The Purpose of the Blood of Jesus Christ
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The Purpose of the Blood of Jesus Christ
To many so-called believers today, the blood of Jesus is just something you invoke
when you’re in desperate need of protection from danger or healing from sicknesses and
diseases. Although several benefits can be derived from the blood which Christ shed on
the cross, we must not overlook the main reason why He had to shed His blood and die.
This article is designed to show why the blood of Christ was shed and how we can truly
benefit from it.
1. Introduction
2. The Blood is the Life of the Flesh
3. No Forgiveness Without the Shedding of Blood
4. Why Did Christ Have to Die?
5. Redemption Only by the Blood of Christ
6. Atonement Made But Once
Introduction
Although several benefits can be derived from the blood which Christ shed
on the cross, we must not overlook the main reason why He had to shed His
blood and die. Many believers like to talk about the blood of Jesus Christ, but not
all of them understand the purpose of the blood. Before I knew the truth, I
thought the blood of Jesus is just something you invoke when in distress.
I would shout “blood of Jesus” when something bad was about happen. I would
remember the blood of Jesus when I was about to crash, fall, when I suddenly
saw something scary or when I just woke up from a bad dream. Every morning
when was going out, and every night when I was about to sleep, I would plead
the blood of Jesus Christ just for protection. I would often ‘cover my food with
the blood of Jesus’ just for consecration.
Although there might not be anything wrong with some of these scenarios, I had
a very serious problem then. The problem was that I never actually trusted the
blood for my salvation. This of course was the tragic result of the teachings and
the Church leaders that I used to follow without paying attention to what
the Bible says. To many believers and preachers today, the blood of Jesus is just
something you invoke when you’re in desperate need of protection from danger
or healing from sicknesses and diseases.
But the Bible says otherwise, and that is the point of this article.
The Blood is the Life of the Flesh
Note: The flesh in this case refers to the body, as distinguished from the soul.
Not the sin nature.
The blood is the life of the flesh. Life is taken when blood is shed. In the Old
Testament, God forbade the eating of blood in Israel. He told them that the life
of the flesh is in the blood:
Leviticus 17:10-12 .
10 ‘And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ 12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’
See also: Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:14; 19:16; Deuteronomy 12:23;
Matthew 27:4,24.
The modern medicine acknowledges the truth about the life in the blood. They
would often require blood transfusion to sustain the life of a very sick person,
especially the one who had recently lost lots of blood. Only the abortion
advocates have denied the fact that there is life in the blood.
Since the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), every sin has to be atoned for
by the death of something or Somebody. We began to see this right from the
Garden of Eden when the blood atonement was first typified (Genesis 3:21).
Abel’s sacrifice was accepted by God as a result of blood atonement (Genesis
4:4-5). This became the order of the day under the Mosaic Covenant.
The very Mosaic Covenant (the Old Testament) was ended by the shedding of
another blood, but this time, very special one. On the cross, Jesus Christ paid for
our sins by His own life. He gave His life by shedding His blood. We can have life
today by that blood which He willingly shed for us.
John 6:53-56 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat
the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth
my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my
flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
No Forgiveness Without the Shedding of Blood
In the Old Testament passage sited above, the Bible says that “it is the blood
that maketh an atonement for the soul”.
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon
the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an
atonement for the soul.
An atonement in the case is a payment, made on behalf of the one who has
sinned in order to redeem him from the penalty of his sins. This payment could
not be made in any other way than the shedding of blood. You cannot replace
the blood with your good works, prayer without ceasing, helping and loving
others, or even giving more money. When Cain tried to bypass the blood, his
sacrifice was disregarded by God. The Old Testament saints had to keep up with
the shedding of the blood of those animals because that was the only way they
could receive the remission of sin.
The point is clear, no sin will be forgiven without the sacrificial shedding of
blood.
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without
shedding of blood is no remission.
Why Did Christ Have to Die?
“All have sinned”. Because everyone has come short of the glory of God, no one
is capable of atoning for his own sin or the sins of others. Therefore, there has to
be someone blameless who must do the job. He must be a man since he will
atone for man’s sins, He must also be God because that is the only way He
would be the mediator between God and man. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only
One who fits this description.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus.
The wages of sin, the Bible says, is death. So whoever will atone for the sins of
others must give His live. But because the forgiveness of sin require the
shedding of blood (as pointed out above), the mediator must shed His blood and
die and a very bloody death.
He Must Shed His Blood
Jesus Christ could have been drown in water, He could have died of strangling,
He could have died of food poisoning, or of severe sickness, starvation, chemical
attack, or any other means of death which does not include the shedding of
blood. That would not have been an acceptable atonement because the shedding
of blood is required for the forgiveness of sin.
In the Old Testament, the blood was sprinkled on the altars, the people, the
door posts, etc.
Listen to the words of Jesus Himself when He was typifying His blood by the Holy
Communion drink:
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins.
Mark 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is
shed for many.
Redemption Only by the Blood of Christ
Today, redemption can only be attained through the blood of Jesus Christ.
What we ought to realize today in the Church Age is the fact that the blood of
goat and calf is no longer acceptable by God for the remission of sins. The
sacrifices of the Old Testament (which ended at the cross) were mere shadow of
the cross. Those animals typified Christ.
This is Not Something New
That Christ will shed His blood and die for the sin of the world has been divinely
ordained “from the foundation of the world”. God has always had this as part of
His plan.
1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was
manifest in these last times for you.
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that
we might receive the adoption of sons.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are
not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
It Was Kept from the World
1 Corinthians 2:6-8 ¶ Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not
the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we
speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained
before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had
they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Although the cross was unknown to the world, the plan has always existed with
God.
You Must Trust in the Blood
From the day that Christ shed His blood on the cross, there came an end to any
other sacrificial blood shed for sin. Therefore anyone who has not put his or her
faith in the blood of Jesus is yet to receive the forgiveness of sin. Regardless of
how religious you might be today, if you have not trusted in Christ’s shed blood
for the forgiveness of your sins, you’re still an unforgiven sinner.
The forgiveness of our sins is tied to the blood that Christ shed on the cross. You
do not have to take my words for it, just listen the Bible:
Romans 3:23-25 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom
God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
Ephesians 1:6-7 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us
accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh
by the blood of Christ.
Colossians 1:12-14 ¶ Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the
power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom
we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to
reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things
in heaven.
Hebrews 9:12-14 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he
entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean,
sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God?
See also: Matthew 20:28; 26:28; John 6:53-56; Romans 5:9; Galatians
3:13; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 13:12; 1 Peter 1:2,18-19; 1 John 1:7;
Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9; 7:14; 12:11.
What it means to trust in the blood is to admit you’re a sinner who cannot save
him/herself. Believe that Christ has died in your place, shed His blood to fully
pay the penalty of your sins. And that He was buried and He rose again for your
justification.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ¶ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I
preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also
ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed
in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ
died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose
again the third day according to the scriptures.
Christ Purchased Us by His Blood
Christ redeemed us from being the children of wrath to receiving the power to
become the children of God. The price that He paid to accomplish this was His
blood.
Isaiah 53:10-12 ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when
thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his
days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the
travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant
justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with
the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his
soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of
many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the
Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood.
1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
without spot.
Christ is to us the only source of righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:29-30 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye
in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption.
Atonement Made But Once
It needful for me to close this article by mentioning this important point. This is
the fact that Christ’s atonement is the only and last acceptable atonement for
sin. It is referred to in the Bible as “one sacrifice forever” as you will see in the
passages below. Once you’re washed in the blood, you’re cleansed and forgiven
once and for all.
One Sacrifice Forever
1 Peter 3:18 ¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that
he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.
Hebrews 7:26-27 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as
those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s:
for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 9:24-28 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which
are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God
for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into
the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered
since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he
appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto
men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear
the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time
without sin unto salvation.
Hebrews 10:10-14 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of
Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering
oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after
he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one
offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
I understand the concerns of those who think or believe that they can lose their
salvation. The problem with these people is that they do not understand the
gospel. This ignorance makes them trust their own righteousness to effect and
sustain their salvation. The Bible says once you’re cleansed by the blood of
Christ, you’re cleansed for life.
This is not an encouragement for licentiousness, it is simply the truth of the
gospel as you can see for yourself in those passages. Another indication of the
ignorance of the gospel is concluding that the preaching of grace encourages
sinful life. If you understand what it means to be saved, you will also understand
the need to live for Christ.
The atonement made by Christ is the only way out of the penalty of sin. You
must therefore trust in the blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
This is the purpose for which the blood was shed.
Thank you for reading!