INTRODUCTION
The Blood of Jesus is mentioned many times throughout the Bible and refers to His sacrificial death on the Cross. Jesus said at the Last Supper,
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28 NIV)
“without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22 NIV)
‘Pleading the blood” is a common teaching and practice of well-meaning Christians in numerous churches around the world to claim the power of Jesus over any and every problem, situation, or circumstance. It is believed that the concept of ‘pleading the blood’ is a powerful declaration of faith in His sacrificial death and a claiming of the spiritual benefits that flow from His shed blood. It is said to be a way to access the atoning, redemptive, protective, and cleansing power of Jesus in their lives and to affirm their trust in His ability to save, heal, and deliver them from all forms of evil, such as sickness, poverty, and “demon” spirits.
Some draw ‘bloodlines’ around objects to protect them from evil forces and build a “hedge of protection” over everything, including their lives, family, pets, finances, houses, windows, doors, floors, neighborhoods, cars, churches, pews, musical instruments, drinking water, unsaved relatives, sickness, etc.
When hands are laid on others to receive the Holy Spirit,” some people “plead the blood” to have a clean conscience and for grace and mercy to be activated in their lives so that they can come boldly into God’s presence (See Hebrews 9:14,10:19-20; 1 Peter 1:2).
DEFINITION
The word “plea” from which we get the word “plead” means: “An accused person’s answer to a charge or indictment in criminal practice…an earnest entreaty or appeal.” Similarly, the word “plead” means “to make a plea of a specified nature (e.g., to plead not guilty).” (Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary)
The words ‘plea’ and ‘plead’ can denote a sincere request and are used, either literally or metaphorically, in the context of legal proceedings and means to ‘argue for or against a cause’ as in a court of justice (See Jeremiah 3:21). They are never used to ‘pray’ or ‘beseech.’
In legal terminology, they have a great variety of meanings, such as a legal dispute between God and His covenant people. All the uses of "plead" in English Versions of the Bible are used in connection in a legal sense to plead a cause (See Deuteronomy 17:8; 1 Samuel 24:15; Isaiah 1:17, 3:13, 43:26, 66:16; Jeremiah 2:9,35; 12:1; 25:31; Ezekiel 17:20; 20:35-36; 38:22; Micah 6:1;7:9; Hosea 2:2; 4:1; Joel 3:2; Psalm 35:1; Job 13:6,8,19; 19:5; 23:6; Judges 6:31-32; Acts 19:38; Romans 11:12).
Old Testament Usage
The Hebrew word ‘’riyb” is translated over 70 times as ‘plead’ as a verb and means "to plead, strive, defend, grapple, quarrel, conduct a legal case, make a charge." (Example: Genesis 31:36; Exodus 17:3,21:18; Isaiah 1:17). The term can imply both verbal arguments and physical confrontations. In the legal sense, it often refers to pleading a case or bringing a lawsuit. The word is used to describe both human interactions and divine actions, where God contends with His people or nations.
The Prophets used the word frequently to indicate that God has an indictment, a legal case, against Israel (See Isaiah 3:13; Amos 7:4; Micah 6:1-8). “Riyb” is also used as a noun 60 times and translated as "strife; quarrel, dispute" (See Micah 6:2).
‘Pleading’ is an act of advocating for the vulnerable and ensuring justice is served. When God was said to "plead with" man, the meaning is that He states His side of the case and not that He desires human beings to repent, which is a judicial act of God (See Isaiah 66:16). The term often refers to the making a fervent appeal or earnest request most often in a legal setting. The concept of pleading is also seen in the context of God's relationship with His people and invites them to:
"Review the past for Me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence." (See Isaiah 43:26 NIV)
Many people use the phrase “pleading the blood” because of what the Israelites were told to do during the Passover. The practice of “pleading the blood of Jesus” is most often justified by the Old Testament Passover when the blood of the Paschal lamb protected the Israelites from the angel of death and led to their deliverance from slavery.
God is often portrayed as an advocate or judge who defends His people against their persecutors. The High Priest would sacrifice a Lamb and put the blood on the Altar in the Holy of Holies. The literal sprinkling and application of the sacrificial blood of goats and bulls on the Tabernacle and its various symbolic vessels and instruments was to make atonement for the uncleanness (sin) of the people of Israel and prefigured the true Tabernacle in Heaven (See Hebrews 8:1-5).
The blood of an animal, which indicated or symbolized the death of the sacrifice, was used to atone for their sinfulness, which affected everything they touched. It was a temporary means of appeasing the wrath of God against them (Leviticus 16:3,6-19,32-34; Exodus 12:1-13, 21-27). This ordinance had to be carried out once every year because the way to the true mercy seat of God was not yet clearly made known (Hebrews 9:6-10, 16-22).
These sacrifices were never able to take away sin and appease the wrath of God because the perfect sacrificial death of Jesus had yet to happen, which is why applying the blood of the sacrifices to the Tabernacle was required yearly (See Hebrews 10:1-4).
The Israelites were instructed to apply the blood of a lamb to their doorposts as a sign of protection from the tenth and final plague when the Angel of Death came upon Egypt and the firstborn died.
“The 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.” (Exodus 12:13 NIV)
The blood was applied from the animal, and it was required that it had to die and give its life. The blood represents life, the life of the Messiah who had to die for all sin. Jesus is the Passover Lamb who had to die.
The Passover animal’s blood on the Altar was not moved around and sprinkled all over everything or on this person or that person outside of the Temple by the High Priest; it was for the Altar area alone. No one can touch His blood or apply it to anything ‘spiritually’ because they are not the High Priest. Jesus alone is now the High Priest, who is the sacrificial Lamb and ascended into Heaven to sprinkle His blood on the Mercy Seat of the Altar before God, the Father. The Atonement in His blood is applied to every area of a person’s life when they repent of their sin and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior in trusting-faith (See also Exodus 12:13; Leviticus 1:5; 4:6,30, Isaiah 29:21; 59:45; 1:22; Jeremiah 18:19, 50:34; 51:36; Psalm 119:154; Proverbs 22:23; 23:10; 1 Samuel 24:15; Hebrews 9:7-8).
New Testament Usage
There are a few Greek words translated as ‘plead/plea,’ and before quoting a verse with the word plea/plead, it is vitally important to understand the meaning in context. The term ‘plead’ can imply both verbal arguments and physical confrontations. In the legal sense, it often refers to pleading a case or bringing a lawsuit. The word is used to describe both human interactions and divine actions, where God contends with His people or nations.
The Greek words "parakaleó / paraklétos / parekalesa are translated as ’plead, plea, requested, implored, urged, besought’ and are often used in contexts that involve pleading or making an earnest appeal (Matthew 2:18,5:4,8:5; Acts 28:20; 1 Corinthians 16:12; 2 Corinthians 12:8,18; 1 Timothy 1:3)
The Greek word ‘peítho’ is also translated as ‘plead’ and describes Paul's attempts to convince the Ephesians about the Kingdom of God (See Acts 19:8). However, the word ‘plead’ in both the Old and New Testament is most often used in the judicial sense such as Elijah's accusation against Israel (1 Kings 19:10,14; Romans 11:2)
The Greek word “entunchano” is also translated as ‘plead’ and means to “persuade, to make petition, to fall in with, meet and talk, to make suit to a person by way of pleading with them” (Acts 25:24).
Praying in the Name of Jesus
The Bible encourages Christians to pray in Jesus’ name.
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14 NIV)
When a Christian prays in Jesus’ name, it means praying according to God’s will and for His glory, recognizing that only through Jesus' sacrifice are their prayers heard by the Father.
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV)
The Blood of Jesus
As notrd, the term “the blood of Jesus” refers to the substitutionary death and atonement Jesus made for sin when a person puts their trusting-faith in Him and receives redemption through His blood and not the physical blood alone (Hebrews 9:11-29; Matthew 26:28; Mark 10:45; Romans 3:24-25; 5:9-11; Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; Colossians 1:14).
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” (Ephesians 1:7-8 NIV)
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV)
Jesus paid the price with His blood to purchase salvation, and His blood refers to His sacrificial death that atoned for sin, which allowed for everyone who become Born-Again to be eternally forgiven and redeemed before God.
The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus offered Himself once, for all time, as the perfect sacrifice for sins. This act satisfied the demands of divine judgment and completely appeased God's wrath from Heaven.
Trusting-Faith through the Blood of Jesus
When a person prays in trusting-faith according to God’s will, they don’t need to constantly repeat “in Jesus’ name” or “by the blood of Jesus.” Jesus looks at the sincerity of the heart and not the specific words used.
The word “faith” comes from the Greek word “pistis” and means assurance, persuasion, conviction, and reliance upon another. The root of “pistis” is “peitho” which is a primary verb, an action word that is in a continual state of being, moving forward or reverse. It means to actively convince, to rely, to assent, to have confidence, and trust. It is best described as Trusting-Faith.
One of the biggest errors that have crept into the church over the years has been the teaching of faith as if it were a thing or power to obtain or possess. Yet, it is the absolute fundamental essential of Christianity. The world can’t exist without faith. It is just milk, a tricycle with training wheels in the nursery school of discipleship (Hebrews 5:12-6:3).
Without ‘faith’ it is impossible to become a Christian and please God. It is the basic element of Christianity. There is no exhausting it. God gave every Christian all the faith they needed to believe Jesus is the Savior. It is God who gives them the faith to trust Him. They must learn to put on the faith He has given, just as one puts on their clothes each day.
Jesus is always to be glorified in everything we do, no matter the outcome or circumstance. ‘Faith’ is not a tool that can be used to make God move on one's behalf. Faith is trust in action. A person says by their faith, "God, I trust you to do this for me, but if You choose not to at this time, I will still trust You."
It is the sacrificial death of Jesus alone that brings eternal healing. True biblical trusting-faith has nothing to do with any ritual or incantation. Having trusting-faith in Jesus can result in physical healing and deliverance (James 5:14-16). Still, God should be asked directly and not try to manipulate outcomes by continually pleading Jesus’ blood. We demonstrate faith through prayer and trusting God’s will, not by repeating certain phrases.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5 NIV)
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 NIV)
REDEMPTION
Redemption is the act of being saved or rescued from sin and its consequences and spending eternity with Jesus. Through His shed blood, Jesus paid the price for our sins and redeemed us from the power of sin and death. When a person puts their trusting-faith in Jesus, they appropriate His forgiveness and receive redemption through His blood.
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV - also Ephesians 1:7)
Jesus paid the price with His blood to purchase our salvation, and the Bible encourages us to pray in Jesus’ name. Jesus said;
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14 NIV)
Cleansing
At the moment of salvation, the “blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7 NIV). When a person pleads the blood of Jesus at the mlment of salvation, they are asking for His cleansing power to wash away their sins and make them pure and holy in the sight of God. This act of pleading His blood becomes a reminder of our need for continual repentance and reliance on His grace for forgiveness.
“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:14 NIV)
Deliverance and Protection Through the Blood of Jesus
The blood of Jesus redeems those who repent of their sin and receive Him as Lord and Savior and protects them from judgment (Romans 5:9; 1 John 1:7). As noted In the Old Testament, blood over the doorposts in Egypt protected Israelites from judgment (Exodus 12:13). This symbolized Jesus’ future sacrifice providing protection. However, the only biblical example of literally applying blood for protection is at the first Passover (See 1 John 5:18). In the Bible, the blood of Jesus refers to His sacrificial death on the Cross. Jesus said at the Last Supper,
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28 NIV).
“…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22 NIV)
The blood of Jesus represents the atonement that redeems those who become Born-Again from sin and protects them from judgment (see Romans 5:9; 1 John 1:7). There are no instructions in God’s Word to apply Jesus’ blood literally for protection.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
It is argued that the “blood” of Jesus is for protection” and therefore justifies the practice of “pleading the blood’ of Jesus to receive it. There is no need for deliverance prayer. The Bible does not say that any Jew applied the blood to the door and then chanted incessantly, “I plead that blood on my door! Devil, do not dare come in!” Rather, they applied the blood by faith, and God promised he would pass over and deliver them once He “saw the blood” (Exodus 12:13 NIV).
When a person becomes Born-Again, they are immediately set free positionally from the power of satan by the “blood” and death of Jesus when they received that deliverance through the faith of Jesus and not by pleading His blood. They walk in freedom by considering themselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ (See Romans 6:11). Conditionally, it can be a lifelong process to be totally set free from sinful thoughts and behaviors.
The Bible says that Christians overcome the enemy by using a three-fold cord and not by pleading for the blood of Jesus. The enemy is constantly bringing charges to God against Christians, but they overcome by;
1. The BLOOD of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11a),
2. The WORD of their testimony (Revelation 12:11b)
3. They did not LOVE their lives unto death (Revelation 12:11c NIV)
Walking in humility is the ultimate 'three fold cord' weapon against the enemy to cast him down.
“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now have come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the ACCUSER of our brothers and sisters is cast down, who ACCUSES them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” (Revelation 12:10 NIV - emphasis mine)
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14 NIV)
CONCLUSION
There is no need for any perpetual application of Jesus’ blood, symbolic of His death, to tabernacles and vessels because His blood, or sacrificial death, was not intended for them. Still, rather it was for ministry in the heavenly Tabernacle, which opened up the way for us to boldly come to the throne of grace or the heavenly mercy seat (See Hebrews 9:23-28; 10:11-22). As stated before, the shed blood of Jesus permanently appeased the wrath of God against the Born-Again Christian (See Hebrews 8:7-12). It was a one-time act, never to be repeated. When a sinner puts their faith in that once-for-all act in the past, they are perpetually justified, and they bear no more condemnation before Him (Romans 5:1; 8:1-4).
The authority every Christian has is in the Bible, the Word of God, and nowhere does it tell us to “plead the blood.” There is no clearly defined basis for using ‘pleading the blood," and no one in the Bible ever “pleaded the blood” of Jesus. His death and shed blood forgive sin, reconcile human beings with the Triune God, and guarantee their inheritance in Heaven. When Jesus died and rose again, the Old Covenant was fulfilled. Death and sin were defeated. Jesus said;
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed in the hope that God will grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” (Timothy 2:24-26 NIV)
The words “I plead the blood” are not magical, nor do they make prayer more powerful. God cannot be manipulated so that a person can get what they want rather than praying for His will to be done. Trusting-Faith is not a force, and praying with enough faith does not guarantee that God will be forced to provide health, wealth, and happiness.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrew 4:12 NIV)
Jesus had to die for our sins. The Triune God accepted His death as His blood was spilled on the Altar. Jesus said, “It is finished” before He died, and there was no longer the need to sacrifice an animal because He fulfilled the law (John 19:30).
Rather than “pleading the blood” of Jesus for protection or power, Christians should obey the command to “Submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 NIV). The Christian is not commanded to ‘plead the blood of Jesus’ because His blood has already cleansed them, and they are already under His protection. Jesus is their High Priest and mediator who “always lives to make intercession” for them (Hebrews 7:25). Every Born-Again Christian needs to live day by day, trusting in Him for what He has already promised and provided.
Jesus set everyone free from the power of satan through His death. A person receives and appropriates that deliverance through trusting-faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior and not by pleading His blood. They are to walk in freedom by reckoning themselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ (Romans 6:11). The power of the blood is not found in words or in something prayed.
“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (Matthew 6:7 KJV)
The enemy was defeated at the Cross, and Christians must rest in trusting-faith in Jesus.
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-15 NIV)
The Holy Spirit is responsible for taking the Bible verses we study and applying them to our lives.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)
“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV)
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:17-20 NIV)
It is trusting faith, not ‘pleading,’ that is the issue. It is not a declaration but what matters the most. When a person repents of their sins and receives Jesus as Lord and Savior, the blood of Jesus is imputed (applied) for salvation and eternal life.
“However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.” (Romans 4:5 NIV)
Paul said Jesus strengthened him to endure all circumstances, good and bad. There was no mention of “pleading the blood” in times of difficulty; rather, there was instruction from Jesus.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV)
The practice of “pleading the blood” of Jesus emphasizes experience and emotions rather than God’s Word. Christians should walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). When a Christian demands to see visible manifestations, it is rooted in pride and manifested unbelief.
Daily victory is not found in repeating a superstitious exercise of magic formulas. It is religious fervor masquerading as truth rooted in pride and manifested unbelief. Trusting each day, moment by moment, in the finished work of Jesus is the key to success in the Christian life. God is interested in transforming people from the inside out by renewing their minds and hearts.
As previously stated, in the Old Testament festival of Passover, nothing was covered with the Blood of Jesus, which was applied only once to the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Heaven and does not have to be reapplied over and over as if somehow it loses strength. It was applied only once to cover and release a person from the eternal effects of sin. When a person becomes Born-Again, they appropriate His atonement and are continually covered by the Blood of Jesus, which constantly cleanses them and washes away their sin.
“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood” (Revelation 1:5 NIV)
When a person becomes Born-Again, the blood of Jesus that was sprinkled in Heaven sprinkles their hearts from an evil conscience.
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:20-22 NIV)
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7-9 NIV)
Those who touched Jesus’ body and blood when they took Him off the Cross did not receive holiness or any powers or healing, nor did they plead the blood over themselves for protection. However, after Jesus rose from the dead and encountered Mary, He said to her:
“Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (John 20:17 NIV)
In the Old Testament, people had to make a sin offering on an ongoing basis, but Jesus came to make one sacrifice and offering for us. When Jesus ascended to Heaven, He entered the Holy of Holies, sprinkled His precious blood upon the Mercy Seat on the Altar before the throne, forever settling the sin question, and delivered us from the curse of the law.
“He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his blood, thus obtaining b eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12 ESV)
You cannot spiritually plead the blood of Jesus or cover unbelievers with the Blood of Jesus in order that they one day become saved because that is a sovereign ‘Free-Will’ issue. The shed blood of Jesus is a one-time washing away of sin and not a repetitive act of sacrifice like they did in the Old Testament. No one can touch the blood of Jesus because only He did that when it was applied to the Mercy Seat in Heaven.
When a person becomes Born-Again, they are baptized by the Holy Spirit. Their hearts are instantly sprinkled with the blood of Jesus so that they can now come into God’s presence once and for all and have an eternal relationship with Jesus, who becomes their advocate with God, the Father.
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1 NIV)
Jesus shed His blood for the remission of our sins and should not be used as a kind of magical word to protect our home, car, kids, or anything else we value. God promises that He will never leave or forsake us and nothing can separate us from His love, including ourselves!
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39 NIV)
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18 NIV)
Jesus, once and for all, finished the work on the Cross, Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it (See Colossians 2:15).
Pleading the blood of Jesus as a means of protection from evil is essentially the same as using a Rosary or Crucifix as a means of protection or source of power because they live in fear tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, poverty) or perils. Jesus died and shed His blood for our SINS and not for our things such as cars, houses, lands, church buildings, windows, doors, etc.
As stated previously, there is only one way in which a Christian should understand “pleading the blood of Jesus,” and that is in the judicial sense. The sacrifice of Jesus was perfect and FINAL! There is no need to be constantly saying, “I plead” or “apply the blood of Jesus” to defeat satan because he was defeated at the Cross and has no power over any Born Again Christian because they have already been delivered from the power of darkness and “translated” into the kingdom of God’s Son (See Colossians 1:13).
The Triune God does not need to be reminded of the shed blood and death of Jesus every time a Christian prays. Instead, they should be aware of all that the blood/death of Jesus has accomplished and walk daily in gratefulness and thanksgiving.
“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 NIV)
