I first taught this lesson several years ago in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The time passed since this particular lesson was originally taught has no bearing on the continuing significance of the all powerful blood of Jesus. It is my hope that these lesson notes provides the catalysis for proper application of the blood as well as an understanding of this most powerful medium of salvation.

It’s in the Blood

Prepared for:

Springs of Refreshing Fellowship Church
1932 Gwynn Oak Ave
Baltimore, MD 21207

30 January 2014

Pastour: Bishop Johnny C. Carrington, Sr.

Prepared by: Eld. William James Carter, The 1st

© Copy Write 2014

It’s in the Blood

When you consider the Scriptures there is much talk about blood. This is discussion about the spilling of blood as concerning the taking of life and there is talk of blood lines when considering the lineage of people. Most importantly, there is much talk about blood in respect to the covering of and washing away of sin.

So, to clearly understand what all this blood talk is about there must be an understanding of what the purpose of blood is. Blood, as we know, is the sustainer of life. Leviticus 17:11 is clear evidence of this fact. It reads in part (For the life of the flesh is in the blood…) without out this precious fluid life would cease to be. Blood is also unique in that it is one of the few fluids that once spilled leaves a stain that is not easily removed.

If anyone has ever watched any police investigative shows one of the first things that one would notice is the constant mention of blood. It is the constant search of blood that is paramount, particularly in the event of a homicide. This being the case, there are some instances wherein a suspect might attempt to clean the blood with such agents as bleach and ammonia. This attempt to clean is futile because the blood leaves a stain that can not be cleaned. And so, detectives are often able to solve crimes by reason of the blood-stained scene.

Blood, according to Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, is the red fluid circulating in the body that takes nourishment to the body parts and carries away waste. But to fully understand blood one must delve just a little deeper into the science of it to get a clear picture of the power of this life-sustaining matter.

Now, blood has a number of characteristics. Firstly, blood, in general is called whole blood. It is a living tissue that circulates through the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries carrying nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the body’s tissues. So, when God breathed life into man in Genesis 2:7, not only was man’s spirit made to come to life but that it began the circulation of blood which sustained the life of the physical man. Thereby, God having breathed into man’s nostrils had two-fold meaning.

Under the microscope blood is shown to have several parts. One such part is the red blood cell. The red blood cell is the heaviest of the cells and is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. There are about one billion red blood cells for every two to three drops of blood.

It is noteworthy to mention that the human body holds about twelve pints of blood. I have no way of determining how many drops of blood are in one pint. But it is safe to say that one drop of the blood of Jesus is enough to bring life to about five hundred million to one billion people. And when this bloodline continues from generation to generation untold billions can receive life just from a drop of the blood of Jesus. This explains the numbers in Revelation 7:9-14 which reads:

After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice saying, SALVATION TO OUR GOD WHICH SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB. And all the angels stood round about the throne on their faces, and worshipped God. Saying, A-men’: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen’. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Keep in mind that these are not the only ones that will be standing with the Lamb. I Thessalonians 4:13-18 gives reason to celebrate by reason of the blood of Jesus.

But I would not to have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them which are sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Red blood cells are also continuously being produced in the bone marrow. The individual cells have a specific life span but once its job is done, the job is done. And because these red blood cells are renewed day by day the potential for life is infinite. This is why the Christian can look forward to everlasting life.

Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood. While it has several functions, it is clear to see that the primary job of plasma is to regulate. Part of this regulation involves maintaining a satisfactory blood pressure and volume to supplying critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity. It also serves as the medium of exchange for vital minerals such as sodium and potassium, thus helping maintain a proper balance in the body, which is critical to cell function.

With this in mind, it is safe to say that the plasma holds it all together. It is instrumental in the necessary movement of minerals like as the blood of Christ is instrumental in the movement of sin from us as depicted in I John 1:7:

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 cleanseth us from all sin.

So then, if this plasma, this blood of Christ regulates and maintains a proper balance of the minerals such a potassium and sodium in our bodies it is hard to understand why some of us persist in sin when we have declared that we have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb. If there was a washing in the Blood of the Lamb, and if the plasma regulates the blood, then perhaps the person claiming to have been washed was never washed. You see, once a thing is bleached the change in it is more than obvious.

Platelets are another part of the blood that have an invaluable function. The platelet is vital to life, because it helps prevent massive blood loss resulting from trauma, as well as blood vessel leakage that would otherwise occur in the course of normal, day-to-day activity. This is the sustaining part of the blood. It is the part of the blood that keeps us alive in Christ. The platelets are the part of the blood that lend credence to the forgiveness of sin, should we error. It is the platelets that allow repentance so that in the event of faltering we do not loose the righteousness of God. It is the redemption power that we so desperately need. Romans 3:23-25 says it like this:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

The platelets also protect from harm that is not of the doing of the person. It protects from such trauma that is not self-inflicted but that occurs as a routine part of life. Such trauma could be a lie told, a scandalized name, the unexpected death of a loved one, an undeserved divorced, the lose of a job and a host of other things that are not sin but that has an effect on the life of the one washed in the blood. The platelets, then, can be said to have the keeping power.

White blood cells are responsible for protecting the body from invasion by foreign substances such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. While in the bloodstream there are far fewer white blood cells than red blood cells. In fact, the ration would be 1:600, in favour of the red cells. This makes the white cells far more powerful than the red ones. But then, the job of the white cells is extraordinary.

White blood cells protect the Christian from invasions such as hopelessness, pain, and un-forgiveness. White blood cells attack disparity and loneliness. The disease of sin cannot compare to the protecting power of the white blood cells. The white blood cells are the overcoming power as described in Revelation 12:11 which says in part:

and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb…

It is the white blood cells that fight off the infections of the corruption of this world. It is what gives strength to the Christian and, thus, is the reason we can cry redeemed, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

Ephesians 1:7 talks about the redeeming power of the blood by saying:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

The ninth chapter of Hebrews goes in some detail describing the work of the blood. Verses seven through eight A:

But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest…

Verse 11-15:

But Christ being come an high priest of things to com, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered once in the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth 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? And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 10:14 reads:

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that
are sanctified.