In our last blog we were discussing some of the benefits
that we have because of the Blood of Jesus. We want to continue that thought in
this blog with some more benefits we have as Believers because of the Blood.
The next benefit we want to discuss is RATIFICATION (of the
New Covenant). This sounds like a mouthful, but it could be defined as: The act
of confirming, approving or formally sanctioning the New Covenant. The New
Testament is full of verses that deal with this benefit.
“And in the same way He took the cup after they had
eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in
My blood.’” Luke 22:20 NASB
“In the same way He took the cup also after supper,
saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as
you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’" 1 Corinthians 11:25 NASB
“So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the
good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect
Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this
created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he
entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption
forever… That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the
blood of an animal. For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to
all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water,
and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop
branches and scarlet wool. Then he said, ‘This blood confirms the
covenant God has made with you.’ And in the same way, he sprinkled
blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship… That is why the
Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to
be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be
purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals. For Christ
did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of
the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God
on our behalf.” Hebrews 9:11 & 12, 18-21, 23 & 24 NLT
The new covenant that we have, which is better than the old
covenant, because Jesus Himself is the mediator of it (Hebrews 8:6). In fact we are told that Jesus is the guarantee of
it (Hebrews 7:22). And it has been Ratified
or Sanctioned by His Blood.
The next benefit of the Blood of Jesus is JUSTIFICATION.
Justification means to be declared righteous. A good way to remember what
Justified means is to think of it this way…Just as if I never sinned. This is
the way God looks at us and thinks about us when He looks at us through the
Blood of Jesus.
“Much more then, having now been justified by His
blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” Romans
5:9 NASB
“Being justified as a gift by His grace through
the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a
propitiation (appeasement my insertion) in His blood
through faith This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the
forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the
demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He
would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans
3:24-26 NASB
The truth of the matter is, even though we have all sinned, (Romans 3:23), Because of Jesus shedding
His Blood and it being applied to our lives…He is both Just and the Justifier…making
us Just-as-if-I-never-sinned!
The last benefit of the Blood of Jesus we will consider is
RECONCILIATION. Reconciliation can be defined as restoring to friendship or
harmony. Before we were Born Again we were not in Harmony with God, but by the
Blood of Jesus we are restored to harmony with God.
“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off
have been brought near by the blood of Christ… and might
reconcile them both (Jews & Gentiles my insertion) in one body
to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” Ephesians
2:13 &16 NASB
“And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself,
having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say,
whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly
alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now
reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you
before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” Colossians 1:20-22
NASB
“For if while we were enemies we were
reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been
reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10 NASB
Because of the Blood of Jesus we have been Reconciled or
brought into Harmony with God.
We don’t talk about the Blood of Jesus much anymore in the
church…but we need to. There are benefits for us in the Blood of Jesus. There
is an old Hymn of that church that I sang as a boy growing up that said: “There
is Power in the Blood”! There is Power in the Blood…the Power of PURIFICATION,
the Power of REDEMPTION, the Power of RECONCILIATION, the Power of JUSTIFICATION
and the Power of RECONCILIATION!
Perhaps the words to the song Andre Crouch wrote sum it up
best:
“The blood that Jesus shed for me, way back on Calvary;
the blood that gives me strength from day to day, it will never lose its power…
It reaches to the highest mountain, it flows to the
lowest valley; the blood that gives me strength from day to day, it will never
lose its power…
It soothes my doubts and it calms my fears, and it dries
all my tears; the blood that gives me strength from day to day, it will never
lose its power.”
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