Hebrews 10:19 Justification, by grace through faith in Christ's blood, secures for us access into the very presence of God and more of God's grace. The emphasis here is upon the word "access." The Israelites' relationship with the Tabernacle and the Temple pictured this: They were denied access to the Holy of Holies. In fact, the law also forbade them entry into the Holy Place, the first room inside the Tabernacle and the Temple. Only the priests could go into the Holy Place, and they could enter it only in performing their duties. Whenever David organized them into courses, the ordinary priests could only enter it a few times during the year. So what about ordinary Israelites? They never got in there—not at all. So, no sacrifice (no single sacrifice or multitude of sacrifices)—no quantity of good works of the law or of any kind—gained them entrance into where God lived, into His presence. God completely shut them off from any direct access to Him. Only the high priest—once a year, on the Day of Atonement—was allowed in, but only after he offered a sacrifice for sin, underwent ritual purification through washing, and donned special clothing. God is illustrating for us that we are not righteous enough to be in His presence. (Nowhere does the Bible say that justification does away with the law. It is not a property of justification to do so.) Justification brings us into alignment with a standard. With God, justification is a gift; on our part, it is unearned. We cannot earn it because our works are flawed and thus unacceptable. We are unacceptable. Justification—by God's grace, through faith in Christ's blood—brings us into alignment with God's standard and therefore into the status of "righteous" in His eyes. Then we have access to God. In principle, this does not differ from breaking a law of man (committing a crime) and going to jail. Once the penalty has been paid, and we are squared away with the law we have broken, we are released from prison. Once again, we have free access to the public. But the major difference between that scenario and what God does is that we cannot pay the penalty and still have His purpose continue in our lives because we would be dead. In the Old Testament, it was only through the shedding of blood in animal sacrifices that man could be cleansed from sins, because “it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life” (Leviticus 17:11). But animal’s blood is not powerful enough to bring redemption from the curse upon mankind. This restoration could only be made in the shedding of blood from God’s own heavenly bloodline. Any other type of blood would have been too contaminated. Look at what Hebrews 9:12-14 says about Jesus’ blood: “With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds 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.” This was the perfect sacrifice that God purchased with a “high price” (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23). He wanted to redeem mankind back to Himself so that we could have access to His presence once again and receive a remission for our sins—without having to perform sacrifices and rituals. Jesus’ blood is our ticket to boldly enter God’s presence. Hebrews 10:19-22 says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” It wasn’t just because of Jesus’ love for His Father that He went along with the plan. It was His love and compassion toward us. He witnessed, firsthand, the curse of evil that had spread throughout humankind, and He longed for us to be purged of that wickedness, knowing it was only His blood that contained the necessary healing and purification properties. Jesus wanted us to receive the power that His blood contained. He knew, if we accepted our new life in Him, then we, too, would receive… Peace with God: “And through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross” Colossians 1:20. “And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation” Romans 5:9 Freedom and redemption: “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins” Ephesians 1:7. “All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us” Revelation 1:5. Cleansing of our sins: “…the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin” 1 John 1:7b. Holiness: “So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood”Hebrews 13:12. Redemption:
“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” 1 Peter 1:18-19. The New Testament epistle to the Hebrews builds the bridge from the Old Testament sacrificial system (and its blood) to the new covenant and Jesus’s once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 9:7, 12). Throughout the Bible, blood represents life (for instance, Genesis 9:4), and the spilling or shedding of blood, in turn, depicts death (Leviticus 17:11, 14; Deuteronomy 12:23). Because the just penalty of human sin against God is death (Romans 6:23), the death of sanctioned animal sacrifices, through the presentation of their blood, stood in temporarily for the requirement of death for sinners. Yet the high priest had to return year after year, “repeatedly” (Hebrews 9:7; 9:25), because “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). The repeated animal sacrifices were delaying the inevitable, waiting on God’s fullness of times. One day a final reckoning for sin must come. Christians, of course, believe and celebrate that now in Christ, and under the terms of a new covenant, the reckoning has come. Jesus willingly “offered himself” (Hebrews 9:14) by “once for all” shedding “his own blood” (Hebrews 9:12), bringing to its intended completion the temporary covenant that came before (the old covenant) and inaugurating in its place an “eternal covenant,” (Hebrews 13:30), which we call the new covenant. Hebrews celebrates some of the specific benefits Christians enjoy because of Jesus’s blood (Hebrews 10:19; 13:12), but it’s the apostle Paul, in particular, who celebrates the manifold grace that comes to us because of his blood. In one sense, we can connect to Jesus’s blood every divine grace that comes to us, but five times Paul makes the connection explicit, with both the mention of blood and a specific aspect of what Christ has secured for us with his death. Propitiation: To Remove God’s Righteous WrathRomans 3:25 says Jesus is the one whom “God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” Because God is just, the sins of his people are no small obstacle. In his kindness and grace, he has chosen to love us, yet in his justice he cannot sweep our sins, which are acts of cosmic treason against him, under the rug of the universe. So, in his love, he devises a way to satisfy justice and still triumph with mercy. God himself, in the person of his own Son, takes on human flesh and blood and offers himself in the place of sinful people, to receive the just wrath of God and pay our penalty in his death, all that we might live. His blood, then, signifying the sacrificial giving of his life in the place of those deserving death (and “received by faith”), propitiates his righteous wrath, upholds divine justice, and opens the floodgates of his mercy. Justification: To Extend God’s Full AcceptanceRomans 5:9 says “we have now been justified by his blood.” Justified is courtroom language. The prosecution and defense each present their case, and the judge or jury makes a declaration: either righteous or condemned. The defendant is either guilty as charged or declared to be in right standing with the law — justified. The reason those who are united to Jesus by faith are justified is owing, in part, to his sacrificial and substitutionary death. He willingly shed his own blood not for his own sins (he had none), but for ours. The spilling of his blood to cover our sins made possible our sharing in his righteousness by joining us to him through faith. Without his blood, our unrighteousness would remain unaddressed. We could not stand with him at the final judgment and receive with him his Father’s declaration, “Righteous.” Redemption: To Purchase Our True FreedomEphesians 1:7 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.” To redeem means to buy back or secure the freedom of someone in bondage. Because of our sins, we all were (or continue to be) in spiritual captivity. Our violations of God’s law mean we deserve his omnipotent, righteous wrath. But in Christ, by the shedding of his blood, which forgives our sins before God, he purchases our freedom from justice and from the power of Satan. “Having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands” (Colossians 2:13–14), through his self-offering at the cross, Jesus “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame” (Colossians 2:15). The decisive weapon the demons had against us was unforgiven sin, but when Jesus spilled his own blood in our place, to forgive our sins, he freed us from captivity. He redeemed us from Satan and the record of debt and legal demands against us. Forgiveness: To Restore Our Best RelationshipThese precious themes, of course, overlap. We’ve already seen the importance of forgiveness, but Ephesians 2:13 puts it at the fore: “now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” At the heart of this “bringing near” is the restoration of humanity with the divine. On the individual level, it’s the creation in Christ of personal access to and a relationship with God that we, born into sin, never could have secured. On the corporate level, it’s the restoration in Christ of the relationship with God for which we were made. Our sin and rebellion against God has put distance between us and him. In his old-covenant grace, he drew near to his covenant people called Israel. But now, in the new covenant, he draws near not to a particular ethnic people, but to all who receive his Son in faith, no matter who they are or how far they had run. In fact, the phrase “brought near by the blood of Christ” gets at the heart of what each of these divine gifts in Jesus’s blood does for us: it brings us to God. There may be no better summary of what we’ve seen so far about the power of Jesus’s blood than 1 Peter 3:18: “Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.” Pacification: To Make Peace with God HimselfFinally, the God-centered aim of the effects of Jesus’s blood is confirmed in its peace-making between God and his people. In Christ, God reconciles his people “to himself . . . making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:19–20). That he shed his blood on the cross has been implicit in each instance, but here Paul makes it plain. It is “the blood of his cross” that makes peace between God and man. He made peace with an instrument of intentional and horrific torture and execution. Jesus did not shed his blood by accident. This was no random death. Tragic as it was, it was deliberate and voluntary. He was executed unjustly, and his blood was spilled on purpose at the cross, both by sinful men and the holy God-man. They took his life, and he gave it. In doing so, he absorbed the righteous wrath of God, granted us his full legal acceptance, purchased our true freedom, restored our most important relationship, and made peace for us with God himself. This is how, as Paul says elsewhere, he secured “the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Precious BloodFollowing the trial of blood in Paul’s letters, we begin to see an ocean of grace in that last line of the familiar chorus: There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r / In the precious blood of the Lamb. Precious, indeed. That pairing of precious with Jesus’s blood comes from the apostle Peter: You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:18–19)
From the very beginning of human history, it is revealed. When Adam and Eve sinned, God shed innocent blood in order to make them clothes from animal skins (Genesis 3:21). This is a picture of the covering of righteousness that we receive when the Lord Jesus Christ died for us. In Genesis four we read that Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. They instinctively wanted to worship God. Cain sacrificed the fruit of the ground. Abel had already learned that God demanded blood, so he brought a lamb. God accepted the blood of Abel's lamb, but He did not accept Cain's offering. Why? Because "without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin" (Hebrews 9:22). His blood redeems us. There was a price against us that we could not pay, but the blood of Jesus redeemed us. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things.... But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." His blood brings us into fellowship with God. According to Ephesians 2:13, "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Without the blood of Christ, man is a long way from God. His blood makes peace with God. Man, by nature, is at war with God; and we can only come to God on His peace terms — the blood atonement. The Bible says in Colossians 1:20, "And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself...." His blood cleanses. Not only does it remove the punishment of sin, it removes the pollution. I don't care what sin you've committed; "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7). His blood gives power over the devil. It's the blood that Satan fears. Revelation 12:11 says, "And they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb...." The devil doesn't want you to learn about the blood. He hates it! A new covenant that brings us into right standing with God: “After supper he took another cup of wine and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you” Luke 20:22. And a perfect restoration of fellowship with our Heavenly Father: “But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ” Ephesians 2:13. What Is the Purpose of the Blood of Jesus?The fall in the Garden of Eden created a division between mankind and God. From that point on, our sin separated us from our Creator—and the only way we could be made right in His eyes was through the shedding of blood as used in animal sacrifices. This blood would serve as an atonement, a covering, of our sins.
We are reminded of this in Hebrews 9:22: “In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” When God accepts a blood sacrifice, it’s because the life that is within that sacrifice has the power to purge the evil—the death—that flows through our own veins. It’s the “life of the flesh” that is “in the blood,” according to Leviticus 17:11. The actual blood of the animal wasn’t powerful within itself; rather, it was God’s accepting of it that gave it that power. The animal became a substitute, dying in place of man. If Jesus’ blood courses through our veins, then we are protected from the attacks of the enemy. How? Because Satan is nicknamed “Lord of the flies” (which comes from Baal-zebub). So, when we become covered by the blood of the Lamb, then Satan must flee, because the enemy is only attracted to death.
There’s a reason why Jesus was sacrificed at the time of the Feast of the Passover. This was a day when the Jews would remember when God protected the children of Israel from destructive plagues. How were they protected? Because of their obedience in covering their doorframes with the blood of unblemished lambs. Exodus 12:13 says, “But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.” This was a foreshadow of what was to come in Jesus. Those of us who, by faith, remain beneath the covering of the blood of the Lamb, will be protected from the enemy and his demons. This blood protects us, providing us with an exodus, from the penalty of our sins. Jesus volunteered Himself to be our Passover. Why Should All Christians Know about This?Romans 3:25a says, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” This faith must be consistently active and displayed through obedience because faith without obedience is dead (James 2:17, James 2:22 and 24). We cannot claim to be covered by Jesus’ blood if we, in rebellion and lack of faith, walk out from beneath its covering. Peter says, in 1 Peter 1:2, that we are elect according to “obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Christ.” He then tells us that we, as a holy priesthood, are “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:5). In “The Power of the Blood,” H.A. Maxwell Whyte says, “As the priests offered up daily blood sacrifices on behalf of the people in Old Testament times, so also today in New Testament times we offer the Blood of Jesus Christ to God as our plea on behalf of ourselves, our children, our loved ones…” As we know, the old rules of worship and sacrifices are an “illustration pointing to the present time” (Hebrews 9:9). The earthly tabernacle was based on the heavenly one. Once a year, the High Priest went within the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the animal blood along the mercy seat. God’s glory was only evident when the blood was used. This was the only way in which the Priest could come before God’s throne. Likewise, we, too, can only approach God’s throne by the sprinkling of Christ’s blood. Hebrews 10:22 tells us to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” This, again, is an active form of sprinkling. The mention of the sprinkling of blood in Hebrews 12:24 refers to a present-tense experience as well. We are to come to the blood of sprinkling and pray through the blood of Jesus. Not just yesterday, when we received salvation in Christ, but today. Hebrews 10:14 says, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” His blood continues to sanctify us; if that were not the case, then we would never need to repent for our sins ever again. The covenant of protection made to the Israelites, saving them from the plague, could only be fulfilled by their obedience. If they were to walk out of from beneath covering, they would have been destroyed. Again, this is a foreshadowing, an illustration, of the protection we receive when we are covered by the blood of the Lamb. It’s this blood that grants us access to the shelter of God’s presence. And it’s there where our victory is found, according to Revelation 12:9, which reminds us that we can only overcome by the “blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” Victory blood courses through our veins. We receive it straight from God’s throne room, and it brings forth transformation. Cleansing. Deliverance. Healing. Breakthrough. Salvation. So why should we still act lifeless, like the world does—void of hope and freedom? If a dying man were to receive a blood transfusion that pulled him out of death and restored life back into his body, do you think he’d choose to remain bedridden? Absolutely not! He’d spend the rest of his days rejoicing over this second chance at life. Yet that’s what we do when we Christians act like we’re still on the verge of death. What a disgrace this must be to Jesus after the price He paid for our freedom! Since we have received the most powerful “blood transfusion,” it’s time we stop acting like dead men, arise from our hospital beds, and rejoice in our new life in Christ. A life granted to us by the power of the blood of the Lamb. The Bible is clear that every person is separated from God because of our sin (Romans 3:23; Colossians 1:21). That means even the best of us are unable to approach God and offer worship or prayer. Because of our sins, we remain at a distance. But because of the death of Jesus on the cross, Christians to come boldly into God’s presence. “We have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). If you are a Christian today, you can have confidence as you approach God with your prayers and worship, because you are no longer far away from God, but “have been made near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). 2. We receive the forgiveness of our sinIn addition to being able to enter into God’s presence through the blood of Christ, we are also forgiven of our sins. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Because of Christ’s shed blood, God is able to forgive us of sins because He took our punishment. While we deserve hell because of our sin, Jesus’ sacrifice makes heaven our eternal destination. Christ explained the forgiveness He offers to His disciples at the Last Supper (which was also the meal celebrating the Passover Lamb): “For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28; emphasis mine). Just as the blood of the Passover lamb delivered the Israelite people from the night of terror in Egypt, Christ’s own blood would deliver from the judgment of God. This truth is expressed beautifully in the hymn, “Nothing But the Blood”: What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh! Precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Take joy, Christian, that the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed you from your sin! 3. We have our consciences cleansed“[T]he blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, [will] purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14)
This is an amazing promise, Christ cleanses our consciences from acts that lead to death! How does He do it? He offered Himself—His unblemished, perfect life—as a sacrifice to God for us on account of our sins. Even though our minds have been corrupted by sin, Christ can cleanse us. We are able to live and think the way God wants us to once again. This is great news for those who are burdened by a sinful past and corrupted consciences. 4. We are progressively cleansed from more and more sinThe blood of Christ not only offers forgiveness of sin, but also sanctification. Hebrews 13:12 tells us that “Jesus also suffered…in order to sanctify the people through His own blood.” It makes sense that God wants us to be in a new relationship with the sin that previously condemned us. That is why He gives us the power, through the blood of His Son, to be cleansed from our sinful behaviors. 5. We are able to conquer the accuser of the brethrenBecause of Christ’s sacrifice, we can trust in the righteousness of Christ and not our own righteousness when we are accused by our enemy. Revelation 12:11 says, “And they have conquered him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” As believers, we know that we cannot stand on our own merit or because of our own deeds. Christ’s righteousness attributed to us is how we can stand up against accusations.
Charles Spurgeon knew this truth well and spoke these comforting words: I know what the devil will say to you. He will say to you, ‘You are a sinner!’ Tell him you know you are, but that for all that you are justified. He will tell you of the greatness of your sin. Tell him of the greatness of Christ’s righteousness. He will tell you of all your mishaps and your backslidings, of your offences and your wanderings. Tell him, and tell your own conscience, that you know all that, but that Jesus Christ came to save sinners, and that, although your sin be great, Christ is quite able to put it all away.
6. We are rescued out of a sinful way of life…you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:18-19)
Being ransomed from futile ways is another benefit Christians have through the blood of Jesus. We are rescued from a life lived devoid of meaning and are brought into a relationship with God and the ability to live in His will and with purpose. The world’s most valuable items like gold and silver can’t compare with the lasting and eternal value of the blood of Jesus Christ shed to redeem sinners from sin. There Is Power in the Blood!Does the blood of Jesus cover your sin? If not, these glorious benefits are not for you. But if you humble yourself and cry out to Jesus Christ for forgiveness, He will save you. There is no greater gift than reconciliation with God. Trust in Jesus today! The first testimony of the Lord Jesus is that He would bruise the serpent’s head—that is, the head of Satan. He was the promised Redeemer and the bruising of Satan was to be His work. The meaning of Satan’s head is his government, dominion and sovereignty. The cross is introduced in the same promise (Genesis 3:15) in the words—“thou (the serpent) shall bruise His heel”—that is, the lower portion of His person, His body, which Satan would do through wicked men in crucifying Him on the cross. The Application of the BloodThe shedding of our Lord’s precious blood is the chief and central part of our Lord’s redeeming work. That blood-shedding is first directed against “that old serpent, Satan, the devil.” He is the cause and root of all human ruin. He is spoken of as “the prince of this world,” and as having “the power of death” or the power to hold human life in death. Through the work of the cross the Lord Jesus was to deal with Satan in this capacity and loosen his grip on human life. The shedding of His blood is also directed against sin. It introduces Jesus bleeding that souls may live through His death. It is the full symbol of redemption’s price. It is the clear emblem of the one atoning Lamb. The blood of the Lord Jesus meets sin in all its aspects, and does so to destroy its defiling power and ultimately cleanse it from the whole universe. The blood is also directed against what Scripture calls the flesh—what sin has made man. Because of sin man now belongs to a fallen race and has become darkened in his mind, polluted in his affections, and disagreeable to God in his will. “He also is flesh,” (Genesis 6:3), or “become flesh.” The blood of the Saviour has not only to cleanse the universe of sin’s pollution but also to remove all that is of the flesh, so as to make way for a new humanity after the pattern and likeness of the Lord Jesus. The blood of Jesus is also directed against the consequences of sin. That is death. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17). “As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). That is death in all its extent—covering spirit, soul, and body. The blood of Christ is shed to release us from that enthrallment. The Issue of the Application“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.” Death is the ultimate of sin—death which is the grip or hold of Satan upon our souls. This is the main point of our Lord’s thrust. It is because He overcame the central and main issue of death—breaking the power of it—nullifying the effects of it—loosing Satan’s grip upon it—that He has gained for us who believe an overcoming life over Satan. All who overcome Satan do so because of the precious blood of Jesus. But believers who take up the blood of Jesus to overcome Satan must be prepared to die at the hands of the one who has been overcome and who is “a murderer from the beginning.” “They loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11). Thus it was with Abel the first martyr. This is the key to all the murderous attempts upon the saints in every age. But the final issue is victory. There is no contradiction in the words, “they loved not their lives unto the death.” Abel was killed. But Abel lives. Paul was executed. But Paul is “present with the Lord.” All the saints live in the power of our Lord’s resurrection life. The devil can only touch our material body but not our inner life. By His cross and by His blood, the Lord Jesus conquered Satan and He Himself lives by the power of an endless life. So do believers—in Him. 7 Redemptive Benefits of the Blood of JesusProphet Elisee Yao / 17 Jan 2021
The covenant of the blood of Jesus offers powerful benefits. The old covenant was confirmed by sacrificing innocent animals – their blood became a sign of mercy as the animal became the substitute for the guilty party. Then Jesus brought a new covenant in His own blood. All other covenants made in the past had limitations, but there is no limitation with the covenant we have with Jesus Christ because the death He died was once for all. The covenant of Jesus is an EVERLASTING covenant. The New Covenant1 Corinthians 11:25, New International Version
In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” A covenant is an agreement made between two or more people with terms and conditions attached. The covenant Jesus made with us is much more than a verbal agreement or contract. Jesus made a powerful statement on the cross: He died as a sin offering for us, crucified for our iniquities, and pierced for our sins. When Jesus laid down His own life for ours, He made an eternal covenant with us that can never be broken, undermined, or reversed. This is an agreement with God Himself that cannot be revoked because the blood of His son was shed for us. The covenant we have with God is similar to a marriage covenant, yet, far more powerful. In the same way that two become one in marriage, when you enter a covenant with God we become one with Him. It is a higher covenant than any you could ever have entered into, or any enforced upon you from birth. When you enter the covenant of the blood of Jesus, it supersedes every other covenant that you have ever made in your entire life. The blood of Jesus speaks on our behalf as the covenant of His blood breaks the power of all other covenants. 1 Corinthians 6:17, New King James Version
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. There are many benefits of the blood of Jesus… 1. Jesus’ Blood Speaks ‘Better Things’: MercyHebrews 12:24, New King James Version
…to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Genesis 4:10, New International Version
The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. Cain was jealous when God rejected his offering and accepted his brother’s, so he killed his brother. The day that Cain murdered Abel, he did not just kill one man but crushed an entire generation of families. The blood of Abel was screaming before the throne of God to be avenged, because the generations confined within Abel would never see the light of day once he died. So why does the Bible say that Jesus blood speaks better than Abel’s? Jesus came, like Abel, offering a better sacrifice than ‘His brother’. The Pharisees and Sadducees (like Cain) were jealous of Jesus and, together with the Romans and other Jews, they sentenced Him to death. When Jesus was brought before Herod, he knew their accusations were grounded in jealousy. The same jealousy in Cain transferred through the bloodline. When Jesus (the embodiment of Abel), stepped into the land, the same spirit of Cain came after Him. The difference between the death of Abel and Jesus is that when they killed Jesus, the blood that went before the throne of God did not cry for vengeance or anger, it cried for mercy: ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do’ (Luke 23:34, NKJV). Instead of taking upon Himself the spirit of vengeance, Jesus took upon Himself the Spirit of mercy. And mercy overrides judgement (James 2:13). When you covenant with Jesus you are covered by the blood that screams mercy over your life. We need to come to the revelation that everything we acquire in life, we acquire by mercy. There is no room for condemnation or guilt because His blood speaks redemption, and forgiveness. 2. The Blood of Jesus Provides Forgiveness of SinMatthew 26:28, New International Version
This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness [remission] of sins. Sin is defined as missing the mark. And the mark is to worship God through His Son, Jesus. To not recognize Jesus as Lord and Saviour is sin. Sins, on the other hand, are things we do that are contrary to the Word of God such as fornication, adultery, lying, stealing, pride, arrogance, etc. The blood of Jesus does not only deal with SIN but SINS as well. It is a total, all-encompassing forgiveness. When a person gives their life to God, there are things that they have done (or continue to do) that are not in line with the will of God. The enemy then introduces guilt by trying to convince the person that what they have done (or still do) is beyond God’s forgiveness. But the Bible tells us that when we repent, ALL is forgiven. Hebrews 12:24, New King James Version
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Generational sin and curses are cancelled by Jesus’ blood. Ignorance empowers curses, but when you come to knowledge of the truth (the truth that sets you free), the blood breaks the power of all curses. What your father did has no right to come upon you, because of Jesus’ blood stamp on you. Jesus died so that you might be redeemed from the sins of your ancestors. 3. The Blood of Jesus Provides JustificationRomans 5:9, New International Version
Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! Justification is a process through which a person is declared not guilty. When the blood of Jesus cleanses you, it is as if you have never sinned before. The blood justifies you, and because you are justified, you are spared from God’s wrath. According to God’s justice system, a sin cannot be punished twice. Because Jesus took all the punishment, none of that punishment can be accounted to you anymore. You stand before God justified and righteous, your past is over, and the door of destiny stands open before you. The blood of Jesus speaks on your behalf and completely cleanses you. You are justified because of the justice of Jesus, not by your own ability. 4. Jesus’ Blood Provides ProtectionExodus 12: 7; 12-13, New International Version (full reading: Exodus 12:3-13)
7Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.
12“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. We are covered and protected by the blood of Jesus. In Exodus 12, God was about to strike the land of Egypt containing both Egyptians and Jews: anyone occupying that piece of land was under the same judgement. The blood was the key to not being harmed. No one was spared because they were called Israelites; they were spared only by the blood. Any Israelite who failed to follow the instructions or apply the blood, God struck down. There is a mystery in the blood of Jesus that cannot be understood or comprehended by darkness or Satan himself; He reveals it to us, His children. When we enter into relationship with God, the covenant with Jesus stands for us. If we invoke the mystery[1] in the blood then we too are protected[2] even if the land we live in falls under judgement and affliction. Understand that those that applied the blood to their doorposts were not necessarily good people - they simply entered the covenant of the blood. They were not spared because of their own good deeds, but because of the blood. A door is a place of weakness in a wall. When people want to attack a kingdom, no matter how strong the walls are, they usually break through the door or gate as it is the easiest for enemies to access. So God commanded the Israelites to apply the blood to that place; the weak point. Similarly, we must invoke the blood over our weaknesses. If you are arrogant or lustful, for example, then ask the Lord to forgive and deliver you, and then decree that you engage the mystery of Jesus’ blood in that area of weakness. Apply the blood over your area of weakness so that the enemy does not take advantage over you, and so that when temptation comes, the blood of Jesus will stand. The blood of Jesus protects the ‘gates’ in our lives: this is a key in the Spirit. 5. We are Healed by the BloodIsaiah 53:5, New International Version
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Healing is not a function of your righteousness, it is a function of the blood. You are healed because Jesus gave His body for you. When you are sick, invoke the virtue in His blood! His body was broken, so that yours doesn’t have to be broken. Sickness can come, but stand against it and invoke the blood. 6. By Jesus’ Blood, We are SanctifiedHebrews 10:10, New King James Version
By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. We as believers are washed spotlessly clean and sanctified by His blood. Sanctification is a process through which something is set aside for a greater use. We are set aside as an object of God’s affections and jealousy. We are the apple of His eye. When we are sanctified, we are no longer common, but royal and as such we gain eternal value. Royalty and divinity is at home in our bodies. 7. We are Redeemed by the Blood of JesusEphesians 1:7-8, New King James Version
7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence... The concept of redemption is extremely powerful. To redeem is to buy back. Paul used this terminology because it was more understood in the context of that time when slaves were bought and sold. A slave could be redeemed (bought back) into the ownership of a master. When a slave committed a sin or ran away from his master, the punishment was death, or, the concept of self-redemption applied whereby a slave could work towards his own redemption, by paying the right of redemption to the owner. In the Christian version of redemption, we were sold on the market of sin and slavery; Satan was our master. Jesus redeemed us: He came and paid the price by giving His own blood to pay for ALL of our sin/s. So if you have ever wondered about your value: your value is in the blood of Jesus! Jesus bought us with His own blood, which means that your value IS the life of Jesus. And Jesus is God. That is how priceless and precious you are to Him; to be bought with His very own blood. Jesus did not redeem us to remain slaves. He redeemed us so that we can go FREE. When Satan owns you, you do his bidding. When you are bought back, and by your own will you choose to serve Jesus, He gives you the freedom of will (clearance) to go and to decide for yourself. The redemption of the blood grants you free will to decide who you want to serve. We aren’t forced to serve Jesus. We do it because we want to lay our lives down for Him. When Jesus died on the cross He redeemed the whole world, but few are the people who will acknowledge and serve Him. Unless a genuine choice is made to serve Jesus darkness will rule over a person even though everyone has been redeemed. You are redeemed from the dominion and mastery of sin. Satan does not have a single right over you. Some might then ask: if he doesn’t have a right, then why is he still persecuting me? Because Satan is a law breaker, thief, and a liar. A normal thief breaks the law, so we protect ourselves with alarm systems, electric fences, and so on. The revelation of the mystery of the blood is your spiritual protection (alarm system) that alerts you to invoke Jesus’ blood when the enemy comes. My debt is paid, once and for all“So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28) I am justified“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. “ (Romans 5:9) I am forgiven“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7) I am spared from God’s wrath“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. “ (Romans 5:9) I am being spiritually healed; one day even my flesh will be replaced with an incorruptible body“…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sin, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” (I Peter 2:24) I am spiritually alive“Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53) My judgment has been satisfied and I am at peace with God“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) The bloodstream of His people Israel will be purged“For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwells in Zion” (Joel 3:21) I am cleansed“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.” (I John 1:7) I have the power to overcome the enemy“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11) I am no longer under the curse of the law“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).” (Galatians 3:13) I have been reclaimed from the enemy“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7) I am no longer a stranger to the covenant of promise“…that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:12-13) The final act of public expiation has been made on my behalf“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (Leviticus 17:11) I have been moved from the enemy’s kingdom into the kingdom of God“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15) I have gained the unmerited favor of God“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7) I have been declared righteous“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) I have been justified (just as though I had never sinned)“being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed…” (Romans 3:24-25) I am able to come close to God“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13) I can participate in the sweet communion of remembrance of His sacrifice“Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:20) My redemption will never perish“Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct 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) Jesus testifies on my behalf that I am clean“…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and has made us kings[ and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5) I am free“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1) I am protected from judgment“that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’” So the people bowed their heads and worshiped.” (Exodus 12:27) I am freed from a conscience defiled by guilt“let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22) I am no longer condemned“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1) I have been separated from the world and declared holy (wholly) to God“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) I can proclaim total victory“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11) I can enter boldly into the holiest of holies…and live“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22) I have further revelation of who God is“who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…” (Hebrews 1:3) The Powerful Blood
The Bible tells us many powerful things that the blood of Jesus does when applied.
When you apply the blood, it: Provides forgiveness of your sins. “The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22, NIV) Gives you life. “Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53) Brings you close to God. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13) Cleanses your conscience. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9:14) Gives you boldness to approach God. “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus…” (Hebrews 10:19) Sanctifies you. “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.” (Hebrews 13:12) Cleanses you. “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.” (1 John 1:7) Heals you. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24, NIV) Enables you to overcome the devil and his works. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” (Revelation 12:11, NIV) Blood is Important Blood is so important to God that it is mentioned in the Bible around 700 times. David referred to the “incorruptible” blood. Peter spoke of the “precious” blood, and John wrote of the “overcoming” power of the blood. We’re told in Leviticus 17:11 that, “the life of the flesh is in the blood.” This is true in both spiritual and physical realms. Your natural blood supplies life-giving oxygen and nutrients to every cell in your body. If the flow of blood were to be cut off from an area of your body, that part would begin to die. Spiritually speaking, any part of your life that is cut off from the blood of Jesus is dead or dying. Your blood also carries away wastes and toxins from your cells. Spiritually, without the blood of Jesus, your life would be filled with filth just like the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27. Thank God for the blood of Jesus that removes the dirt of sin from our daily lives! God also equipped your body with white blood cells that fight off sickness. Any time bacteria or viruses try to get in, your white cells start destroying the invaders. When your natural blood is healthy, you are protected from disease; and when you are spiritually healthy, there isn’t anything the devil can bring against you that the blood of Jesus isn’t sufficient to overcome. There truly is life in the blood! Shed and Sprinkled Blood At the Last Supper, when Jesus held up the cup of wine, He said, “…This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20). The blood of Jesus is so significant that this scripture is used every time we receive communion. Still, most Christians know only about the blood being shed and not about it being applied. In Exodus 12:22, the Israelites were commanded to kill a lamb and dip a branch of hyssop (a common herb) into its blood. They were then to sprinkle the blood on the lintel and side-posts of their front doors. That night, as the death angel came, he passed over every door where he saw the blood on the doorposts. Everyone whose doorposts had no blood lost their firstborn; those with the blood were spared. If an Israelite had left the blood in the basin instead of applying it, the death angel would have struck their home. Killing the lamb would have done them no good. The shedding of blood was not enough – the blood only had saved them when it was taken out of the basin and applied! God Looks at the Blood It’s important to note that God’s protection wasn’t dependent on the zeal of the Israelites or their good works. He wasn’t looking at the degree of their morality or even their devotional habits. God was looking only at the blood, and He is still looking only at the blood!
Throughout the Old Testament, it was the blood of sacrificed animals that had the power to atone or make amends for wrong doing. We read about this in Leviticus 17:11, where it says: “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.” However, in the New Testament, Jesus said, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28, NIV). Even though there is nothing any person can do to compensate for their sins, many keep trying to make up for the things they’ve done. It may be something big or small: an addiction, an affair, an abortion, an angry outburst, an unforgiving heart – but the blood of Jesus is the only thing that can bring about the forgiveness you and I need. In 1 John 1:7-9 we’re told, “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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When we admit our sins to God, the blood of Jesus provides complete forgiveness and cleansing. Without the blood of Jesus, we are defenseless against the devil and his works. Yes, it’s good to have zeal and do good works. It’s good to have a high degree of morality and a strong devotional life. But none of those things alone can cleanse, heal, or protect you. When it comes to your forgiveness and cleansing, your healing, protection, and deliverance, God is still looking at the blood! Applying the Blood Just as the blood had to be sprinkled on the doorposts, you also must apply the blood of Jesus. It was already shed for you, but it becomes powerful in your life when you apply it. Under the old covenant, the blood of animals was applied by sprinkling with the hyssop. Under the new covenant, we apply the blood of Jesus with our words. “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). You apply the blood of Jesus when you say, “the blood of Jesus was shed on the cross for me.” You can apply the blood of Jesus to receive healing (Isaiah 53:5). You can apply it to protect your household (Exodus 12:13). It can be applied to cover your children and their circumstances (Job 1:5). You can apply the blood to anything you have authority over or influence upon. And whatever you apply the blood of Jesus to becomes redeemed by Christ, and Satan cannot touch it. Know this: the blood of Jesus will never lose its power, but it will only make a difference in your life when you apply it. There is power in the blood of Jesus Christ! The first part: Cleansing from committed sinThe first part is the cleansing from all committed sin. This is dealt with in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us …” The condition for forgiveness, for this kind of cleansing, is: confession of the sin we have committed, or in other words, a confession that I have walked in darkness (committed works of darkness). This is the forgiveness of sins that takes away all condemnation. This cleansing occurs in a moment. If we should commit a sin later on, we will not be accused or rejected; we will rather be defended by Jesus who is the atonement for our sins and who will again forgive us our sin if we confess it. (1 John 2:1-2.) However, the intention is that we shall not sin anymore but live a completely victorious life. (1 John 3:6-10.) “Every sin that a man does is outside the body …” 1 Corinthians 6:18. We can therefore say that our body is being defiled outwardly when we commit a sin. Therefore it is possible to use the expression that is applied in Hebrews 10:22 when it concerns the forgiveness of sins: “Our bodies washed with pure water.” This corresponds to the one part of the cleansing agent that flowed from Jesus’ side as He hung on the cross of Calvary. (John 19:34.) The water that flowed from Jesus’ side was one part of the blood, the one part of the cleansing agent, designated for the one part of the two-fold cleansing. Just as we in the natural are cleansed outwardly by water and inwardly by blood, so the one part of the blood of Jesus (which John called “water”) corresponds to the one kind, the outward, cleansing or the forgiveness of sins.
The second part: Inward cleansingThe other part is for the inward cleansing or sanctification which is a process that lasts throughout our lifetime. This part of the cleansing power of the blood is referred to in 1 John 1:7-8. Unfortunately, it is much less known. People usually take verse 7 to indicate the forgiveness of sins, which taken in context together with the rest of the verse is totally meaningless. The requirement for this cleansing is completely different from the requirement of partaking of the first cleansing: the forgiveness of sins. The requirement for this cleansing is: walking in the light as God is in the light!—that we do not commit works of darkness or, in other words, commit sin. For it is very easy to understand that if we walk in the light as He is in the light, then we do not commit sin and then we also do not need the forgiveness of sins. This cleansing that is mentioned in 1 John 1:7 and which we need when we walk in the light—when we do not commit sin—must necessarily be a different kind of cleansing than the cleansing that was mentioned in the beginning. It is not a cleansing from committed sin, but from having sin, a cleansing not from every sin that a man can commit—the sin that is outside the body—but a cleansing from (a putting to death of) the sin that is indwelling, which is within the body, the sin that my conscious “I” has not executed (Romans 7:17),the sin in which my mind did not participate (Romans 7:25), the sin of which I am unaware beforehand, of which I am ignorant, over which I have no light and cannot control. This is the sin for which I know no law (Romans 7:15, first line; 1 Corinthians 4:4; Romans 4:15 and Romans 5:13), the sin into which I have not fallen because I was tempted (James 1:14-15), the sin which I by faithfully walking in the light (by not committing sin) get to see little by little, the sin that Paul calls “deeds of the body” in Romans 8:13 and that we put to death by the Spirit—the sin from which we are cleansed by the other part of the cleansing agent. The power of the crossInstead of saying the power of the blood of Jesus, we can just as well say the power of the cross, and we can say that it is two-fold. The one power proceeds from the fact that He was crucified for us, and the other, lesser known power is the power that proceeds from being crucified by faith with Him. The first power results in forgiveness. The second power results in victory and sanctification. That the second cleansing (sanctification), not like the first cleansing (forgiveness) does not occur in a moment is evident with all desirable clarity and strength from 1 John 1:8: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” If God has richly blessed me and has given me (as the word says) more than victory so that I am not aware of anything that is wrong with me, so that I have a good conscience in every area, so that I live a happy life in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit and am currently unaware of any sin, but then want to say that I no longer have sin—that all sin in every sense and scope of the word has been taken away—then this scripture judges me most powerfully. By walking in the light and by simultaneously being humble and truth-loving, we will, as time goes by, see much sin that we did not see before and from which the blood of Jesus shall also cleanse us. The blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from all the sin that we gradually get to see in a constantly increasing light, as we acquiesce in the judgment of the light by putting to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. This cleansing (salvation) is sanctification (Revelation 22:11), or growth up to Him who is the Head in all things, or being equipped for the work of ministry for all good works, or growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ—whereby we acquire the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are hidden in Him. This is the way of the cross, the way of self-denial, the way of suffering, the way of death, the way of truth, the way of righteousness, the way of love, the way of purity, the way of wisdom, and the way of life. The blood of Jesus: Outward and inward cleansing!There is, therefore, a two-fold cleansing power in the blood of Jesus. The one cleansing occurs in a moment. In one moment we receive, by faith, forgiveness for all the sins we have committed. The second cleansing is a continuing process by which we—by faith—are cleansed from all indwelling, unconscious sin—as we acknowledge it. | 
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