The Blood of Jesus

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13,14

In a world where self-love and living the better life now occupy centre stage, the core truths of the gospel are easily forgotten. With the many advantages available to us in our highly developed world, our dependence on provisions flowing from a living relationship with God, is likely to disappear. There is no pressing need to live a life that is anchored to the pillars of our faith.

The post at the very centre of our faith is the blood of Christ, without which there simply is no Christianity. There are many look-alikes in the world of religion, but authentic Christianity is built on this truth that was established at the very beginning of man’s presence on earth.

When Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God – the very essence of sin – God covered their shame with the skin of an animal. (Genesis 3;21) Although blood is not mention here, it is clear that some blood was shed for it to happen – the innocent had to die to cover the sin of the guilty. Later in Scripture (Leviticus 17:11) we see that life is in the blood, and we begin to understand that an innocent life is required to hide the ugliness of spiritual death before holy God. Sin cannot exist in the presence of God, but God in His grace and love for man, devised a way for the sinner to stand before Him.

Revelation comes to us in parts, with new understanding added to the former, until the full picture can be seen in its completed form. Abel’s offering of a lamb from the firstborn of his flock of sheep, was accepted by God, and from this incident we know that a lamb qualified as a sacrifice. While Abel’s offering pleased God, it aroused the anger of Cain, who promptly killed his brother. As sinners do, Cain tried to hide his sin, but God noticed it because Abel’s blood called to Him from the earth. Adding to the blood of an innocent as the only acceptable sacrifice for sin, we now discovered that blood also speaks. (Genesis 4:10) The New Testament adds another piece of the puzzle when we see that the blood of Abel called for revenge:

…to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:24

As the freed Israelites were about to depart from a life of slavery in Egypt – a symbol and type of the world – God instructed Moses to kill a lamb per household, and paint its blood on the doorposts of their dwellings. Everyone who entered through the blood was spared from the devastation of the angel of death who came to punish the Egyptians for their oppression of His people. Blood not only has the ability to cover the sins of the guilty; it speaks, and can save you from death itself.

When the law was introduced after Israel’s exit from Egypt, the blood of many lambs had to be shed to cover the sins of the people that separated them from the blessings from God that they so heavily depended on. Every one of those lambs had to be examined individually beforehand by the priest to ensure their perfection; no lamb with even the slightest blemish qualified as a sacrifice, shedding more light on God’s unfolding plan of redemption. No lamb with a flaw, no matter how small, was acceptable. Such a lamb would not be a sacrifice, but rather an opportunity to get rid of a worthless animal. Every minute piece of detail has significance in the plans of God.

With the elements of God’s plan revealed, one after the other, the prophets began to point the finger to the ultimate sacrifice, the Lamb of God:

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:6,7

The New Testament opens with John the Baptist identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.

And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” John 1:34-36

God’s plan of redemption, so long in the making, was ready to be fulfilled. He was tempted by the devil, but did not succumb. His obedience to the Father was tested to the extreme as He only spoke what He heard Him speak, and only did what He saw Him do. (John 14:10; John 5:19) He did not come to do His will, but the Father’s. And when the hour came to pay the penalty for our sin, He submitted Himself fully to the Father against His own will. This is where He turned first Adam’s disobedience victoriously into obedience, and opened the door to the God-kind of life for hopeless humanity.

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39

For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19

Before He received the death sentence, the ruler of the day examined Him and declared, “I find no fault in Him.” (John 19:6) This is the very essence of the gospel that gave birth to the Christian life. Jesus fully qualified to be the Lamb of God:

Just as Abels’ lamb, Jesus is, in a sense, the firstborn: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (Colossians 1:15)

He was examined and found without fault: Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” (John 19;6)

His blood speaks, not of revenge like Abel’s, but of forgiveness: Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

His blood does not cover our sin, but takes it away: For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 10:14

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

The story of our redemption is written in blood. As the author of Hebrews says, there is no redemption without the shedding of blood, and it has always been the blood of an innocent – pointing prophetically to the blood of Christ. There is nothing the devil fears more than the blood of Christ, the Son of God, because it sealed his defeat. He thought by killing Jesus he would be rid of Him, but it was a trap that he walked into to his own peril.

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8

The most effective weapon that the devil uses against Christians, is their ignorance. One way he enforces his power over believers is to keep the pulpits silent on the blood of Christ. When last have you heard a sermon on the blood of Christ? Or a worship song that extols the magnificence of His blood? The devil is not concerned with Christians that rest their faith on faithful church attendance or selfless service, as long as he can keep them from building their lives on the very foundation of their salvation – the blood of Christ that purchased their redemption.

The price that Jesus paid on the cross is a truth that should never slip our minds. Worldly success, material wealth, happiness that is based on temporary circumstances, and such things should never overshadow the tremendous power that set us free and keeps us free. The Bible has good advice for a life of blessing in all areas of our lives, but if it becomes separated from the foundational truths of our salvation, it becomes a threat to our eternal future in the Lord.

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:17-19

The mention of the blood of Christ by a Christian who knows and believes the truth sends demons scurrying in stark fear. They cannot stand the sound of it as it reminds them of a day when they thought they gained the victory over God, only to find out they were miserably defeated. The blood of Jesus always has the last word in any confrontation with evil spirits; they have no choice but to leave when the blood of Jesus is invoked.

We celebrate communion as often as we can because it reminds us of the foundation of our salvation. However, when communion has become a dead ritual, it loses its impact on the hearts and minds of believers. Breaking bread is one of the most important meetings of a church for this very reason.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:26-28

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! No wonder Paul declared, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)

WordWise News

Glory be to God! My name is Pastor Ambrose Ogbuagu. I was privileged to come in contact with WordWise Word School in Benin City when I first received a call from the Lord in 2015. I joined other students from around the world then as a student of WordWise. God helped me and I graduated as one of the best students of the year.

In 2016 I started New life in Christ Ministry in Edo State. Since then God has been faithful to me in the ministry. Our ministry is about teaching, training, and evangelism. Presently we are located at Abuja, the capital of Nigeria as pastor of New Life Fabulous Christian Ministries.

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