THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
SESSION 2
Most of us understand that our Lord Jesus’ death and resurrection ended the curse in our life and brought us a freedom beyond our imagination. However until we take the time to learn what it all means, and how we are to apply it, we are not in a position to take possession of what belongs to us.
In her book “The Word, The Name, The Blood”, Joyce Meyer said, “The Word of God holds no power for the believer who has no understanding concerning the blood.”
In Hebrews we are reminded that Moses in the Old Covenant applied the blood to the Book of the Law and the people to signify that later One would come to fully ratify the Covenant that God had made with them. Today the Blood of Jesus is applied to us to ratify our Covenant in Him (He went into heaven and applied His Blood to the mercy seat to ratify it there) and we need to apply it to our lives so that we might fully realize the Covenant that we have in Him.
Hebrews 9:19-20 (NLT) - 19 For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. 20 Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.”
Where in the Old Covenant the blood of the sacrificial animals was applied to cover up the sins of the people, in the New Covenant the Blood of Jesus is applied to completely erase forever the sins of the people to whom it is applied. Apply it to yourself now so that your sins might be completely eradicated.
Freedom from sin, guilt, condemnation and defeat, which are not attainable by some people, is lying within our reach and our reach is extended by understanding the Blood of Jesus and what it accomplished for us. Doubts, unbelief, poor images of our self, a double mind are all things that the devil uses to prevent us from standing in our “power spot” with the Lord. If he can prevent us from realizing who we are, not in ourselves but in Christ Jesus then he can prevent us from taking what is ours. He doesn’t have to take our weapons from us, only convince us that they aren’t of any use. If you are holding a pistol on me and I can convince you that if you pull the trigger it will explode and kill you, then that is just as good as taking it away from you. It is time for us to tell satan that we know we have a pistol and it is loaded with the Word of God and is primed in the Blood of Jesus and it is time for him to LEAVE!
What are some of the ways that the devil steals from us? He does it by convincing us that we aren’t worthy, we don’t measure up, we have not prayed enough, we haven’t given enough, we haven’t read enough, we haven’t witnessed enough, and the list goes on. What is he telling you to prevent you from realizing the power that resides in you because of what the Blood of Jesus purchased for us?
We have to come to the realization that joy, freedom and power are ours through the Blood of Jesus. Not only do we need to recognize that fact, BUT ACT ON IT!
During the next few minutes we are going to explore some, just some, of the things the Blood does for us, and in us. We will talk about things that we say we know, but have stopped acting on them; we will talk about things that sound interesting, but have not acted on them; we will talk about things that empower us, but have not acted on them; and if we do not act on them we will leave as defeated as we were when we came in the door, only more so, because the devil will try us even more since we heard the truth and did nothing.
1 John 5:1-8 (NLT) - 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. 7 So we have these three witnesses— 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree.
As we start this study, I need to clarify something that will probably step on some of your denominational toes. We will not discuss “atonement” when we discuss the Blood of Jesus. Atonement was in the Old Covenant, and is used several times there, however in the New Covenant and by the Blood of Jesus, there is no cover up (that is what atonement means – cover up. Some try to use it as our being reconciled to God but the word means cover up, to cover over, our Master’s Blood didn’t cover anything up, it erased it! We have to realize that, if it is erased then it isn’t there to haunt us, the devil uses things in our past that we have been forgiven of to haunt us, tell him where to get off, YOUR BACK!
The two closest things in the New Covenant for atonement are the Greek words “hilasmos” (which is found in 1 John 2:2; 4:10) and “hilasterion” (which is found in Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:5). “Hilasmos” means propitiation (which we will discuss later) and “hilarterion” means mercy seat, the covering of the ark of the covenant. Both speak to the means by which Jesus’ death on the cross, and His shedding of Blood, provides the Father with the means of showing mercy to us. The King James Version of the Bible shows the word “atonement” in Romans 5:11, however it is speaking of reconciliation as shown in Romans 11:15 and 2 Corinthians 5:18-19.
Kenneth Copeland in “Pursuit of His Presence” states, “His blood was the ultimate and final sacrifice for our sins. You don’t have to “do” things to make up for your sins. You don’t have to punish yourself, or offer up a sacrifice like they did in the Old Testament.”
In the New Covenant we are talking about the remission of our sins. That is the complete and utter removal of all that relates to them against us with God. Take a moment now to apply that Blood for the remission of your sins. Once you do that your sin is obliterated.
In a courtroom if we were accused of something we would have to stand before the judge and make a plea. Some do a plea bargain where they “cut a deal” to lessen their sentence, others plead guilty, others not guilty, others plead excuses BUT we need to stand before our Judge and plead the Blood of Jesus. It isn’t a bargaining chip for a lesser sentence; it isn’t an excuse. IT IS FORGIVENESS AND ERASURE OF YOUR SIN. Our Advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, stands with us reinforcing the mandatory conclusion to our sin once we confess it and plead the Blood over it. So when you stand before your accuser (the devil) and the Judge asks, “How do you plead?” You Plead the Blood.
So let’s look at some of the reasons that we need the Blood of Jesus. It is for:
Cleansing from sin
1 John 1:7 (NASB95) - 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Makes justification available to us
Romans 5:9 (AMP) - 9 Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.
Our redemption comes through it
Ephesians 1:7 (AMP) - 7 In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor,
Romans 5:9-10 (AMP) - 9 Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life.
Reconciliation with the Father
Colossians 1:20 (NASB95) - 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Romans 3:25 (NLT) -25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,
Peace is available to us
Colossians 1:20 (NASB95) – 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Giving us access to the Father
Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) - 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
Our conscience is purged
Hebrews 9:13-14 (NLT) - 13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Sanctification comes by the Blood
Hebrews 13:12 (AMP) - 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city’s] gate in order that He might purify and consecrate the people through [the shedding of] His own blood and set them apart as holy [for God].
Our communion through the Blood
1 Corinthians 10:16 (AMP) - 16 The cup of blessing [of wine at the Lord’s Supper] upon which we ask [God’s] blessing, does it not mean [that in drinking it] we participate in and share a fellowship (a communion) in the blood of Christ (the Messiah)? The bread which we break, does it not mean [that in eating it] we participate in and share a fellowship (a communion) in the body of Christ?
Our being made Kings and Priests unto God
Revelation 5:9-10 (AMP) - 9 And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 And You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign [as kings] over the earth!
Our overcoming Satan
Revelation 12:11 (AMP) - 11 And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].
Our eternal life
John 6:53-63 (NLT) - 53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”
61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Our perfection
Hebrews 6:1-2 (AMP) - 1 THEREFORE LET us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God,
2 With teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment and punishment. [These are all matters of which you should have been fully aware long, long ago.]
Hebrews 7:11-19 (AMP) - 11 Now if perfection (a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper) had been attainable by the Levitical priesthood—for under it the people were given the Law—why was it further necessary that there should arise another and different kind of Priest, one after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed after the order and rank of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity an alteration of the law [concerning the priesthood] as well. 13 For the One of Whom these things are said belonged [not to the priestly line but] to another tribe, no member of which has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is obvious that our Lord sprang from the tribe of Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with that tribe. 15 And this becomes more plainly evident when another Priest arises Who bears the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 Who has been constituted a Priest, not on the basis of a bodily legal requirement [an externally imposed command concerning His physical ancestry], but on the basis of the power of an endless and indestructible Life. 17 For it is witnessed of Him, You are a Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. 18 So a previous physical regulation and command is cancelled because of its weakness and ineffectiveness and uselessness— 19 For the Law never made anything perfect—but instead a better hope is introduced through which we [now] come close to God.
To permit us to enter into a covenant relationship with the Father
Hebrews 13:20 (AMP) - 20 Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament),
After having seen these things we need to move on into our perfection and communion with the Lord.
Theologically the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross is spoken of as:
A Propitiation
Merriman-Webster Dictionary – propitiation – something that propitiates; specifically an atoning sacrifice; propitiating – appease; to gain the favor or goodwill of
Romans 3:25 (AMP) - 25 Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.
1 John 2:2 (NASB95) - 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
1 John 4:10 (NASB95) - 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
A Substitution
Merriman-Webster Dictionary – substitution – the act, process or result of substituting one thing for another; substitute – to put or use in place of another
1 Peter 3:18 (AMP) - 18 For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit,
Romans 5:8 (NLT) - 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
A Redemption
Merriman-Webster Dictionary – redemption – the act, process or an instance of redeeming; redeem – to buy back, to get or win back
Colossians 1:14 (AMP) - 14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.
A Ransom
Merriman-Webster Dictionary – ransom – a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone or something from captivity
Mark 10:45 (NASB95) - 45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
A Reconciliation
Merriman-Webster Dictionary – reconciliation – the act of reconciling; the state of being reconciled; reconcile – to restore to friendship or harmony
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NASB95) - 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Hebrews 2:17 (KJV) - 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
The Applied Blood brings:
Deliverance
Healing
Protection
The Blood of Jesus makes available to us:
Greater Freedom
Greater Power
Greater Deliverance
SPEAK THE WORD – BECAUSE OF WHAT THE LORD TELLS ME IN 1 JOHN 2:12 I BOLDLY PROCLAIM THAT MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE.
His Name’s sake is because His Name is on the Covenant that I have with the Father.
