The Life of the Flesh Is In the Blood
Matthew 26:28/29 – Ephesians 1:7
Throughout the word of God there is a tread of red that is so very vital to the Christian experience. When we are accused of having a gospel of blood, we proudly plead guilty to the charge. For the only thing that gives power to our teaching of the Word, is the shed blood of Jesus Christ, FOR THE LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD.
This Gospel is alive and imparts life to those who will believe it. In the book of Hebrews chapter four and verse twelve the writer stated, “For the Word of God is quick, powerful and sharper than any two edged sword.” The word QUICK in that verse means a living thing, it is alive, and it’s an action word with power. Paul stated that he was “Not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes.”
From the book of Genesis to Revelation we see the stream of blood which imparts the life of God to those who believe it. “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 makes an atonement for the soul” Leviticus 17:11
When the High Priest would go into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, it was with the blood of sacrifice which would atone for his sins and for the sins of the people. Yet it did not remove their sins, it only rolled them ahead until the next sacrifice. But when Jesus took his blood offering in to the heavenly place, it was to bring in a new covenant that would affect all men.
Here are some facts that will shed light on the value of the blood in the body of man and also the church body.
In the human body there are many different kinds of tissues. We define them as muscle, nerve, fat, gland, bone and connective tissues. All of these have one thing in common; they are fixed cells, very small and have a special and limited function. But the blood is fluid and mobile, that is, it is not limited to one part of the body but flows throughout the entire body, remember the life of the flesh is in the blood.
In the normal human body there are about five quarts of this fluid, and this blood pumped by the heart circulates through the system every twenty-three seconds, the blood is in communication with every cell in the body, to supply food and cleanse the body.
The blood is the most mysterious of all tissues, being composed of scores of elements and compounds and strange chemical bodies, whose function is not yet fully understood, but all of which has to do with the mystery of life.
The pressure of blood in the body is so very important; it should be kept at a certain level in order for the body to function at its peak. As you know either high or low pressure can cause problems.
Now all that has been said about the physical body is true, and when we talk about the blood of the LAMB, it points us to a greater, deeper spiritual truth. The church that Jesus died for is called the body, and we are members of that body, Jesus is the Head and we are all related because of His blood. All believers who have trusted the finished work of Calvary are brothers and sisters, members of one family whether they be Jews or Gentiles, white or black they are all one through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill preaching to them about the unknown God whom they worshipped ignorantly, he told them that God made the world and all things therein, and had made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth.
And since God hath made of one blood all nations, and because Adams sinned, the human race has a sin nature and will die, yet because of the blood of Christ all can be made alive.
So you see, all men have a common origin in Adam, and all men carry the sentence of death because of the sin that Adam committed. Before the fall Adam was in fellowship with the Father living in the Garden of Eden with his wife Eve. Now we do not know the nature of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We do know that the eating of the tree caused blood poisoning and for this reason all men die a common death, with no exceptions.
And because of this transgression, there had to be a sacrifice for sin. “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctified to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Hebrews 9: 13/14
The whole plan of redemption rests upon the power of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. “For without the shedding of blood there are no remissions of sins”
Under the first covenant there was the tabernacle, the candlestick and the table and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary, where the offering would be made for the sins of the people. This was a figure of something new that would come. The old Covenant could only offer relief for a season, as pertaining to man’s guilt. But Christ came as the high priest of better things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us.
When Jesus came into the world He was the perfect sacrifice that would be offered, He stated Lo, and I come in the volume of the book to do the will of God, and to offer one sacrifice for sins for ever. There is no need for sacrifice, offering and burnt offerings for sin today. The new covenant that Jesus made was to put His laws into our hearts and minds by a new and living way.
And now we have redemption through the blood, and forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. For we know that our redemption is not of corruptible things, as silver and gold. But with the precious blood of Christ, the lamb without imperfection and without blemish.
The Old Testament came by the blood of animals, the New Testament by the blood of Jesus Christ. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you. And in the text we have these words, “For this is my blood of the new covenant which I have shed, so you may have remission of sins.
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, completely abolished the system of animal sacrifice forever. Their blood was only a figure of the true blood that would be shed thousands of years later on a cross outside the city of Jerusalem.
The blood of Jesus is powerful in saving and healing for it paid for our sins and brings health to our bodies. And it justifies us before a Holy God.
This precious blood brought us gentiles into a relationship with God that we didn’t have before. “For he is our peace, who hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace. And because of the cross and his shed blood we have been reconciled.”
And because of the blood we can overcome this wicked world, in the book of Revelation, chapter twelve and verse eleven “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”. The blood paid for the sins of all but not all will be saved because many will reject the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus said, “If you don’t believe that I am the Christ you will die in your sins.
When Saul asked Jesus, Who art thou Lord? Jesus said I am the one that you persecute, and I have appeared to make you a witness, so you will open their eyes that they will turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inherit the blessings which I have poured out upon them who are by faith sanctified.
The blood will never loose its power, so be washed in that cleansing, crimson tide. Thou your sins be as scarlet, He can wash them white as snow. This is more than a mental assent to the things of Christ. It’s about accepting the blood of Jesus as the only way to have fellowship with the Father.
“Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Have you been to Jesus for his cleansing power, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Lay aside your garments that are stained with sin and be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
