THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
Wednesday – January 24, 2018
Wow, isn’t this a wonderful Bible Study! God is so good giving us His Holy Word to show us the way of salvation, His name is Jesus. I left off yesterday in a discussion of sanctifying, and purifying the flesh. We learned that the flesh in the context of our primary text is referring to more than the physical body but also to the corrupted mind which is spirit. A corruption of the mind is reflected in our physical brain and can cause devastating changes, disease, in our bodies. This is why it is so important that we repent of any sin as soon as we become aware of it for it is doing its work of death. Now, let’s read our primary text and move forward.
Hebrews 9:13-17 (KJV)
13 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:
14 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?
15 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.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Under the Old Covenant the sacrifice of the innocent animals would atone or cover their sins for a season, one year. Remember, that repenting is a changing of ones’ mind (spiritual) and taking a position in line with God one hundred and eighty degrees opposite the direction we were going. Just being sorry even with the shedding of many tears is not repentance and accomplishes nothing. In this setting the blood of these innocent animals sanctified and purified the flesh of the sinner in the sight of God. This gave God legal access into the life of that person, that family, to do them good. As we move into verse fourteen (fourteen is the number of deliverance or salvation) we find the statement to the effect that the Blood of Christ is far superior to that of animals. This of course is a theme throughout the Book of Hebrews that Jesus is far superior to all that came before like angels, the Prophets and Moses.
Our text speaks of the superiority of “the blood of Christ”. Have you wondered why the use of the word ‘Christ’ and not ‘Jesus’? Christ can be translated in three different ways depending on the context. Christ is not Jesus’ last name. Christ can be interpreted as Messiah, the Anointed One, and/or the Anointing. Messiah has to do with salvation and all that is associated with salvation and we know that our Savior was Anointed with the Holy Ghost and Power. So, in our text we are talking about the Messiah, the Anointed One. This phrase is immediately followed by a reference to “the eternal Spirit” who is the Holy Spirit. So, we see the Anointed Word, Jesus the Messiah, and the One who helped Him (just as He helps us) destroy the works of the devil. You will recall that this Second or New Blood Covenant started some four thousand years ago with a man named Abram, later named Abraham. There were four persons present when the surrogate blood of animals was shed looking forward to when the ratifying Blood of the Christ would be shed obtaining eternal redemption for all (not automatic, must be accepted).
Genesis 15:17-18 (KJV)
17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
In the preceding passage the smoking furnace represents the Holy Spirit, the burning lamp represents Jesus (The Word/The Light). Also present is the LORD who is Jehovah (Father), and of course Abram. The Word to become Jesus with the Eternal Spirit were to facilitate the reconciliation of man (represented by Abraham) and God. The appearance of the Word as Jesus in the womb of the Virgin Mary was a work of the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus in His earthly ministry, and the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit restored Jesus as God. Our text goes on to tell us that Jesus was without spot before the Father. Consider the following texts.
1 Peter 1:18-19 (KJV)
18 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;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Blemishes and spots would be representative of sin.
Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus had no sin of His own, He was made sin for us, to bear our sins in His body, as a result He suffered spiritual death, and separation from the Father. However, in Hell he was judged innocent by the One who judges, His testimony was True, and His Blood was innocent, so out of Hell He came, raised from the spiritual and physical dead and restored as God. There was no corruption of the mind of Jesus making it impossible that any sin existed with Him. Jesus overcame the accuser the same way we do in our lives.
Revelation 12:11 (KJV)
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Our Lord, our King, our High Priest is now seated at the right hand of the Father forever directing, watching over His Word in our mouths, and interceding for us. (intercessor/mediator).
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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