Friday, March 26, 2010

Talk Tuesday-Why the Blood of Jesus?

I grew up hearing about the power of the blood of Jesus. As a child, it seemed bizarre to me to use such a word like 'blood' so often during church service. I remember songs about 'Jesus the Lamb of God' whose blood was shed for my sins. So I wondered, WHY THE BLOOD?

The judicial was system set up by the LORD and was given to the Israelites through Moses. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are all dedicated to issues of the law, sin, punishment and atonement. Sacrifices and Offerings were required for the purification of GOD's people, the removal of sin and the access to worship. The high priest first had to go through the ritual of purification before he could even enter into GOD's presence to mediate on behalf of a worshiper. GOD's says, "I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy." Leviticus 11:44

There are burnt offerings, SIN offerings, GUILT offerings, cereal offerings, PEACE offerings and special offerings. An unblemished animal is usually required and it's blood is sprinkled around the alter or on the worshiper for atonement for their sins.

"The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot." Leviticus 14:14

Why THE BLOOD?

"For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life." Leviticus 17:11

Why THE BLOOD OF JESUS?

“Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” Hebrews 7:27

"He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" Hebrews 9:12-16

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18-19

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." Ephesians 1:7-8

"Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" Romans 5:9-10

So, the BLOOD of Jesus Christ brings justification, redemption, atonement and access into GOD's presence-if we open our hearts and accept through faith, Jesus Christ as our LORD and SAVIOUR. That is why we say, "There is POWER IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS."

3 comments:

Beloved said...

Thanks for this post ... what a beautiful reminder of the POWER in the blood of Jesus. Not just to save, but to help us walk in forgiveness, righteousness, and PEACE.

This is a reminder to me to pray and/or declare Scriptures that affirm the power of the blood over my heart, mind, life and circumstances. For example, when feeling down or discouraged or under attack, we can say... "I WILL OVERCOME by the BLOOD of the Lamb and by the WORD OF MY TESTIMONY." (Revelation 12:11)I can be confident that because God has stated this in His Word, I can depend on it.

Or, if I am feeling condemnation or trepidation or hesitancy to come before the Lord, I can say, "I will CLAIM, and DO HAVE,CONFIDENCE, to to enter the Most Holy Place by the BLOOD OF JESUS, by a new and living way opened for me through [the curtain which is] His body...and I WILL draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having my heart sprinkled [WITH HIS BLOOD] to clease me from a guilty conscience..." (Hebrews 10:19-22)

And although I am clean in Christ, I can claim that cleansing daily, again and again for new, known and unknown sin by declaring..."I walk in the light ... as He is in the light ... therefore the blood of Jesus, purifies me from ALL sin..." (1 John 1:7)

As I write these verses I am becoming aware that I do not yet fully understand the power of the blood ... how to fully walk in the promises available to me because it was shed by by the very Son of God ... but thank God, we can all grow and learn and increase in confidence as God walks with us and teaches us more and more what we have in Him!

Let's co-operate with the Holy Spirit to show the world the POWER of the blood when we welcome and lift up Jesus Christ in every area of our lives. Others will be drawn to want to know Him too as they see is walking in VICTORY and CONFIDENCE, no matter what life brings.

Natasha said...

Beloved, thank you for your response and reminder! Yes, the Word of GOD and His promises are so powerful and true. There is so much power in the Blood of Jesus! I love your comment at the end too! Amen to that!

Blessed said...

There is indeed power in the blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who is one with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your insightful post Beloved. I just want to share a testimony. In a previous post I said I was going through a rough patch, yet I was confident that I would be testifying about God's grace pretty soon. My situation is unchanged, but I had an unexpected shock today.

I have had to tighten my budget in the past weeks, but I was adamant that I would not hold back on my tithes. So I paid my tithes in faith this past Sunday, and resumed the necessary frugality. Lo and behold, I received my income tax refund today for an amount that I had not anticipated. It is more than enough to meet my current needs. I will emphasize that when I carefully completed my tax return, the figure was way below the current refund, and I usually complete my tax returns accurately.

Only the ignorant say that there is no God. I reiterate the verse quoted by Beloved from Revalation 12:11, "I will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of my testimony." Moreover, " ...thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is to this day." (Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV)

In closing, "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee." (Deuteronomy 16:17 KJV).

A blessed Easter to all!