Study 10
“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. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off”
(Leviticus 17:11-14)
Introduction
The apostle Peter clearly states that the believer’s redemption was bought and paid for through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19), therefore in this study we will further investigate why the sinner cannot be saved through any other means.
Wonder working power in the blood
Blood is the life of the body, so it is impossible to exist without it. The Old Testament placed great emphasis on blood, even that of animals (Leviticus 17:11-14; 4:3, 14, 27.) The offering which Abel brought before God was received, but the bloodless sacrifice of Cain was rejected (Genesis 4:1-6). Apart from anything else the story proves that man cannot redeem himself through plants, silver and gold or any kind of good work. The power is in the blood. The Old Testament lamb had to be purchased with money to show that atonement did not come cheap; while the New Testament Lamb is priceless (man cannot afford to pay so great a price).
Some modern translation unwisely reject the wording of Acts 20:28, “…the church of God, which he hath purchased with His own blood” by making it read, “the blood of His own.” It is the blood of Christ that is referred to in this verse, but changing the text removes the divine power from it. “His own blood” indicates that the Trinity planned this way of atonement.
Sin always equals death, but the blood of Christ is life (Romans 6:23; 3:23). Since the sinner cannot atone for his sin it needed someone else to do it for him and die in his place. Our sin brought about Christ’s death, but His death would be insufficient if eternal life was not the result (Hebrews 2:9). The power of Jesus’ blood is evidenced in the sinner receiving eternal life through faith in His name.
Evidence of the power of the blood
The New Testament reveals exactly what the blood of the Saviour has achieved for the sinner. Every believer ought to bear witness to this power in their own lives. Here we will briefly look at three aspects of what the blood has done for us.
1. Death has lost its sting (1 Corinthians 15:55-56). The grave could not hold Jesus (Hebrews 13:20). If He had nor risen, regardless of how precious His blood is, no one would have received eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:14). Once sin had been dealt with on the cross death had to release its hold on Christ, and since He “tasted death” for us all, the repentant sinner can enjoy salvation (Romans 6:6-13; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 2:12-13, 3:1).
2. Heaven – the eternal home (John 14:2-3). Until Jesus Christ died on the cross Heaven was locked to all men. His entrance into Heaven with His blood has opened the gates so that all who believe can go in (Hebrews 9:12).
3. Lives transformed (1 Peter 1:18-19). Believers have been redeemed (delivered) from sin, Satan and eternal death. Only those who have come to God through the power of Christ’s blood are transformed into God’s elect (1 Peter 1:2). The evidence of such transformation is seen in a holy life (sanctification).
Conclusion
Without coming to Him the right way, through faith alone, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6), therefore faith is vital if the power of the blood is to be manifest in our lives. No one, despite what Calvinists teach, is automatically saved, for faith is an act of the will in those who accept that the blood is the only means of salvation. Only those who have faith in Christ’s sacrifice can claim to be saved. If automatic election (selection) is true, then there was no need for Christ to die.
Andrew Murray writes that the blood of Jesus still “works in the surrendered soul with a ceaseless power of life.” There is no greater power in Heaven or on earth than the redeeming, atoning and transforming blood of Christ.