Quick Reads #11 – Works or the Blood

In 1971, English composer, Gavin Bryars was given a tape of a destitute homeless man singing the same words over and over, his recollection of the chorus to a hymn he once knew. He was recorded along with others living rough in parts of London. Bryars found the length of the recording fitted neatly into 13 bars, and he made a repeating loop lasting several minutes.

The door to his studio opened onto the fine arts department in the shared space he was using at the time, which he went through to get a coffee while the recording was playing. He returned to find the usually lively room had gone remarkably quiet, and noticed two women sitting alone openly weeping. What had caused such a reaction leaving two so obviously moved to tears, and the others reduced to pensive silence?  Bryars then realised, the door to his studio was open and the tape was still running.

‘Jesus blood – never failed me yet – never failed me yet – Jesus blood – never failed me yet. Dis one thing I know – for He loves me so – Jesus blood – never failed me yet’ … had drifted into the art department affecting them deeply, its powerful but simple message had overcome them all.

John said: the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from ‘all sin’. (1John 1:7)

Paul asked: how much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God? (Hebrews: 9:14)

When Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, as one who lays down his life for a friend, it was once and for all. The eternal surrender of His life for ours marked the gift of redemption and purchase of sin’s penalty.

There is nothing we can add.

If there was, His shedding of blood would have been in vain and our redemption made void. But it was faultless and our salvation made secure. We are now sanctified through the Blood of Christ without end. Thus Jesus came to remove the first so He may establish the second. (Hebrews 10) The old has passed away; the Christ remains, pleasing to God.

This is not 0nce saved always saved doctrine, which entered the church through Calvin and is now dividing congregations in worn-out discussion; it concerns the sacrificial Lamb of God, prepared of the Father, washed by John the Baptist and hung on a tree for our sake.

It is about the truth and words of Jesus Christ; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins; (Matthew 26:28) under which, by repentance and baptism, our sin is no longer remembered by God. How is it then, we continue to seek forgiveness through works for sins already forgotten, when the requirement is faith in the Covenant of Christ, not in the satisfaction of our own deeds.

James wrote: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith from my works. (James 2:8) And when the disciples asked Jesus what they should do, to do the works of God, Jesus told them; the work of God is to believe on him whom He has sent; (John 6:29) as James did by keeping the two Great Commands of the LORD Jesus Christ. This not only applies to His Gospel but also what He did for us and finished at the cross; lo I come to do your will O God. (Hebrews 10:9)

So, we must ask ourselves honestly, which is greater my sin or the blood. Which is greater my work or Christs. “But, dis one thing I know.” In 1971, there lived in London, a down-trodden penniless man, who spoke of Christ and knew the answer to that question. So let us live by his example, and know assuredly that Jesus’ blood will never fail, and our sins are remembered no more…

In peace and love,

James