This is the second article in the series and it is continued from What the Power of the Cross and the Blood Can Do For You

It is also called the Blood of Christ His Son [1 John1:7], the blood of his cross [Col 1:20], the blood of the Lord [1 Cor 11:27], the innocent blood [Matt 27:4], the precious blood [1 Peter 1:19] or the blood of the Lamb [Rev 7:14, 12:11]. This is the blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary.

There is life in the blood of animals. “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.” [Lev 17:11]. Remove the blood from an animal, then it will die. When we sin, we deserve death [Rom 6:23]. Now Jesus paid this penalty of sin by shedding his blood. The blood of animals (just like that of babies) is innocent. It was used to cover sins. Day after day, every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again, he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. The blood of goats and bulls on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.

But the blood of Jesus is more than just innocent. It is blameless and pure, therefore it can remove our sins. It is Christ who was sacrificed once and for all to take the sins of many people by bearing their sins. He gave his life (shed his blood) on the cross for our atonement. “And without shedding of blood is no remission” [Heb 9:22].

Benefits from the Blood

Sin separates us from God, just as the Prophet Isaiah said, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” [Isa 59:1-3].

Because of our transgression we are guilty. It allows Satan to accuse us. But if we are without blemish, there is no condemnation. The devil cannot capitalize on our sins and accuse us, for he is the accuser of brethren. Sin demands the death penalty. “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins, it shall die” [Ezekiel 18:4].

It is solely through the blood of Jesus that our fellowship with God is restored, that we are redeemed, (purchased back from slavery), that we are cleansed from guilt, that we are sanctified, that we are given boldness to enter God’s presence, that we gain purity of heart and eternal life [Heb 9:22].

The Power of the Blood

The blood puts God on man’s side against the devil, and the devil has no ground for accusations [Rom 8:31-34]. The blood dissolves all Satan’s legal rights of ownership [Col 1:14]. Redemption means to buy back, to compensate or to repay [Acts 20:28].

“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; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” [1 Peter 1:18-19]. Satan did and does not understand the cross. “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of the world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” [1Cor 2:7-8]. In this case Satan is the prince and ruler of this age/world. This is God’s secret wisdom revealed to us, which has been hidden from the wise and prudent, but has been revealed to babies, the revelation that had been hidden in God from the beginning of ages, the mystery of Christ.

The cross has power to redeem man and restore him to his divinely appointed place of authority. The blood and the cross provide all the protection against the forces of evil. The devil’s power over our lives was broken at Calvary. Jesus “disarmed” and “dethroned” the devil on the cross. “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” [Col 2:15]. He stripped him off his power. Now the devil trembles. The authority was given to us such that, we have authority and legal right to tell the devil (and his demons) where to go and what to do. The reason the Son of God appeared was/is to destroy the work of the devil [1 John 3:8]. This happened on the cross of Calvary. There the divine mission was completed!

Destroy does not mean the devil no longer exists, but it means:

• Makes him powerless,
• Bring to naught,
• Reduce to zero i.e. nullified,
• Make of no effort,
• Disabled i.e. make inactive (deactivated).

That’s what Paul said “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” [1Cor 2:2]. His blood is the cost of our redemption, and so is His cross as to His love.

(Adapted from the book The Discipleship Series.)

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