Saved by the Blood

Words: S. J. Henderson (no data available)
Music: Daniel Brink Towner (b. Apr. 5, 1850; d. Oct. 3, 1919).

Note: Understandably, many of our hymns and gospel songs speak of salvation and getting saved. It’s central to the Christian message. Saved by Grace, Jesus Saves, and many more are found in evangelical hymnals. The present song was written around 1902 by S. J. Henderson–and we know no more about him than his name.

We do, however, know quite a bit about Daniel Towner. He was Director of Music at Moody Bible Institute, in Chicago, 1893-1919. Given that, and the time when the song was published, it’s possible that Mr. Henderson was one of his students at the Institute.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

For candy lovers it’s a problem. On a hot day, chocolate melts easily, and can be messy to eat. To the rescue came American candy maker Clarence Crane. In 1912 he invented a “summer candy” that could withstand the heat. The now familiar ring-shaped treats were dubbed Life Savers, because they looked like the life preservers used in water rescue.

The problem solved by Mr. Crane was a relatively minor one. But more than thirty years ago, the St. John Ambulance organization started presenting annual awards in Canada to those who have rescued other human beings. A gold award “recognizes individuals, or groups of individuals, who have saved or attempted to save a life through the administration of first aid knowledge and skills, where a degree of risk to life exists [for the rescuer].” A silver award is given when the rescuer’s life was not deemed to be in danger.

When we turn to the Bible, a great deal is said about life saving. There we find the words “save” and “saved” used over two hundred and fifty times, and “salvation” an added one hundred and fifty times or so.

Sometimes what is spoken of is a physical rescue. Joseph tells his brothers that the Lord brought him to Egypt to save their lives–by a grain conservation program that provided food in a time of famine (Gen. 45:7). God “saved” the lives of Noah and his family in the ark (II Pet. 2:5), and “saved” the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt (Jude 1:5).

More often, however, it’s a spiritual rescue that is in view. The salvation spoken of in God’s Word is a rescue from the danger of eternal ruin. Individual are delivered, preserved, and guaranteed an eternal future of endless blessing with the Lord.

The problem that threatens our future is sin. The Bible is quite clear that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23), and that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). But God the Son came to this earth, as Man, to die in the sinner’s place. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). That is the Christian gospel–the good news.

The Scriptures testify that “the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world” (I Jn. 4:19), and the title “Saviour” is given to Christ many times. He is “our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:13). “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (I Tim. 1:15). “We shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Rom. 5:9).

And He not only died, but rose again, Conqueror over death. Now seated at the Father’s right hand, “He is also able to save to the uttermost [completely and forever] those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).

God’s salvation is not a wage we earn by being born to Christian parents, or by doing good works, or submitting to church rituals at the right church. It’s a gift of God, paid for already by Christ on the cross (Rom. 6:23). As Paul writes to the Ephesian Christians, “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). And, “We have redemption through His blood” (Eph. 1:7).

Mr. Henderson’s song is very repetitious–twelve times in the stanzas and repeated refrains, it repeats something of critical importance, reminding us we are saved by the blood of Christ.

(1) Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Now ransomed from sin and a new work begun,
Sing praise to the Father and praise to the Son,
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

Saved! Saved!
My sins are all pardoned, my guilt is all gone!
Saved! Saved !
I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

(3) Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
The Father He spoke, and His will it was done;
Great price of my pardon, His own precious Son;
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

Questions:

1. Can you remember when you trusted Christ as your personal Saviour?
2. How does God’s salvation affect your day to day life?

Links:

• 5 April 1850 – Daniel Towner Born
• Saved by the Blood (The Cyber Hymnal)
• Saved By the Blood (Hymnary.org)