The Blood

My Grandmother used to tell me that “…it is the blood that gives life”.  She was referring to the death of Jesus on the cross.  I grew up with this mystery of what it meant about "the power of Jesus’ blood”, and what that means in everyday life. My Grandmother belonged to a generation who held to the belief that the “blood of Jesus” was powerful and was necessary for living with victory in Jesus everyday.  Apparently in our day and age holding on to this understanding and professing that the “blood of Jesus” has power for our everyday life has fallen out of fashion.  We hardly ever hear it mentioned in Church or from the pulpit anymore, and if it is mentioned we run a risk of being labeled a radical or a fanatic by taking the subject way too far.  Here is a short definition:

“The blood of Christ is the basis of the New Covenant. On the night before He went to the cross, Jesus offered the cup of wine to His disciples and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). The pouring of the wine in the cup symbolized the blood of Christ which would be poured out for all who would ever believe in Him. When He shed His blood on the cross, He did away with the Old Covenant requirement for the continual sacrifices of animals. Their blood was not sufficient to cover the sins of the people, except on a temporary basis, because sin against a holy and infinite God requires a holy and infinite sacrifice. “But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:3). While the blood of bulls and goats were a “reminder” of sin, “the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19) paid in full the debt of sin we owe to God, and we need no further sacrifices for sin. Jesus said, “It is finished” as He was dying, and He meant just that—the entire work of redemption was completed forever, “having obtained eternal redemption” for us (Hebrews 9:12).”

Taken from: ‘What is the meaning of the Blood of Christ” http://www.gotquestions.org/blood-of-Christ.html

I am not sure that I fully comprehend all of the aspects of the “Blood of Jesus”, but there is one thing I do understand very well, it is that our salvation is complete in Jesus.  There is nothing we can add to the finished work of Jesus to make us more acceptable to God.  We come before Him with a deficit which we cannot satisfy; Jesus imparts His righteousness into our lives to cover our deficit and to give us a place and a position with Him.  In essence, Jesus died to adopt us and give us a job in His Kingdom.  That job, first and foremost is to know Him, serve Him, and be transformed into His image.    

In truth, the blood Jesus shed on the cross covers all of humanity’s sin and misdeeds.  Everything done in disobedience to God has been atoned for by Jesus’ death. 

Now that does not give us permission to keep on living in sin and disobedience so that we can benefit from God’s mercy and forbearance on a daily basis, not at all!  This is where repentance comes in. 

Romans 6:1-7 (NKJV)

¹ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ² Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? ³ Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, ⁶ knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. ⁷ For he who has died has been freed from sin.

This freedom from sin is compared to being released from a prison cell.  Sin is like binding chains
which  hold us captive and separate us from God's mercy. Jesus' blood is a higher law which frees us and brings light to the fact that we also must die to our former lives of sin so that we may daily live in this freedom.

When we recognize that Jesus’ blood covers our sin, repentance leads us to a place where we turn from our sin to go in a different direction.  That is what repentance means ‘a turning of direction’ that we may go in a different direction.  The blood of Jesus has purchased our salvation and has given us the power to repent. 

Another thing Jesus’ blood gives us is the power over sin.  Sin no longer has sway over our lives because of the shedding of Jesus blood.  We are dead to our old sinful nature and our sin is covered and forgiven. 

What’s even more amazing is that our identity has changed, we are no longer characterized by being outcasts and separated from God by our lack of not being born in a pure bloodline of a holy or righteous family.  We are now adopted by God as being of a pure bloodline by the impartation of Jesus’ blood sacrifice as our own. 

Romans 8:16-17 (NKJV)

¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

We are now brought close to God with pure hearts being washed of all unrighteousness by the blood of Jesus.  We also stand in the birthright of Jesus to receive all that is promised to the firstborn heirs, which is in fact a double portion. 

Isaiah 61:6-7 (NKJV)

⁶ But you shall be named the priests of the Lord,

They shall call you the servants of our God.

You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles,

And in their glory you shall boast.

⁷ Instead of your shame you shall have double honor,

And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.

Therefore in their land they shall possess double;

Everlasting joy shall be theirs.

We are no longer characterized by God as sinners, but as co-heirs with Jesus and as the children of the living God. 

We are now a part of Gods family with this new name and identity - we are over-comers of the world and it’s ways!

It is the Blood of Jesus which has the power over sin and death.  Jesus' blood also has the power to heal our natural bodies.

Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)

⁵ But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

There is life in the blood, and the blood gives life.

There are many other aspects to the blood of Jesus which will be revealed in time.
We are all learners, and as learners we are on this journey of exploration of what it all means to live in  the truth and experience God's mercy and freedom to its fullest extent.

May you receive all that the Blood of Jesus has provided to you, and may you stand tall and grow in your relationship with Him knowing that you are a Child of God and a co-heir with Jesus.  And if you need healing, may you receive God's portion today for your healing and restoration in every way. 

Only the Blood

(Words and Music by Brian Doerksen)

Holiness is Your life in me

Making me clean through Your blood

Holiness is Your fire in me

Purging my heart like a flood

I know You are

Perfect in holiness

Your life in me

Setting me free

Making me holy

Only the blood of Jesus

Covers all of my sin

Only the life of Jesus

Renews me from within

Your blood is enough

Your mercy complete

Your work of atonement

Paid for my debts

Making me holy

Only the blood of Jesus

Copyright © 1990 Mercy Publishing. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

The above music and lyrics are provided for educational purposes only and not for profit.