Hymns
"Nothing but the Blood"
words: Robert Lowry
music: Robert Lowry
Background music: Joyful Noise Music
"The teaching of the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, is very clear regarding God's forgiveness of man's sin. Only a perfect blood sacrifice would satisfy the Father's requirement of holiness. Throughout the Old Testament much is told about the blood atonements that the priests had to make on behalf of their people (Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 17:11). But the blood of bulls and goats could never satisfy God's justice for man's past, present, and future sin. Only the shedding of divine blood would do. The Father's gift of salvation to man required His Son's life blood. Now when God looks at us, He sees Christ's shed blood and declares us righteous for Jesus' sake. Our acceptance with God the Father rests completely upon the merits of the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
Not all the blood of beasts on Jewish altars slain
Could give the guilty consience peace, or wash away the stain.
But Christ, the heav'nly Lamb, takes all our sins away;
A sacrifice of nobler name and richer blood than they.
~Isaac Watts
Robert Lowry was a popular Baptist pastor in various churches throughout the Eastern United States. In later life he became interested in writing and publishing gospel songs. Today he is best remembered for his many contributions to our hymnal with songs such as 'Nothing but the Blood', published in 1876. Though simply stated both textually and musically (a five note melodic range and just two chords), this gospel song has had an important place in the church's ministry in teaching both young and old the absolute necessity of trusting implicitly in the precious blood of Christ for this life and for eternity."
Taken from Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions © 2002 by Kenneth W. Osbeck. Published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI.
Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.
