SEALED WITH BLOOD
By Dr. Barry L. Davis
Without a doubt, the blood of Jesus Christ is the most precious gift our heavenly Father has given to His church, yet so few Christians understand its value and virtue. Many of you will remember that old hymn “Power in the Blood” – There is power, power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb. But most of us seldom enter into an understanding of the power of that blood we sing about. If I were to ask you what the power of the blood means, you might answer, “it means my sins are forgiven” or “I’m free from bondage” and that would be true. But beyond forgiveness, what does the blood of Jesus Christ mean to you? Can you explain to me, to your family, or to a co-worker the value and virtue of the blood of Jesus? In this article I want to help give you a fuller understanding of the preciousness of Jesus’ blood and how it can work wonderful changes in your life.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF BLOOD IN THE BIBLE
When Jesus met at the last supper with His disciples He made some fascinating statements:
After 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.” – Luke 22:20
Every time we partake of communion we are memorializing this sacrifice Jesus was talking about. We understand that the wine represents the blood Jesus shed for us on the Cross, but I think we need to understand what led up to this and the significance behind it all.
The first biblical reference to the sprinkling of blood is given when the Israelite people wanted to escape the bondage of Egypt. The last plague that God sent to convince the Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave his country was the death of the firstborn son. To avoid the plague God instructed the Israelites on the use of blood.
Drain each lamb's blood into a basin. Then take a cluster of hyssop branches and dip it into the lamb's blood. Strike the hyssop against the top and sides of the doorframe, staining it with the blood. And remember, no one is allowed to leave the house until morning. – Exodus 12:22
That night, when death came to each door, if the lamb’s blood was applied to the sides and top of the doorpost, the firstborn would be spared. Now there is something we need to understand here – if the blood was left in the basin, it would be of no effect – it was merely blood that had been shed. The blood had power to save only when it was lifted out of the basin and applied. Now why couldn’t the Israelites have simply laid the basin of blood at the threshold and said, “It doesn’t matter what we do with it, After all, blood is blood.” Suppose they had put that basin filled with lamb’s blood on a linen-covered table or on a pedestal just inside the door? I’ll tell you what would have happened – death would have struck that home. The blood had to be lifted out of the basin and applied to the doorposts to fulfill its purpose of protection.
This blood that was applied to the doorposts of the Israelites was a type of the blood of Jesus Christ. The blood that flowed from the Cross was not wasted; it didn’t fall to the ground and disappear. This is the blood that is applied to your doorposts, your heart, when you accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And that blood both removes your sin, the experience of spiritual death, and protects you from the attacks of the Evil one. Jesus’ blood hasn’t been left in the basin, but has been lifted out and applied to your heart. And it is waiting to be applied on the doorposts of hearts all over the world.
There is another application of blood that is important for us to look at – God made a covenant agreement with Israel, and when the terms of that agreement were stated the people’s response was:
"We will do everything the LORD has told us to do." – Exodus 24:3.
They agreed to the covenant of the Lord. Now this covenant had to be sealed, to be ratified and made valid. This could happen only through the sprinkling of blood upon it.
For 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. – Hebrews 9:19
The shed blood of the burnt offerings was contained in a basin. Moses took some of this blood and poured part of it by the altar. Then he took hyssop, dipped it in the basin and sprinkled some of the blood on the twelve pillars (representing the twelve tribes of Israel). Finally, Moses dipped the hyssop into the basin and sprinkled the blood on the people. This blood covering the people sealed the covenant! It is clear from the passage that the sprinkling of the blood gave the Israelites full access to God. On this occasion it had nothing to do with forgiveness and remission of sin, but rather, with communion. They were now sanctified, cleansed, and made fit to be in God's presence. Immediately after the covenant was sealed by blood applied to the people we read:
Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the leaders of Israel went up the mountain. There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a pavement of brilliant sapphire, as clear as the heavens. And though Israel's leaders saw God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they shared a meal together in God's presence! – Exodus 24:9-11
This is simply amazing! These men could eat and drink in the very presence of God, whereas shortly before they had feared for their lives. It was because the blood had been sprinkled and they understood the safety, the power, and the security in that. They didn't fear!
Today we are in a new covenant with Jesus Christ, a covenant sealed by His own blood. And likewise today, when His precious blood is sprinkled on your soul, it is for purposes of communion. It is so that you can go boldly, with ease, without fear of judgment, into God's presence for communion. You are given access to Him with no sin condemning you. You are free to talk to God and enjoy His company!
One of the most important sprinklings of blood was done by the high priest. Once each year he went into the Holy of Holies to make atonement, which means "reconciliation." This act was meant to wipe away the people's sins, so they could be reconciled and have communion again with the heavenly Father. The priest would carry into the Holy of Holies a handful of incense, a censer of burning coals of fire from the altar, and a container of blood from a slain ox. Within the Holy of Holies was an ark, on top of which sat a flat, golden top with a lip around it. This was the mercy seat, where God "sat" – it was His very presence. The mercy seat had two golden cherubim on either side with wings spread over the seat. After cleansing himself in an elaborate ceremony, the priest went inside the Holy of holies with great reverence and fear. He dropped the incense into the fire, causing an aroma and smoke to ascend. Then the priest dipped his finger into the blood and sprinkled it seven times on the mercy seat:
Then he must dip his finger into the blood of the bull and sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover and then seven times against the front of the Ark. – Leviticus 16:14
When the blood was sprinkled on God's seat, forgiveness of all sins was accomplished, and all past sins were covered. When the high priest came out, the people knew God had accepted the sacrifice and their sins were pardoned. Israel never doubted it.
We too have a high priest – Jesus Christ, our Lord. He is our High Priest, not just once a year, but for all time, to the end of the world! Jesus took His own blood to the true mercy seat, into God's presence, the Holy of Holies, and presented it for the remission of all sins, for all believers, for all time. It was a final sprinkling! Scriptures says of this act:
Once 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. – Hebrews 9:12
Just 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. – Hebrews 9:14
For Christ has entered into heaven itself to appear now before God as our Advocate. – Hebrews 9:24a
Jesus took His own blood into heaven for us! And it isn't reserved there simply as a memorial – It is to be sprinkled on all who come to Him by faith!
THREE QUESTIONS:
1. HOW CAN JESUS’ BLOOD BE APPLIED TO OUR LIVES?
Jesus applies His own blood to us when, by faith, we receive His finished work at Calvary. This isn't a physical sprinkling; rather, it is a legal, spiritual transaction. He applies the blood on our hearts in response to our faith. And until we truly believe in the power of His sacrifice at Calvary the blood of Jesus cannot produce any effect upon our souls.
For 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. – Romans 3:25a
Churches around the world partake of communion regularly. Yet, Paul warns us not to "drink the cup in an unworthy manner" (1 Cor. 11:27). This doesn't mean merely partaking of a communion service after we've failed in some way; we know that if we repent of our sin, Jesus will forgive us and cleanse us of all iniquity. Paul is saying we are to discern Christ's body properly. He's talking about coming to the Lord's Table, drinking of the cup symbolic of His blood, and yet not believing in the power of that blood! It has to do with sitting in condemnation and fear, not believing that Christ's blood has justified and sanctified us in God's sight.
When you place your faith in the finished work of Jesus, the covenant has been sealed by His blood, the agreement has been reached, and the contract has been signed. This knowledge is fundamental to understanding the lengths to which Jesus has gone for us.
2. HOW DOES JESUS’ BLOOD BENEFIT US?
Answer 1: Jesus' blood redeems us from sin and the power of darkness.
(God) is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven. – Ephesians 1:7
We are no longer under condemnation or fear! A lot of people have been redeemed and justified by the blood but they don't know it because they live in fear and condemnation. They've given faith to the Lord, but they haven't entered into the glory of being justified by the blood. The fact is that our sins have been covered and the debt has been paid in full! We have to enter into that knowledge by faith in order to have the benefit – which is peace with God!
Answer 2: Jesus' blood breaks down all walls.
But 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. For Christ himself has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one people. He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us. – Ephesians 2:13-14
We are all one in Christ. We are a blood-sprinkled church. Those who are blood-sprinkled no longer have any walls of separation.
Answer 3: Jesus' blood overcomes Satan
They have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their testimony. – Revelation 12:11
What is the word of the testimony? It is simply this: "I believe in the blood! I testify to the prevailing, overcoming power of the blood of Jesus, and I proclaim its total victory!" If you want to overcome Satan, stand on the blood and proclaim its power!
Answer 4: Jesus’ blood gives us access to the Holy of Holies
This is where God dwells – we now have complete access to the Father.
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. – Hebrews 10:19
We can now come to our Father boldly, without fear! We need not wait for Him to bid us to enter, we can come freely to the Father with all of our needs, praise, and even with our doubts.
3. WHAT DOES JESUS EXPECT IN RETURN?
There are a number of things we could focus on, but I just want to center on the most important expectation. We are to go in peace and doubt no more! When Moses sprinkled blood on the sinning Israelites, they never once doubted they were pardoned and accepted by God. They trusted in that sprinkling!
Today, the blood sprinkled on us is not that of bulls, goats or sheep, but of Christ, the Lamb of God. And yet often we have more doubt and more fear than those Israelites! Martin Luther said it is blasphemy to take back to ourselves all the sins that were laid on Christ, and I agree! It is absolute sacrilege to go about in fear, guilt, condemnation, and to say, "The Bible says that by faith I am cleansed, justified and protected from Satan's power, yet I can't believe such a wonderful thing is possible!"
If you are a Christ Follower it is imperative that you accept the fact that God has come into covenant with you through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. May God be praised!