Applied: The Blood of Jesus

No gift God has given us is more important than the blood of Jesus Christ. Yet many Christians do not fully comprehend the power of the blood. What’s worse is that many churches - even whole denominations - have stopped preaching and singing about the  blood and its power. 

How about you? Do you understand the significance of the blood? 

The Powerful Blood
The Bible tells us many powerful things that the blood of Jesus does when applied.  
When you apply the blood, it:

Provides forgiveness of your sins. “The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22, NIV

Gives you life. “Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.'” John 6:53 

Brings you close to God. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13

Cleanses your conscience. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Hebrews 9:14

Gives you boldness to approach God. “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus…” Hebrews 10:19

Sanctifies you. “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.” Hebrews 13:12

Cleanses you. “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

Heals you. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24, NIV

Enables you to overcome the devil and his works.  “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”  Revelation 12:11, NIV

Life in the Blood
Blood is so important to God that it is mentioned in the Bible around 700 times. David referred to the “incorruptible” blood. Peter spoke of the “precious” blood, and John wrote of the “overcoming” power of the blood.

We’re told in Leviticus 17:11 that, “the life of the flesh is in the blood.” This is true in both physical and spiritual realms. Your natural blood supplies life-giving oxygen and nutrients to every cell in your body. If the flow of blood were to be cut off from an area of your body, that part would begin to die. Spiritually speaking, any part of your life that is cut off from the blood of Jesus is dead or dying.

Your blood also carries away wastes and toxins from your cells. Spiritually, without the blood of Jesus, your life would be filled with filth just like the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27. Thank God for the blood of Jesus that removes the dirt of sin from our daily lives!

God also equipped your body with white blood cells that fight off sickness. Any time bacteria or viruses try to get in, your white cells start destroying the invaders. When your natural blood is healthy, you are protected from disease; and when you are spiritually healthy, there isn't anything the devil can bring against you that the blood of Jesus isn't sufficient to overcome. There truly is life in the blood!

Shed and Sprinkled Blood 
At the Last Supper, when Jesus held up the cup of wine, He said, "...This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." Luke 22:20. The blood of Jesus is so significant that this scripture is used every time we serve communion. Still, many Christians know only about the blood being shed and not about it being applied.

In Exodus 12:22, the Israelites were commanded to kill an unblemished lamb, dip a branch of hyssop (a common herb) into its blood, and then sprinkle the blood on their front doors. That night, when the death angel came, the households with blood applied to their doors were spared while those who hadn’t applied the blood lost their firstborn child. Just sacrificing the lamb would have done them no good. The shedding of blood was not enough–the blood only saved them when it was taken out of the basin and applied! 

God Looks at the Blood 
Throughout the Old Testament, God’s protection was not based on the Israelites’ performance but on the blood. Animal sacrifices pointed forward to Christ, whose blood would provide complete forgiveness. Jesus said, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28

People often try hard to make up for their sins, but even the best human effort cannot remove sin. 1 John 1:8-9 tells us, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This cleansing can only come by the blood of Jesus.

The blood of Jesus is not like any other sacrifice. It was only offered once, and it was offered for all. While the blood of animals could only temporarily cover sin, Christ’s blood permanently secured redemption for all who believe. Without the blood of Jesus, we are defenseless against the devil and his works. When it comes to your forgiveness and cleansing, your healing, protection, and deliverance, God is still looking at the blood!


Applying the Blood 
Just as the blood had to be sprinkled on the doorposts, you also must apply the blood of Jesus. It was already shed for you, but it becomes powerful in your life when you apply it.

Under the old covenant, the blood of animals was applied by sprinkling with the hyssop. Under the new covenant, we apply the blood of Jesus with our words. “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10

Applying the blood is not a religious formula or a set of words with special power. The power is not in repeating a phrase but in placing faith in what Jesus accomplished through His sacrifice. As you confess the promises of God concerning the blood, you are expressing confidence in His finished work.

Remember this: Your faith is not in your confession but in the One whose blood purchased your redemption. The blood is effective because of who Jesus is and what He accomplished on the cross.

You apply the blood of Jesus when you say “the blood of Jesus was shed on the cross for me.” You can apply the blood of Jesus to receive healing (Isaiah 53:5). You can apply it to protect your household (Exodus 12:13). It can be applied to cover your children and their circumstances (Job 1:5). You can apply the blood to anything you have authority over or influence upon.

Confession
Here’s an example of a confession you can make:

Jesus Christ was a perfect sacrifice, and He made me perfect before God (Hebrews 10:14). He took His blood into the holy of holies and placed it on the mercy seat. His blood is speaking today, saying that mercy, forgiveness, acceptance, healing and deliverance are mine. 

I apply faith in the blood of Jesus over my family, over my mind, over my thoughts, over my past, over my future, and over my conscience. His blood cleanses me from sin in all its forms and manifestations (1 John 1:7, AMP) so I will not be guilty, condemned or accused. 

I have peace with God through the blood of the cross (Colossians 1:20), and I am blameless in His sight (Colossians 1:22). 

My faith is in nothing but the blood of Jesus!

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The blood of Jesus has never lost its power–and it never will! It still forgives, cleanses, heals, protects, and delivers. The question is not whether the blood is powerful–the question is whether you will place your faith in it and apply it to your life. As God looked upon the blood in Egypt, He still looks upon the blood of His Son today. Your hope, victory, and salvation are found in the powerful blood of Jesus!




(All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.)