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 prefigured 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 cross

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

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 (Rom 5:9). “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 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 (Lk 22:20). 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 Bible says if a watchman fails to warn of pending attack the death of any victims will be on their head (Ezek 33:4,6). As Christians, we should be vigilant to tell the lost about the peril that awaits those who do not know Christ as Saviour.

The victory gained by the death of Jesus and represented by His blood is our principle spiritual weapon whereby we defeat Satan, our enemy.