I just wanted to share this lesson I taught recently in respect to the blood as discussed in Scripture. All too often the blood is misapplied yet it is my hope that understanding the blood will bring about certain growth.
Understanding the Blood
For
Springs of Refreshing Fellowship Church
1932 Gwynn Oak Ave
Woodlawn, MD 21207
Prepared by:
Elder William James Carter, The 1st
1 August 2013
© The Christian Perspective
Understanding the Blood
It has been said many times that there is a bloodline that runs from Genesis through Revelations. While this may be difficult to prove scripturally the thing that is evident is that the blood has a most definitive place in the spiritual healing of mankind. With that knowledge it is necessary to understand how the blood was used in the Old Testament and how that usage spilled over into the New Testament. However, there must first be an understanding of what blood is.
There are several definitions for the word “blood” used in Scripture. Among those definitions are:
No matter the specific definition “blood” in Scripture is often a reference to sacrifice or atonement. Of the 362 times the word “blood” is employed in the Old Testament it is linked one 103 times to sacrifices. This is significant because blood is an absolute in the washing away of sin – Hebrews 9:22:
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission
Before delving into the Hebraic text it is necessary to explore some history of the use of blood in the Old Testament. Exodus is an example of how God used the blood of animals to bring redemption to His people. The instructions were given to Moses in Chapter 12:3-7:
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Then came the obedience – Versus 28-29:
And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
It is because of the obedience of the Israelites that they did not suffer with the Egyptians. The obedience meant that they were atoned not only by their obedience but also by the proper application of the blood of the lamb. That is to say that there were specific instructions given that had to be adhered to. If the blood had not been properly applied on the doors of the Israelites then those that did not properly apply the blood would have suffered the same fate as the Egyptians.
This moves the discussion to the Levitical application of sacrifices and atonement. Levitical law goes into significant detail as to types of sacrifices sufficient to atone for sin. However the most signicant reasoning for sacrifices is found in Leviticus 17:11:
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.
It is important to note that many of the sacrifices described in Leviticus do not directly mention blood. The reason for this is quite simple because in using an animal for sacrifices by extension means that there has to be a death. It is this death that brings to light the spilling of blood. Hence the first definition of blood comes into play which is the death of someone or something. This is to say that unless there is death or the spilling of blood it is not possible to atone for sin. Hereby atonement must be identified.
Atonement – the act by which God restores a relationship of harmony and unity between Himself and human beings (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary).
Another definition of “atonement” is:
To avert punishment, especially divine anger, by the payment of a koper, a ransom, which may be of money of which may be of life, Morris, Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, 166 (Evangelical Dictionary of Theology).
This idea of atonement is interesting because when it comes to atoning for sin money was never an issue. There had to be a life taken because the sinner’s penalty for sin was always death (Romans 6:23). Even more the thing scarified for the sinner had to be pure. There had to be neither spot nor blemish or it would not qualify as a sacrifice. Leviticus chapter one gives some insight as to the purity of the animal to be sacrificed.
The animal had to be without blemish. This is the same idea of purity as discussed in Numbers 19:2 wherein the animal had to be without spot. In other words the animal could have no marks upon it and had to be clean in every way. Also, the animal could not have been used in farming. It was to have been an animal specifically set aside for the specific purpose of sacrifice. This is to say that it had to be a “holy” animal because its specific purpose was to stand in for those that deserved the penalty of death because of sin.
It is also important to note that the blood of the animal was to be sprinkled on the altar. Multiple versus point to this requirement but Leviticus 1:5 clearly shows how the blood should be handled. The text:
And he shall kill the bullock before the Lord: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Looking back on verse four of the levitical text it becomes clear that the sacrifice of the animal and the sprinkling of the blood upon the altar was sufficient for God for the atonement of sin or to bring reconciliation between sinful man and a holy God. Additionally the sacrifice of a pure and spotless animal served as a shadow of what was to come concerning the shed blood of Jesus for the sin of the world. The sacrifice was completely and totally innocent in every area and did not deserve to die. Instead the converse is true because of the spotless nature of the sacrifice.
The fact is that Jesus was incarnated for the specific purpose of allowing Himself to be sacrificed. This is the reason that Jesus had to be pure and without blemish. There could be no spots on Him or He would not have qualified to be a sacrificed. Further, Christ had to come through a pure vessel. This is the reason that His earthly birth had to be from a virgin. Moreover Christ could not be tainted with the sinful blood of man. Because of that Jesus was not conceived of in the normal fashion rather the Holy Spirit moved upon Mary and she impregnated with a Pure Vessel so that the blood to be shed would be able to atone for the sin of man.
There is great familiarity with the Passion of Christ. After His false conviction Jesus was whipped, beard pulled and had a crown of thirty-two thorns placed on His head. Even more after He was beat with the cat-of-nine tails a purple robe was placed on His back to mock Him. Later the robe was pulled off. All this meant that there was blood spilled in a number of places. Then a purple robe was placed on His back to mock Him. Later the robe was pulled off. All this meant that there was blood spilled in a number of places. Going down the Via Dolorosa likely meant that more of His blood was spilled. This is not to mention the fact that Christ was nailed to the cross and then pierced in the side to confirm His death.
Romans 3:21-25:
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 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 hath 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;
With this we can see that the blood of Jesus was spilled in two senses. The first is noted in our first definition of blood in that Jesus lost His physical life thereby His blood was spilled. Additionally the physical blood of Jesus was poured out from His body. This is evident especially in the fact that He was beat with thirty-nine stripes, one less than the legal limit of the day. The blood of Jesus, though, was not ordinary blood rather the blood of Jesus was pure and had not been marred by the sin of man. His blood did not come through Joseph who was born with a sin nature.
This is why the sacrifice of Jesus is so significant. He was able to be the propitiation because of the pureness of His spilled blood. Further, because Jesus voluntarily placed His life in jeopardy His death becomes extremely significant. Not only does His spilled blood appease the Father but that Jesus yielded His life in death (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Romans). This is to say that being temporarily separated from His Father He surrendered His life to the Father (Luke 23:46).
Still the death of Jesus was not the end of what was required to atone for the sin of mankind. It was still necessary to sprinkle the blood on the altar in keeping with the law and set precedent. The fact is that that the blood of bulls and goats provided only a temporary covering for sin. This is the reason the high priest went into the Holy of Holies yearly to sacrifice. Jesus went into the holy place once and for all to atone for the sin of all. Hebrews 9:11-13:
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, 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 in once into 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:
I Peter 1:18-19:
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Revelation 1:5-6
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
I just wanted to share a portion of a message preached sometime ago. I hope it encourages you to walk in accordance with the Word of God.
Some of you may have had the opportunity to see the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington starring James (Jimmy) Stewart. In the movie, Stewart’s character is a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed honest man full of honest ideals. His world is nearly crushed when he finds out that honesty was a rare trait. His desire to help young boys was seen as a lost cause but that the help of an initially reluctant quintessential aid propelled “Senator Smith” to take a stand on the Senate floor bringing attention to the worthless lost cause despite all those that sought to destroy this upright man of integrity. In the end, victory was had because in the mind of the young senator the only causes worth fight for were the lost causes.
Today we have like problems in Washington. There is so much evil that one can barely keep up with the scandals. Lies on top of lies are being told while the freedom of a people is slowly but surely being placed in jeopardy. Christianity is now the enemy of those that disdain freedom while The Constitution is treated as though the articles written therein are nothing more than suggestions rather than the law of the land. Freedom, as it seems, is a lost cause. The United States government is becoming larger and larger and the people are enjoying much less freedom. Yes, it seems that the freedom of a people is nothing more than a lost cause.
However, this is a lost cause that is not being ignored. It is a cause worth fighting for because freedom means that individuals can worship God as they see fit, speak their hearts, live where they choose and the list goes on. Yet the very idea of freedom is troublesome to some as indicated in the Affordable Care Act which is somewhat of a paradox because it is far from affordable and has little to do with health care. It has more to do with collecting data on the United States citizens and stripping freedoms from them. Even so, there are some that are standing and fighting this lost cause. Some seek to defund it while others seek to eradicate the law by other means. Either way, to many fighting the mammoth intrusion on the lives of a people is a lost cause. This is the reason it is worth fighting.
And there are other attacks on the freedom of this great nation. The government is collecting data in phone records. Emails are subject to scrutiny even if the authors are breaking no laws. Property rights are being impinged upon and attacks on free speech seem to be the order of the day. It is all a lost cause because the apathetic bow down to the powers to be simply because they will do what they want no matter what the people say. Well, there are some that will not give in to the freedom takers of this nation. One such person is Mark Levin. He constantly rails against the anti-constitutionalism and makes legal fights through his law firm against those that dare come against freedom. Moreover, Mr. Levin urges people to fight lost causes with him. One such way is through his most recent book The Liberty Amendments. [1] It would seem that Mr. Levin fights because freedom is a lost cause worth fighting for.
Just as there are attacks on the constitutional freedom of a people the attacks are just as great on those that name the Name of Christ. Christians are being attacked on every hand. To stand for the Word of God now means that Christians are insensitive bigots. However, before the dawn of Christianity, the Word looked down through the annals of time and saw countless lost causes. He saw people inundated by sin and that they stood no chance of enjoying communion with the Father. Even more, those that knew not the Father would be damned and forever separated from God. He saw lost causes that could not be ignored. With that, the Word became incarnate (John 1) and allowed Himself to live as a mere man. Christ knew that if He did not reach out to man then man would never know the freedom salvation brings. For these lost causes not only did Christ dwell in an earthen vessel but became the ultimate sacrifice for all so that reconciliation could be made with the Father.
There remain many lost causes on earth today. The disciples of Jesus were instructed to go into all the world and preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15). That command is no less significant today. The lost causes are still worth fighting for. In fact, because they are lost causes they are the only ones worth fighting for. With that, it would be wise to use the tenacity of Senator Smith while honoring the Word of Christ to fight for the lost causes.
The past few years in this country have caused me to wonder if I still live in the United States of America. It appears that there is division on every hand. Everyone seems to be angry with everyone else and all for false reasons. This is rather disconcerting because President Obama was lifted as some sort of messiah who would heal all. He would be the one to bind those that were pulled apart by reason of scandalous racial issues because he would be the post-racial president. Unfortunately the racial divide has only broadened since Mr. Obama has taken office.
Blacks have been pitted against the Whites while Hispanics abhor Asians. Jews are against Gentiles and the Polish disdain the Italians. Further divides are evident as in the phony war against women. As such females have been pitted against males. The young are angry with the old. The rich and the poor seem to have nothing in common. Yes, this is the most divided nation since the Civil War. The difference is that then Abraham Lincoln was torn as to how to bring the people together while Mr. Obama seems to seek division on every hand. Enough already!
And the “church” seems to be acting no better. It has been said that Sunday morning is the most divided time of the week. There are so many divisions it is not certain that all the breaches can be mentioned in this article. Still the racial divide cannot be ignored. There are “Black” churches and “White” churches. The “Chinese” and Korean” churches cannot be ignored. And while on the subject we might as well get to the “Hispanic” and other racially divided churches. But, the list goes on as to divides. There are Holiness churches and Pentecostal churches. Then comes the Baptist churches and the Freewill Baptist churches. Enough already!
I Corinthians chapter twelve highlights some divisions that were in the early church. Paul sought to correct this heretical practice by showing that even though there were different administrations and gifts in operation in the Church all should be accepted as long as these works are indeed ordained by God. Verse twelve states that “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” This statement clearly shows that divides in the church are not acceptable and that such divides should be healed. Further Paul makes it clear that there are many parts to the body but that they all work together for the good. Versus fourteen through twenty-one read:
For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Paul seemed to be saying enough already. There is no cause for divisions predicated upon superficial ideologies that serve only to bolster hatred. Even more these divides, by extension, exclude those that are seeking Christ but are turned away merely because they do not fit into the norm of the small society seeking only those that neatly fit into their shoebox of ideas. This is not of God and needs to be stopped immediately.
God is a God of love and not of hate. It is impossible to love God while pulling away from the multiplicity of people that God has placed in the Church. Hatred is not an option and must be abhorred. God loves the world and all that are in it. It is for world that Jesus died and at no point does He suggests any divide. Enough already with this racism and divide in the house of God! It is past time we joined together with one voice in worshipping God and in serving humanity irrespective of nationality or skin tone.
Looking back at history it becomes extremely evident that many of our predecessors lived under the hand of certain slavery. While not all the slavery had to do with limitations imposed by man there was certainly slavery that limited mankind. Consider for a moment the bondage Adam found himself in. His decision to disobey God placed him in rather precarious situation. On one hand he was immediately inundated with a lot of knowledge but Adam became bound by that knowledge because the realization of sin became the centerpiece of his limited understanding.
It was always God’s desire that man be free of sin but disobedience caused man to be enslaved by sin. God would not be deterred by man’s rebellion but rather he put in place a plan that would free man from the destruction of sin. With that God used about forty men over the period of about sixteen hundred years to show His plan. His plan was and remains simple; to free man from the oppressive power of sin. In doing this man would be free to love and worship God unhindered by the very thing that pollutes worship.
Another matter to consider is that of the Israelites when they were in bondage to the Egyptians. They were not allowed to worship God freely and were made to work under impossible odds. Despite that God had a plan to free His people and soon that plan was put into action. With much ado the people of God were freed from the debilitating grip of a people that did not love the True and Living God. They were made free so that they could worship the Most High God without the mandates of dictatorial, supercilious ruffians whose sole purpose was to oppress a people that loved God. Freedom was a great reward for the people and our Bible well documents that freedom.
John 8:32 speaks of freedom as it relates to the truth. The text, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” seems to suggest that freedom is held from those that lack knowledge of what the truth is. This is, at least in part, the reason the slaves in the United States were not allowed to learn to read. If they knew how to read then the possibility of them stumbling across the truth would mean that those bound by slavery would realize that their bondage was illegal consequently result in revolts of one kind or another in order to secure that freedom. This is what the Bible does for the sinner as well as the Christian who is bound by certain indiscretions. It shines a light on that that which brings burdens and provides an avenue of freedom.
This makes complete sense considering the fact that man, by his very nature, is bound by sin. Deliverance is mandated in order for him to freely worship God. This is the reason Christ became incarnate and willingly laid down His life – so that man could be free from sin. The scriptural text clearly shows man’s absolute need to be freed from the power of sin and Christ is the One that has the ability to provide such deliverance. Once Christ has made man free then freedom is assured. John 8:34-36 discusses freedom relative to sin; “ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” As such if man is free from sin he is free to worship God.
However man seems to have a problem with freedom. King George was one that did not take kindly to freedom. He desired that all those under his charge had to worship as he said or there, by extension, would be consequences. As a result of the tyrannical rule of this supercilious dictator many fled from under the despot’s rule. They came to a new land and eventually wrote what is The Constitution of the United States of America. Amendment One to the Bill of Rights clearly states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Yet the attacks on these freedoms are becoming more and more evident as the coming of Christ draws nearer.
Some are declaring that Christians should not be allowed to freely worship God by reason of the fallacy of hatred within Christendom. They seek to attack the freedom of worshipping the Most High God by monitoring Christian speak and Christian lifestyle. Attempts are made on a daily basis to silence the Christian while making the First Amendment of none effect. This would mean that Christians would fall under bondage to the State which is exactly what the founding fathers sought to prevent. Yet The Constitution stands strong proving the citizens of the United States freedom from an oppressive government. Even more the freedoms spelled out in The Constitution are a type of the freedoms exemplified in biblical text.
Freedom is not a matter provided by the bondage of mankind rather it is a lifestyle provided by a God that desires that His people be free. That freedom is guaranteed by biblical texts and is bolstered by the words of The Constitution.
Looking back at history it becomes extremely evident that many of our predecessors lived under the hand of certain slavery. While not all the slavery had to do with limitations imposed by man there was certainly slavery that limited mankind. Consider for a moment the bondage Adam found himself in. His decision to disobey God placed him in rather precarious situation. On one hand he was immediately inundated with a lot of knowledge but Adam became bound by that knowledge because the realization of sin became the centerpiece of his limited understanding.
It was always God’s desire that man be free of sin but disobedience caused man to be enslaved by sin. God would not be deterred by man’s rebellion but rather he put in place a plan that would free man from the destruction of sin. With that God used about forty men over the period of about sixteen hundred years to show His plan. His plan was and remains simple; to free man from the oppressive power of sin. In doing this man would be free to love and worship God unhindered by the very thing that pollutes worship.
Another matter to consider is that of the Israelites when they were in bondage to the Egyptians. They were not allowed to worship God freely and were made to work under impossible odds. Despite that God had a plan to free His people and soon that plan was put into action. With much ado the people of God were freed from the debilitating grip of a people that did not love the True and Living God. They were made free so that they could worship the Most High God without the mandates of dictatorial, supercilious ruffians whose sole purpose was to oppress a people that loved God. Freedom was a great reward for the people and our Bible well documents that freedom.
John 8:32 speaks of freedom as it relates to the truth. The text, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” seems to suggest that freedom is held from those that lack knowledge of what the truth is. This is, at least in part, the reason the slaves in the United States were not allowed to learn to read. If they knew how to read then the possibility of them stumbling across the truth would mean that those bound by slavery would realize that their bondage was illegal consequently result in revolts of one kind or another in order to secure that freedom. This is what the Bible does for the sinner as well as the Christian who is bound by certain indiscretions. It shines a light on that that which brings burdens and provides an avenue of freedom.
This makes complete sense considering the fact that man, by his very nature, is bound by sin. Deliverance is mandated in order for him to freely worship God. This is the reason Christ became incarnate and willingly laid down His life – so that man could be free from sin. The scriptural text clearly shows man’s absolute need to be freed from the power of sin and Christ is the One that has the ability to provide such deliverance. Once Christ has made man free then freedom is assured. John 8:34-36 discusses freedom relative to sin; “ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” As such if man is free from sin he is free to worship God.
However man seems to have a problem with freedom. King George was one that did not take kindly to freedom. He desired that all those under his charge had to worship as he said or there, by extension, would be consequences. As a result of the tyrannical rule of this supercilious dictator many fled from under the despot’s rule. They came to a new land and eventually wrote what is The Constitution of the United States of America. Amendment One to the Bill of Rights clearly states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Yet the attacks on these freedoms are becoming more and more evident as the coming of Christ draws nearer.
Some are declaring that Christians should not be allowed to freely worship God by reason of the fallacy of hatred within Christendom. They seek to attack the freedom of worshipping the Most High God by monitoring Christian speak and Christian lifestyle. Attempts are made on a daily basis to silence the Christian while making the First Amendment of none effect. This would mean that Christians would fall under bondage to the State which is exactly what the founding fathers sought to prevent. Yet The Constitution stands strong proving the citizens of the United States freedom from an oppressive government. Even more the freedoms spelled out in The Constitution are a type of the freedoms exemplified in biblical text.
Freedom is not a matter provided by the bondage of mankind rather it is a lifestyle provided by a God that desires that His people be free. That freedom is guaranteed by biblical texts and is bolstered by the words of The Constitution.
preachercarter 