Hymns: "Are You Washed in the Blood?"

"Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb?" is one of my favorite hymns. Although I didn't always understand it, its upbeat tempo and provocative imagery captivated me. It wasn't until I began reading (and understanding) the Bible that the song really made sense.

The image of the lamb comes out to the Old Testament sacrificial system, and is applied to Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus is the "Lamb that takes away the sin of the world."

Blood and life are intimately connected in Scripture, for we are told the life is in the blood. Expressions like "the wages of sin is death," "The soul that sin will die," and "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin," all express the same reality. Sin brings death without hope.

All humans are destined to die because all are sinners. We are sinners by choice, and sinners by nature. As the descendants of Adam, we share in his guilt. Our blood (our death) cannot erase our sin debt. We need someone to pay our debt for us. Jesus can (and did) pay that debt by offering himself up as a substitute. He took our guilt upon himself, and gave us his innocence. He gave his blood (life) so that we could be cleansed of our guilt.

When the song asks us, "Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?," it is asking us if we have sought forgiveness in Christ through his atoning work on the cross. I hope the next time you hear this hymn you'll be able to answer with a resounding yes, and I hope you'll sing along with enthusiasm.

Here is an old country version of the song. I hope you enjoy it.