"This is my blood . . . which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:28.)

Scriptural References: Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, I Corinthians 11:25.

When the believer raises the cup to his lips to partake of the fruit of the vine, he is to remember the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"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." I Peter 1:18-19.

"Redeemed --- with the precious blood of Christ" !!

Where did the idea of blood atonement originate? The answer is very plain. When Adam and Eve sinned God told them of a Saviour who would redeem them. He portrayed this to them by shedding the blood of an animal to secure a covering for their naked condition. Here we have the beginning of the "blood line" that runs through the entire Bible! Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all worshiped God by means of blood sacrifices. God incorporated it into the law!! Small wonder the writer of Hebrews exclaims: ". . . and without shedding of blood is no remission." What God said in Exodus to the children of Israel is equally true today, "When I see the blood I will pass over you."

FOUR REASONS --- WHY THE BLOOD

What made the shedding of the blood of Christ a necessity? First, there is the fact of sin. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. "The wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23. Everyone is under this indictment! All are guilty!! This sin brings a knowledge of guilt, it brings bondage and places a barrier between the sinner and God.

Second, we must consider, God punishes sin. All sin must be punished. ". . .they which commit such things are worthy of death."

Third, God's law is immutable, it cannot change! The law of God knows no favorites nor exceptions and can never be suspended.

Fourth, no atonement is possible by a violator of the law. A single violation of the law makes the sinner guilty of all. No man, being himself a sinner, can satisfy the demands of God's holy law either for himself or for others.

The need is for a divinely accepted substitute! This substitute is provided in the Lord Jesus Christ!! ". . . whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood." "In whom we have redemption through his blood."

THE LIFE IS IN THE BLOOD

"The life of the flesh is in the blood." Leviticus 17:11. The blood is the life! To give blood is to give life!! Inasmuch as "the life of the flesh is in the blood" there was no other way for Christ to give his life in payment for sin except through the shedding of His precious blood. It was necessary for Him to die! He did die!! He did shed His blood!!! He died in our place and stead.

"Redeemed --- with the precious blood of Christ." Believers are saved by the blood of the Lamb. The blood saves by substitution, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. "My blood . . . shed for many for the remission of sins." Matthew 26:28. The blood saves by its voluntary surrender. Christ said, "I lay down my life . . . no man taketh it from me." The blood can save because of its purity and holiness, totally free from sin. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin." II Corinthians 5:21.

"The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." I John 1:7. Jesus Christ paid the full demand of the law against the sinner and thus is able to present the believer faultless before the throne of God.

NO OTHER HOPE

There is no other hope for the sinner except through the blood. Let us glory in it! The precious blood!! It is the center of our life, our hope, our peace. The blood has loosed us from our sins and saved us from judgment! Let us rejoice and tell the blessings of the blood!!

"This is my blood!" Who can measure the deep significance of this precious statement? At the Lord's table the believer is to remember the blood, the precious blood that was shed for our redemption.