The Precious Blood
by Pastor Kimberly Lemler

There’s a song that I love to hear and sing and it’s called “Nothing but the Blood”. Some of the lyrics are: “What can wash away our sins? What can make us whole again? Nothing but the blood. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

We hear about the blood in many songs and once in awhile we may hear a sermon about the blood, but do we really know the significance of Christ’s blood and how it applies to a Christian?

This is a rather lengthy Bible study topic, so I will only have room to summarize and encourage you to look up the scriptures that accompany my points.

In 1 Peter 1:19, the Word talks about the “precious” blood of Christ. In the Greek, this word “precious” means: “costly, valuable, honored, esteemed”.  This precious and esteemed blood of Christ was no ordinary blood. It came to Him directly from the throne of God. The blood of our Father flowed through the veins of Jesus Christ. God’s love…His everlasting life…flowed through those veins to redeem us and make us whole-spirit, soul, and body. Yes, the blood was costly. Jesus offered up His life for us. If you were the only person on the earth, He would have done it just for you…

What are the benefits of the blood?

1.       It bought us. 1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23; Acts 20:28

2.        It cleanses us from all sin.  1 John 1:7

3.       It washes away our sins. Revelation 1:5

4.       It redeems us. (Releases us from blame or debt).  Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:12

5.       It purges our consciences from dead works. Hebrews 9:14

6.       It sanctifies us. (Sets us apart). Hebrews 10:29

7.       It lets us enter directly into the throne room.  Hebrews 10:19

8.       It justifies us before a Holy God. Romans 5:9

9.       It brought us into a relationship with God. Ephesians 2:11-16

10.   It brought peace. Colossians  1:20

11.   It forges an everlasting covenant. Hebrews 13:20

12.   It causes us to overcome satan. Revelation 12:11

In the Old Testament, the blood of innocent animals was shed. Multitudes of animals had to die for the sins of the people. They were a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was “a lamb without blemish and without spot.” The blood of those animals only covered the sins; it didn’t cleanse the sins. When God made the New Covenant, established on better promises (Heb. 8:6), His plan was to wash away or cleanse us from all sin in His own blood. We get a new slate and for that, we should be so thankful…

I have heard of denominations that have physically cut out any mention of the blood of Christ from their hymnals and even from the Bible itself.  To eliminate the blood from our Christian lives is to put ourselves in a den with satan and his cohorts, with no possible hope of salvation. It is only because of the blood that we can say heaven is ours and that we possess overcoming power in this life over the enemy of our souls. We need to remember that “our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12) The blood of Christ gives us that power to be victorious over these forces.

Let’s not take the blood lightly…this everlasting, all consuming, crimson blood that was poured out for all of mankind through our beloved Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Prayer: “Thank you Lord, for shedding your precious sinless blood for me so that my sins would be washed away and that the power of your blood would reside in me, equipping me for every situation that I may face. I plead the blood over my family, home, and everything dear to me and plead your blood against every attack of the enemy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”  

©Words To Heart Ministries, Inc.  Pastor Kimberly Lemler. 2010.