinless body of Jesus by the unleavened bread and the life of Jesus that he poured out on the cross as the payment for our sins. It is the blood of the “slain Lamb.” Any Jew knew about the lamb that was slain at the alter of Tabernacle and its blood offered by the high priest as the atoning factor of that sacrifice. The word “redemption” is a term that is used in the Bible to describe what happens when a person who has for some reason been sold into slavery and is bought out and set free. Paul says, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24). The blood of Christ is precious because it is the price of our redemption.
It is precious because it is the reconciling factor in salvation. Colossians 1:20 says, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” The word “reconcile” (apokatallasso) means “bring back a former state of harmony.” There was a time when man walked with God and there was nothing that disturbed that harmonious relationship. This was Adam in the Garden of Eden before the fall. But sin came between God and man. God is a holy God. His holiness cannot be compromised. Sin has now come between God and his creatures. Reconciliation is from God’s side. It is God who moves to reconcile man to himself. It is the blood of Christ that is the reconciling factor. Sin has to be paid for. The blood is the price Peter says. Paul also adds that it is the blood that brings peace between God and man. He says, “And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile. . .” The blood of Christ is precious because it is the reconciling factor in our salvation. Thank God I am now reconciled to him through the blood of his dear Son.
It is precious because it is life giving and life sustaining. Jesus said in John 6:53-54: “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” These are strong words. They are so strong that one denomination believes that the bread and fruit of the vine in the Lord’s Supper literally turn to the body and blood of Christ when it is taken. Of course, this is absurd. The Lord’s Supper is symbolic. But it does teach that the sinless life of Jesus, symbolized in the unleavened bread, qualified him for the death he died (subtitutionarily). Peter in our text talks about the Lamb being without blemish and without spot. I cannot pay for another man’s sins by shedding my blood because I am a sinner and my sins disqualify me. But not so with Jesus. He was a Lamb without blemish. Jesus said, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” The blood of Christ is live giving and life sustaining. God does not only give life but he sustains that life. Paul says in Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” The blood of Christ is precious because it is life giving and life sustaining.
The blood of Christ is precious because it is the way into the holiest. Hebrews 10:19 says, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” I went into the holiest before I started writing this meditation. I went in by the blood. Then as I communed with my heavenly Father, I discovered what he wanted to me write this morning. I will make several trips into the holiest today. I will remember to pray for you when I do. And every time I will receive admission because of the blood. The blood of Christ is precious because it is the way into the holiest. To Peter the blood of Christ is precious and should be to us.
May the Lord bless these words to your hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
