Charles Billingsley is no stranger to Christian music. He began his career the day after he graduated from college, traveling solo until he joined the popular group NewSong as their lead vocalist for two years. Following his tenure with NewSong, Billingsley decided to travel solo and eventually moved his family to Lynchburg, Virginia where he serves today as the worship leader at Thomas Road Baptist Church and the artist-in-residence at Liberty University. 

His latest project as a solo artist, Right Here, offers a collection of songs that encompasses modern worship with timeless themes. I had the chance to speak with Charles about "Victory (The Blood of Jesus)."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This is one of the first songs I chose to put on this project. I'm always looking for a new way to express the Cross and the Resurrection. When Seth Moseley brought the song to me, I immediately fell in love with the bridge: "His victory, His victory, where mercy triumphed on a debtors tree." I love that. My last project has a song called "Mercy Tree," so I love the connection and the way it is phrased in this song. 

The song is theologically and doctrinally sound and celebrates the victory of the Cross. At the same time, it is congregationally friendly. To someone who walks through the doors of a church for the first time and hears about the doctrine of the shedding of the Blood of Christ, it could be uncomfortable, but at the same time I believe it is the responsibility to the Church to point people to the truth of Scripture. In Hebrews 9 it says, "Without shedding of blood there is no remission of our sins." The only One who could do that is Jesus.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV): "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson they shall be as wool."

Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV): "But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and by His stripes we are healed."

John 6:53-54 (NKJV): Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

John 14:6 (NIV): Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Hebrews 9:22 (NKJV): "And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission."

2 Corinthians 5:16-20 (MSG): "Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at Him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and Him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what He is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ Himself now: Become friends with God; He's already a friend with you."

What is the takeaway message?

During this time of the year where some are celebrating Lent and the Easter season, it is the perfect time to share with neighbors and friends and loved ones alike that there is no other way for salvation for mankind other than what Jesus did for us on the Cross. It is a powerful song and reminder in that sense, and it celebrates the victory we have in Him because of His sacrifice. He had victory on the Cross over sin and death, and He delivers victory to us personally by giving us salvation by dying for us.

This song and this album is geared towards encouraging the believer. If you don't know the Lord and haven't experienced life in Christ and haven't experienced the victory that comes from what He did on the Cross, then the rest is a moot point. You need to get that right first. That 2 Corinthians 5 passage really sums up the message of the whole album. We've been given a fresh start because of the Cross, and now we can really live for Him and celebrate with Him. He's literally right here with us every step of the way.

Lyrics:
When we were far away 
The lamb of God was slain 
The blood of the Savior 
When sin would separate 
King Jesus made a way
The blood of the Savior 
The blood of the Savior 

What can take away our sin 
Bring us back to life again 
Oh the mercy of the blood of Jesus
What can vanquish death in grave
Overwhelming all our shame 
Victory is in the blood of Jesus 

There is no coming threat 
This grace is permanent 
The blood of the Savior 
Nothing can stand against
Our hope and confidence 
The blood of the Savior 

His victory
His victory 
Where mercy triumphed on a debtors tree
The scorn and shame 
Was meant for me 
But heaven's hero conquered Calvary

The core of our faith as Christians is found in John 14:6. Jesus is the only way. All roads don't lead to heaven, despite what a secular culture tries to tell us. This is an extremely important and uplifting song. I have been singing it at the top of my lungs since I first heard it. We all need to be bold as followers of Jesus and express that Truth, celebrating His victory over sin and death on the Cross. We all need to be unashamed of our faith in Jesus, and we all need to be bold in expressing our faith. You are doing friends and family members who aren't believers a disservice to not fully share the Gospel.

The blood of Jesus is to the believer the most beautiful picture of salvation and redemption. To the non-believer, it seems like foolishness to sing about the Blood of Jesus, and the Word tells us that "for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18, NKJV). The blood of Jesus is salvation, and the cost of eternal life. This song is a great way to reflect on "The Way, The Truth and The Life" of the blood of Jesus. 

This worship anthem is just the type of infusion that the church needs with its honesty and bold lyrics. This is a wonderful song to sing in order to prepare your heart for Easter. 700 years before Jesus made the way to Heaven by coming to earth, it was prophesied in Isaiah. Christ fulfilled it on the Cross, and promises in His Word that one day He will make "all things new." That's cause to stir your heart to sing at the top of your lungs, "What can take away our sin, bring us back to life again, oh the mercy of the blood of Jesus. What can vanquish death in grave, overwhelming all our shame, victory is in the blood of Jesus." Amen to that!

Watch the lyric video below.