The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee

The Blood of Christ

Note: See the Answer Key at the bottom of this page to fill in the blanks.

In his book, The Normal Christian Life, Watchman Nee makes a distinction between the Blood of Christ—which was shed to take away our SINS, and the cross of Christ—which deals with our sin nature. We shall spend some time investigating the importance of both. The key for us is to recognize that in Scriptural terms God NEVER forgives sins without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22) While the church in America has often downplayed the role of the shed blood of Jesus Christ in our salvation, the Bible makes it clear that the precious blood of Jesus is the only means by which we can stand in righteousness before God (Romans 3:23-26) As we have studied the book of Romans to this point we have seen that the Apostle Paul has spoke of “sins” in the plural. It is the Blood of Jesus which takes away our sin and the guilt associated with it. The Biblical word for this removal of our sins is atonement. Atonement literally means “covering.” While I have referred to atonement as meaning “at-one-ment,” being made one with God, which is true. The word atonement, has the precise biblical meaning of covering. Just as one may cover over a black wall with coats of white paint, Jesus’ blood has the power to cover our sins, and to completely blot them out. This is vital, since God cannot look on sin. Therefore, we can only stand in God’s presence when we are covered in the Blood of Jesus.

While discussion of blood is often somewhat repulsive in our day, and may be one reason for the lack of emphasis on Jesus’ blood being shed, it has been recognized since the earliest times that the life of a person or an animal is somehow contained “in the blood.” If we receive an injury that ruptures a main artery or vein, it is literally possible to “bleed to death.” It is equally true that a person who loses blood may be revived by the transfusion of another’s blood, so long as that blood is of the same “type.” In the case of Jesus’ blood, it must be noted that his “type” is unique. After all, his Father is the Holy Spirit in human terms. No one else in all of history has ever had such a father. Jesus’ blood offers life to us in the spiritual sense, and is able to do so, because it contains LIFE, not just the human life we all have by virtue of being born into this world, but ETERNAL LIFE, because its source is divine. (We may conjecture whether a person receiving the blood of Jesus in “transfused” form would live forever—but that would sidetrack us from the main point!) The main point is that Jesus freely and willingly gave his perfect blood as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. His blood was poured out, so that our sins could be atoned—covered, washed away, and we could be made at one with God.

The system of animal sacrifices established under the Mosaic Code of Law, and actually practiced since the time of Cain and Abel, many generations before the Law was established, was instituted by God as a “type” of that which was to come in the death of Jesus outside of Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago. As one reads the Levitical Code and the establishment of various animal sacrifices for the atonement of various sins, the one key we need to remember is that there is no forgiveness of sins, without the shedding of blood. We shall deal with this reality, which has been our focus in Romans 1:1-5:11, first. Then we shall move to the cross of Christ, which dealt with our sin nature. This reality is covered in Romans 5:12-8:3-39.

The BLOOD of JESUS

What follows is a listing of virtually every mention of the blood of Jesus in the New Testament. These are arranged with headings that permit us to see the place and purpose of Jesus’ blood in our forgiveness of sins, our atonement, and our righteousness as a result of His action on our behalf!

The Place of Blood in the Forgiveness (Atonement) of Sins

Hebrews 9:6-10

6When these things were all in place, the priests went in and out of the first room£ regularly as they performed their religious duties. 7But only the high priest goes into the Most Holy Place, and only once a year, and always with blood, which he offers to God to cover his own sins and the sins the people have committed in ignorance. 8By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the Most Holy Place was not open to the people as long as the first room and the entire system it represents were still in use.

9This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. 10For that old system deals only with food and drink and ritual washing—external regulations that are in effect only until their limitations can be corrected.

As we see here, the priest could not enter God’s presence WITHOUT the “covering” of blood. In the same way, we are unable to enter the presence of God without that covering in our lives. Jesus provides this covering as we shall see!

Hebrews 9:22

22In fact, we can say that according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified by sprinkling with blood. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.

Blood is the essential element for “purification” in the Mosaic law. Nothing and no one could be purified without the shedding of blood to cover sin. This reality is evident throughout the Old Testament. The word blood used in this context occurs more than 175 times!

Hebrews 10:1-39

Here in Hebrews 10, we see that the “old system of the Law of Moses” was only a “shadow” of the things to come through Jesus Christ:

1The old system in the law of Moses was only a shadow of the things to come, not the reality of the good things Christ has done for us. The sacrifices under the old system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. 3But just the opposite happened. Those yearly sacrifices reminded them of their sins year after year. 4For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5That is why Christ, when he came into the world, said,

      “You did not want animal sacrifices and grain offerings.
          But you have given me a body so that I may obey you.
6        No, you were not pleased with animals burned on the altar
or with other offerings for sin.
7        Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
just as it is written about me in the Scriptures.’”

8Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or grain offerings or animals burned on the altar or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9Then he added, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to establish the second. 10And what God wants is for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

11Under the old covenant, the priest stands before the altar day after day, offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12But our High Priest offered himself to God as one sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down at the place of highest honor at God’s right hand. 13There he waits until his enemies are humbled as a footstool under his feet. 14For by that one offering he perfected forever all those whom he is making holy.

15And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. First he says,

16“This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts so they will understand them,
and I will write them on their minds so they will obey them.”

17Then he adds,

“I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”

18Now when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
19And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the sacred curtain, by means of his death for us.

21And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s people, 22let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

23Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.brlect our meeting pbrup>26Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28Anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common and unholy. Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to his people.

30For we know the one who said,

“I will take vengeance. I will repay those who deserve it.”

He also said,

“The Lord will judge his own people.”

31It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32Don’t ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail. When all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity.

35Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

37 “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.

38 And a righteous person will live by faith. But I will have no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

39But we are not like those who turn their backs on God and seal their fate. We have faith that assures our salvation.

Christ Is the Perfect Sacrifice

Hebrews 9:11-28

11So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that great, perfect sanctuary in heaven, not made by human hands and not part of this created world. 12Once for all time he took blood into that Most Holy Place, but not the blood of goats and calves. He took his own blood, and with it he secured our salvation forever.

13Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ritual defilement. 14Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death 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. 15That is why he is the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, so that all who are invited can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

16Now when someone dies and leaves a will, no one gets anything until it is proved that the person who wrote the will is dead. 17The will goes into effect only after the death of the person who wrote it. While the person is still alive, no one can use the will to get any of the things promised to them.

18That is why blood was required under the first covenant as a proof of death. 19For after Moses had given the people all of God’s laws, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s laws and all the people, using branches of hyssop bushes and scarlet wool. 20Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.” 21And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the sacred tent and on everything used for worship. 22In fact, we can say that according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified by sprinkling with blood. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.

23That is why the earthly tent and everything in it—which were copies of things in heaven—had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.

24For Christ has entered into heaven itself to appear now before God as our Advocate. (on our behalf) He did not go into the earthly place of worship, for that was merely a copy of the real Temple in heaven. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the earthly high priest who enters the Most Holy Place year after year to offer the blood of an animal. 26If that had been necessary, he would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But no! He came once for all time, at the end of the age, to remove the power of sin forever by his sacrificial death for us.

27And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, 28so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again but not to deal with our sins again. This time he will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Blood of Christ

Romans 5:6-11

6When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s judgment. 10For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. 11So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.

1 Corinthians 10:14-24

14So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am about to say is true. 16When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the benefits of the blood of Christ? And when we break the loaf of bread, aren’t we sharing in the benefits of the body of Christ? 17And we all eat from one loaf, showing that we are one body. 18And think about the nation of Israel; all who eat the sacrifices are united by that act.

19What am I trying to say? Am I saying that the idols to whom the pagans bring sacrifices are real gods and that these sacrifices are of some value? 20No, not at all. What I am saying is that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want any of you to be partners with demons. 21You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. 22What? Do you dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy as Israel did? Do you think we are stronger than he is?

23You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is helpful. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 24Don’t think only of your own good. Think of other Christians and what is best for them.

Ephesians 2:11-13

11Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders by birth. You were called “the uncircumcised ones” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from God’s people, Israel, and you did not know the promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ.

Hebrews 9:13-15

Blood of Jesus

1 John 1:7

7But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.

Blood of Jesus versus the Blood of Abel

Hebrews 12:24-26

22No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to thousands of angels in joyful assembly. 23You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge of all people. And you have come to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which graciously forgives instead of crying out for vengeance as the blood of Abel did.

His (Jesus’) Blood

Colossians 1:11-14

11We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, 12always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God’s holy people, who live in the light. 13For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. 14God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins.

Colossians 1:18-23

18Christ is the head of the church, which is his body. He is the first of all who will rise from the dead, so he is first in everything. 19For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. 21This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, 22yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 23But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed by God to proclaim it.

1 Peter 1:1-2

1This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the lands of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia. 2God the Father chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood.

May you have more and more of God’s special favor and wonderful peace.

1 John 5:6-10

6And 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 also gives us the testimony that this is true. 7So we have these three witnesses—8the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. 9Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10All who believe in the Son of God know that this is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.

Revelation 1:5b-6

All praise to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. 6He has made us his kingdom and his priests who serve before God his Father. Give to him everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Amen!

Your (Jesus’) Blood

Revelation 5:9-10

9And they sang a new song with these words:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and break its seals and open it.
For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 And you have caused them to become God’s kingdom and his priests.
And they will reign on the earth.”

Blood of the Lamb

Revelation 7:14 "They washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white."

Revelation 12:10-12

10Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,

“It has happened at last—the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ! For the Accuser has been thrown down to earth—the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night. 11And they have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their testimony. And they were not afraid to die. 12Rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea. For the Devil has come down to you in great anger, and he knows that he has little time.”

Blood of His Son

Ephesians 1:6-8

6So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son. 7He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven. 8He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Jesus’ Covenant Signed In His Blood

Hebrews 13:21-25

20-21And now, may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to him. Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with his blood. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

22I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, please listen carefully to what I have said in this brief letter.

23I want you to know that our brother Timothy is now out of jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you.

24Give my greetings to all your leaders and to the other believers there. The Christians from Italy send you their greetings.

25May God’s grace be with you all.

Blood – In the Lord’s Supper

Matthew 26:26-30

26As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God’s blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it and eat it, for this is my body.” 27And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28for this is my blood, which seals the covenant£ between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many. 29Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” 30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Mark 14:22-26

22As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God’s blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.”

23And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24And he said to them, “This is my blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God and his people. 25I solemnly declare that I will not drink wine again until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” 26Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Luke 22:19-20

19Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you—an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.

John 6:53-58

53So Jesus said again, “I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54But those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them at the last day. 55For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink. 56All who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them. 57I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me. 58I am the true bread from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever and not die as your ancestors did, even though they ate the manna.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-30

23For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” 26For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

27So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. 28That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. 29For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.

Pilate “Innocent” of Jesus’ Blood

Matthew 27:24-25

24Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this man. The responsibility is yours!”

25And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!”

(His blood be on us and on our children – in the literal Greek)

Jesus’ Side Pierced and Blood and Water Flow Out

John 19:31-37

31The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, because it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn’t break his legs. 34One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. 35This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe. 36These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37and “They will look on him whom they pierced.”

The Church Purchased with Jesus’ Blood

Acts 20:25-32

25“And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26Let me say plainly that I have been faithful. No one’s damnation can be blamed on me, 27 (Greek: I am innocent of the blood of all.) for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants for you.

28“And now beware! Be sure that you feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his blood—over whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. 29I know full well that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30Even some of you will distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.

32“And now I entrust you to God and the word of his grace—his message that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.

Righteousness With God through Believing that Jesus Shed His Blood For Us

Romans 3:23-26

23For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. 25For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. 26And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus.

Jesus Became Flesh and Blood As We Are to Defeat Devil’s Power

Hebrews 2:14-15

14Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death. 15Only in this way could he deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

Robe Dipped in Blood

Revelation 19:11-16

11Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. And the one sitting on the horse was named Faithful and True. For he judges fairly and then goes to war. 12His eyes were bright like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him, and only he knew what it meant. 13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven, dressed in pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15From his mouth came a sharp sword, and with it he struck down the nations. He ruled them with an iron rod, and he trod the winepress of the fierce wrath of almighty God. 16On his robe and thigh was written this title: King of kings and Lord of lords.

Conclusions

What conclusions are we to draw from this extensive emphasis on the blood of Jesus in the New Testament? Obviously, that apart from the shedding of Jesus blood our sins CANNOT be forgiven; we cannot receive salvation; we cannot stand in the presence of God. An old hymn states, “There is power, power, wonder working power in the precious blood of the Lamb.” If that statement is true--and there is no scriptural basis for denying it!—then why is it that we scarcely hear of the blood of Jesus, or the blood of the Lamb in modern preaching and teaching? Is the “blood of Jesus” an offense to modern ears? Is the power of the blood so powerful that Satan has deceived us into ignoring in lest we experience the reality of the old hymn? When was the last time you or I “claimed” the blood of Jesus in our prayers of forgiveness, or “sprinkled” the blood of Jesus on another in a time of prayer for healing, or on our “door posts” as the high priest sprinkled the blood of animals on the altar, and on himself, and on the people and on the doorposts in Old Testament times. While the blood of Jesus was shed once for all, it is evident through these many texts that it is only the continuing impact of this shed blood that keeps us right with God. Perhaps one more reason for the ineffectiveness of the American Church is that we are more concerned with receiving God’s blessings and benefits, with getting on to the “pleasant” aspects of our faith, than with recognizing that the cost of our salvation was literally Jesus’ blood. The image is gruesome—because it was gruesome when Jesus died for us. His blood was literally poured out—out of His hand, His back, His hands, His feet and His side. Salvation is free-for us. It cost Jesus everything. As we remember that, perhaps part of the remembrance is to thank God for the blood of Jesus, to claim the blood of Jesus to cover us and wash us from sin, and not to take for granted the power, power, wonder working power in the precious blood of the Lamb!

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