Power in the Blood

There is power in the blood of Jesus Christ. There are times we struggle against evil spirits (Ephesians 6:12), and the blood of Jesus is a powerful weapon in this war. Even normal or simple things can sometimes become challenging for Christians because of the spiritual warfare that we must engage in. Satan sometimes rises up to hinder us in ways he doesn’t do with unbelievers. Jesus is on our side. He has crushed Satan’s head. He stripped the fallen angels of their power. And he gave us the victory.

In order to walk in victory, we must know the spiritual weapons we have in Christ. 

The weapons in these spiritual battles are spiritual weapons. This does not mean they are not real, for the spiritual realm is in some ways more real than the material realm. God is a spirit, angels are spirits, demons are spirits, and the souls of men are invisible spiritual realities. Just because we can’t see spiritual things doesn’t mean they aren’t real. We learn about spiritual things through the Bible. God’s word tells us about these things, for we can’t understand them apart from revelation.

To fight spiritual battles successfully, we need spiritual weapons. God has given us all we need to fight and win. We must know the spiritual weapons that God has given us. God’s word, prayer, and fasting are some of the weapons he has given us. But one of the most powerful weapons is the blood of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:11). The blood of Jesus is a real spiritual entity, full of energy and power. 

Shedding of Blood = Death

Throughout the Bible, blood is connected to life. When blood is shed there is death. 

The result of sin is death (Romans 6:23). We have all sinned, therefore we all must die. All our blood should be shed to satisfy God’s justice.

Blood is an answer to the problem of sin.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” (Lev 17:11).

Blood can atone for the soul because it involves death, foreshadowing the death of Christ on the cross.

“without the shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).

When an animal was sacrificed on an altar, it took our place in death. All these sacrifices symbolized the death of Christ on the cross.

In the garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve sinned, God killed an animal and made coats of skin for them to wear (Genesis 3:21). This was the first sacrifice, and it taught humanity that sin causes death. In order to atone for sin, blood must be shed.

When Abel sacrificed to God, he killed an animal. This shedding of blood made Abel’s sacrifice acceptable. When Abel’s brother Cain sacrificed, he offered some vegetables. Cain’s sacrifice was unacceptable to God because blood was not shed.

After being rejected by God, Cain became angry and envious at his brother Abel. In a rage, he killed him. After Abel’s blood was shed, God said Abel’s blood was crying out from the ground (Genesis 4:10). Abel’s blood cried out for justice and vengeance against Cain.

Throughout history, the blood of many innocent people has been shed. This innocent blood cries out to God from the ground.

“So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it” (Numbers 35:33).

When innocent blood is shed, the land is spiritually defiled. It is defiled by cries for vengeance. The spiritual screams of this invisible blood comes up before God. 

From the beginning, God’s faithful people offered sacrifices to relate to him. From Adam to Noah, and Abraham to Moses, God’s people knew by revelation that blood sacrifice was essential to cover over their sins.

Ancient pagan cultures knew this too, and so they offered sacrifices to their gods. These animal or human sacrifices were pointless, because they were offered to fallen angels rather than to the true God. These misguided sacrifices just multiplied sins further. 

When Moses came, he codified God’s laws regarding sacrifices and confined all sacrifices to the Tabernacle. Later all sacrifices were confined to the Temple in Jerusalem. All sacrifices outside of Jersualem were unlawful.

When Jesus came, he was perfect. He had no sin, and so he didn’t need to die. But he died anyway. He didn’t die for his own sin, but for our sins. Because Jesus is God, he is infinitely valuable. Therefore his blood has infinite worth. This sacrifice of Jesus is eternal and of infinite value, and has enough spiritual strength to atone for all our sins.

Since Jesus came, no other blood sacrifices are accepted by God – nor will they ever be acceptable to God again. Jesus brought an end to all other blood sacrifices through the sacrifice of himself once for all (Hebrews 7:27). Now any other blood sacrifices are evil.

The blood of Jesus is powerful, and it does many things.

Cleanses

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from sin (1 John 1:7). When we confess our sins, the blood of Jesus operates to cleanse us from evil. The blood of Jesus will cleanse our conscience (Hebrews 9:14). It will sanctify us (Hebrews 13:12). To be sanctified means to be made holy. The blood of Jesus is eternal and therefore it can touch all points of history because it transcends time. This is why the blood of Jesus can take away all our sins – past, present, and future.

Sprinkles

The blood of Jesus sprinkles us (Hebrews 12:24; 1 Peter 1:2). It sprinkles our hearts (Hebrews 10:22). If blood touches our hearts, it comes into us and becomes a part of us. The blood of Jesus is inside us, cleansing us and making us holy. In the Old Testament, the vessels for God’s service were sprinkled with blood to make them fit to be used in the temple. In the New Testament, we are the vessels that God wants to use, and we are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ.

Speaks

The blood of Jesus Christ speaks (Hebrews 12:24). The blood of Jesus is alive and active. If the blood of people who were slain speaks (like Abel’s blood), how much more will the blood of Christ speak? What does Jesus’ blood say? It cries out, “Forgive them! They don’t know what they are doing!”  

We all had a hand in killing Jesus because of our sins. But Jesus’ blood doesn’t cry out for vengeance against us like the blood of Abel cried out against Cain. Instead, the blood of Jesus cries out for mercy. And mercy triumphs over judgment.

Witnesses

The blood of Jesus witnesses (1 John 5:8). A witness tells us what they saw. The blood of Jesus is a witness that Christ actually died on the cross for our sins. And the fact that his blood speaks forgiveness witnesses that he resurrected. The blood is evidence that we are forgiven. The blood of Jesus is a powerful witness against our accuser, Satan, in the court of heaven. The blood of Christ is evidence that our sins are paid for. It is proof that we are free from guilt, shame, and condemnation.

Overcomes Satan

The blood of Jesus overcomes Satan (Revelation 12:11). We couldn’t save ourselves, but Christ saved us. He delivered us from sin and crushed Satan’s head by shedding his blood. The blood of Jesus is a witness of the victory of Christ on the cross.

We need to believe in the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. When we believe in God, we will experience his blessings. If we believe that Jesus cleanses us, we will be cleansed. If we repent and believe that he saves us, we will be saved. If we believe he gives us eternal life, we receive it. If we believe in the power of the blood of Jesus to sanctify us, we will be sanctified.

In the Old Testament, the high priest sprinkled the blood. Jesus is our high priest, and he sprinkles his blood upon us. 

The other priests besides the high priest also sprinkled blood in the Old Testament. Now we all have been made priests (1 Peter 2:9). We all have a right to avail of the power of the blood of Jesus and apply it to our lives.

We have more knowledge now about the blood of Jesus Christ. This knowledge is based on God’s word. Let’s use this knowledge effectively, and through faith access the power inherent in the blood of Jesus Christ. Through him, let us triumph over our enemies.