Blood

<<life-giving body fluid>>

In the OT the offering of blood from an animal sacrifice was poured out on the altar as part of the ritual of atonement from sin (Ex 29:16; Lev 16:15,16). This was a forerunner to the NT concept that the ‘blood of Christ’ would cleanse us from sin, “We are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Pet 1:18,19). The death He died in our place on the

Thank God for the blood of Christ – it’s the means of our salvation

cross satisfied God’s decree that there can be no forgiveness without the shedding of blood (Heb 9:11-14,22). By a transaction, we might never fully understand, Jesus died carrying the penalty for the sins of all humanity. (However, it is only effective for those who ask for cleansing). God had declared, “The soul that sins must die”; and so that includes us all (Ezek 18:4,20). By the act of substitution our death penalty has already been paid, His blood cleansing us from all sin (1 Jn 1:7). When we believe on Jesus, we identify ourselves with Him and His death becomes ours.

By the blood of Christ, who died as a sinless person we are justified when we confess our sin and turn away from it (Rom 5:9; 1 Jn 1:9). “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, it makes atonement for sin because it is life” (Lev 17:11,14). Blood and life are synonymous as blood keeps the body alive.

The Gentile Christians in the early Church were instructed to abstain from consuming blood and the meat of strangled animals as in the OT, God’s instruction to Noah was that all meat was to be bled (Gen 9:3,4; Act 15:20). These actions recognized the sacred role of blood in their lives. At the last supper Jesus used the cup of wine to symbolize His blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sin (Mt 26:28). While the communion emblems represent His body and blood, the bread and contents of the cup don’t become His flesh and blood through transubstantiation, as believed by the Roman Catholic church (Jn 6:53,54).

The victory gained by the death of Jesus and represented by His blood is our principle spiritual weapon whereby we defeat Satan, our enemy. So every believer should know, understand, and employ the resources available.

Don't underestimate the power of His blood

However, it is our responsibility to live in submission to the Lord’s direction and obey Him to come under His covering of protection, with the Bible stating, “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jas 4:7).

As Christians, we value what the blood of Jesus represents and proclaim its power because nothing else could have rescued us from death and give us life (Jn 5:21, 6:63, 10:10; Rom 8:2).

Pleading the blood of Jesus

This is the practice of claiming the power of Christ over any and every problem by using the phrase ‘I plead the blood of Jesus over _______’ with people filling in the blank with whatever they want – be it seeking victory over evil spirits, situations regarding their job, family or illness. Pleading means to make a heartfelt earnest declaration of the power that Jesus has over Satan and his schemes, aligning themselves under the protective covering of His blood in the spiritual warfare we are engaged in (2 Cor 10:3,4; Eph 6:11,12). Pleading can also mean making an appeal to God in prayer with a request. While this term, pleading the blood of Jesus is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, the concept of bringing God into the equation is biblical. It is not a superstitious ‘magic formula of words’ or the thoughtless repeating of a term reflecting the saving ability but has the power to release, deliver and neutralize the enterprises of hell besides the weaknesses of the flesh. We are not to use these words in a misdirected way hoping that our desires and wants will be fulfilled instead of asking for God’s will to prevail knowing that His plans are always best. The basis for pleading the blood is derived from, “They triumphed over [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Rev 12:11). While it is because of His blood and death we are forgiven, reconciled to God, guaranteed our inheritance in heaven, etc for which we should express our thanks, along with our testimony or confession (the declaration of faith in God) the focus should be on the triune God who accomplished this for us (1 Cor 15:57; 2 Cor 9:15; Col 1:13,14).