Life by the Precious Blood of Christ!
After Adam and Eve transgressed against God, the consequences of their sin brought death, terrible judgment and the curse. To address the power of sin, God gave the Law to show the reality of sin’s power and to define righteousness. Due to the weakness of the flesh, no one was ever made just or righteous by trying to keep the Law. The Psalmist was thinking about being made clean before God and asked, “How can a man cleanse his way?” In Psalms 119:11 he said, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Romans 7:12 says, “the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.” Obviously, the Word of God on tablets of stone must somehow get into our hearts and make its way into our behavior and life. Since the Lord our God does not change and His Word is settled in heaven and stands firm forever, something must be done to bring us from death into life. The Lord made it clear when He said, “My words will never pass away,” (Matthew 24:35) but the “word of the LORD remains forever,” (1 Peter 1:24-25). He is the LORD, and He does not change, (Malachi 3:6).
The answer for our sin and weaknesses is found in the precious blood of Christ.
The precious blood of Jesus Christ is the heavenly Father’s gift to us to address our sin. There is wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:18-19 tells us we were “redeemed with the precious blood of Christ.” The power and significance of Christ’s blood makes it possible for our sins to be cancelled and for us to be freed from the bondage of iniquity. Beyond forgiveness and cleansing from sins, there is power in Christ’s blood that brings wonderful changes in our lives.
In Scripture, the blood is spoken of in two ways — “Blood Shed” and “Blood Sprinkled!”
In Luke 22:20, at His last Passover, Jesus said, “This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you,” (Luke 22:20).
When we receive communion, we are called to remember that His blood was shed or given for us. Before we can receive the benefit of His precious blood, the Lord Jesus had to shed His blood on the cross.
Sprinkling of the blood refers back to Exodus 12:22.
The night of the Passover when God’s judgment was coming over the whole land of Egypt. Every household not covered by the blood of a sacrifice lamb would be affected. Israel was commanded to take hyssop and dip it in the blood of a lamb and strike the doorposts of their house. When the Lord passed through the land and saw the blood, He would pass over the house. Life over death was provided by the sprinkling of the blood. The blood had power to save and protect when it was sprinkled! As long as they stayed behind the blood covering, they were safe from the judgment and wrath of God.
The blood of the lamb is a type of the blood of Christ.
The blood of Christ that flowed at Calvary was not wasted. His precious blood has been applied to the believer. If Christ is Lord of your life, then His blood has been sprinkled on your heart.
This sprinkling of the blood is not just for forgiveness – it provides protection!
When you are sprinkled, you are under the protection and covering of Christ’s blood.
There is also a sprinkling of blood mentioned in Exodus 24:1-11.
God made a covenant agreement with Israel and promised, “If you will obey My words, I will be a God to you, and you will be My people.” After Moses read the law to the people, they answered, “We understand — and we will obey.” The covenant was sealed, ratified, and made valid when Moses “took the blood… and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,” (Hebrews 9:19). Moses took the blood of the burnt offerings and poured part of it by the altar. Then he took hyssop, dipped it in a basin, and sprinkled some of the blood on the twelve pillars of the tabernacle, (representing the twelve tribes of Israel). Finally, Moses dipped the hyssop into the basin and sprinkled the blood on the people.
The blood that covered the people sealed the covenant!
Sprinkling of the blood gave full access and fellowship with God. They were sanctified, cleansed and made acceptable to be in God’s presence.
Exodus 24:8 NKJV And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.”
Exodus 24:9-10 NKJV Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.
Exodus 24:11 NKJV But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank.
Did you hear that?
Before they were sprinkled with the blood, they were afraid for their lives in the presence of God. Now they saw God and ate and drank in His presence. Under the blood covering they could enter into intimate personal fellowship with God. When the blood had been sprinkled, they stood in the safety, power, and security of the blood covering!
Something better has been provided for us in this new covenant with Jesus Christ –- we are sealed by His blood.
Christ’s precious blood has been sprinkled on your soul and His blood covering has provided fellowship with Almighty God. We can boldly come into God’s presence and have access to the Father without sin condemning us. We are free to walk and talk with God and enjoy the power and glory of His presence.
Once a year when the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the people, he would enter with blood from the sacrifice.
The High Priest carried a handful of incense, a censer of burning coals from the altar, and a container of blood from a slain ox into the Holy of Holies. Within the Holy of Holies stood the ark of God’s presence. On top of the ark sat the golden mercy seat where God’s presence came down.
After cleansing himself, the priest went inside the holy of holies with great reverence and fear.
He dropped the incense into the fire and the aroma and smoke ascended before God. Then the priest dipped his finger into the blood and sprinkled it seven times on the mercy seat.
Leviticus 16:14 “And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times”
When the blood was sprinkled, forgiveness of all past sins was accomplished. When the high priest came out, the people knew that God had accepted the sacrifice and sins were pardoned.
We have a High Priest — Jesus Christ, our Lord.
He presented His blood in the presence of God in heaven for the remission of all sins.
Hebrews 9:12 NKJV …with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption..
Hebrews 9:14 NKJV how much more shall the blood of Christ …cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Jesus Christ, our High Priest presented His own blood before God in heaven for us!
When you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you are covered by His precious blood. His blood has power to justify and sanctify you in God’s sight. His blood is powerful to set you free, cleanse, and heal. His blood can make you righteous in God’s sight.
When you believe with all your heart, your conscience and soul can rest.
You can know and trust that you are saved, forgiven, and healed by the blood.
Here are three ways you can know if you have been sprinkled by the blood.
1 John 1:7 NKJV But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
When you are walking in the Light, you know that the blood of Jesus has cleansed you from sin. According to John, you are either walking in the light or in darkness. If you are walking in darkness you cannot have fellowship with God. If you are in the light, you are part of God’s family and have been cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Second, you can know your are sprinkled with Christ’s blood when you are under spiritual attack.
Those who have not been sprinkled with the blood call their best friend when they are in trouble. They are filled with fear and condemnation. When you are sprinkled with His blood, your first defense is Jesus’ blood! We are not fearful or defensive but mighty through God by the blood of Christ. As a result, the blood of Jesus Christ has prevailed and we are made to be more than conquerors because He has won the victory for us.
Third, if you are secure in the cleansing, justifying power of the blood, your conscience no longer condemns you.
If your conscience condemns and constantly reminds you of past failures, you need to be sprinkled with Jesus’ blood. When you fully rest in the cleansing, justifying power of Christ’s blood… your conscience is no longer an accuser.
Hebrews 10:22 we can “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.”
We are no longer under the condemnation or fear of the law for we have been redeemed and justified by the blood of Jesus Christ. You need to know that your sin has been covered and the debt has been paid in full!
1 John 1:7 NKJV…the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all sin.
You are sanctified and sprinkled clean! You are standing in a powerful position by the blood of Christ.
