NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS

This morning, in our early worship service, my wife will play this week's hymn choice on the piano for an offertory. She was asked to do this on Friday when the person who was to provide the music said that she wouldn't be able to do so. My wife wondered what she could play and since it was Communion Sunday, I suggested this hymn with a beautiful, quiet arrangement I have often heard her practice. I tried, almost unsuccessfully, to find some background on this hymn and about all I could find was a little information about the men who wrote the words and the music. What I was surprised to learn is that the writer of the words, Robert Lowry, attended the University of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and later became a professor of literature there. This university was later named Bucknell University and that is where I did my master's degree work. He was also an ordained Baptist minister and even pastored the First Baptist Church in Lewisburg. The writer of the music, William Doane, called music his "avocation" even though he produced over 2,000 hymn tunes in his lifetime. He was actually president of the J. A. Faywood Machinery Company and was a very successful businessman. Unfortunately, this well known hymn is not sung as often today as it probably should be. It appears that more and more evangelicals believe Christ's atoning death is merely a grotesque creation of the medieval imagination. But knowing and accepting this truth is the only way to a relationship with Christ. . Apart from Christ's atoning work, we would be forever guilty, ashamed, and condemned before God. The priestly work of Christ separates Christianity from Judaism and Islam. Not surprisingly, the Cross has become the symbol for our faith. I think the third verse really sums up the message, "Nothing can for sin atone … Naught of good that I have done … Nothing but the blood of Jesus!" I trust that you've experienced the cleansing and the new life that God promises to you through the Blood of Jesus.

(1) What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow,that makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

(2) For my pardon, this I see, nothing but the blood of Jesus;

For my cleansing this my plea, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow,That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone, nothing but the blood of Jesus;

(3) Naught of good that I have done, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow,That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,nNothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace, nothing but the blood of Jesus;

(4) This is all my righteousness, nothing but the blood of Jesus

Oh! precious is the flow,That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

(5) Now by this I'll overcome, nothing but the blood of Jesus,

Now by this I'll reach my home - nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow,That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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