The Wednesday Word

The Multi-Purpose Blood

by D.G. Miles McKee
 

In Western culture we often say that if a matter is one thing, then it is not another.  In Eastern culture they don’t have that same concept.  Instead, they tend to look at things from a ‘Both/And’ ‘concept. Take for example the blood of Christ, it has many functions not just one. Consider this,

1. Romans 5:9: “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

We are Justified by His blood. “Justified” means we stand before God as if we had never sinned.” Justification means we are acquitted!  But this is not the only function and benefit of the blood.

2. Ephesians 1:7: “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

We have redemption through His blood. The blood of Jesus Christ not only justifies us, it redeems us. It buys us back.

3. We also have the forgiveness of our sins through the Blood of Jesus (see Ephesians 1:7).  It’s not a matter of whether we are either redeemed or forgiven.  We are both. 

 Then we discover Ephesians 2:13.

4. Ephesians 2:13: “But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off are made near by the blood of Christ.”

So, here’s another thing the blood does … it ‘brings us near.’  It has removed the alienation and separation between us and God. That doesn’t mean the blood doesn’t justify.  Of course, it justifies … but it’s not an ‘either/or’ situation, it’s ‘both/and’.  Then there’s,

5. Colossians 1:20: “And having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

The Blood of Jesus Christ is the peacemaker. The war between the believer and God is over. Peace has been made by the blood.  “Oh” says someone, “I thought Jesus accomplished peace.”  Yes, He did!  But we are not dealing with an ‘either/or ‘scenario, it is a ‘both/and.’ Now here’s another function for the blood.

6. Hebrews 9:14. “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?”

The blood of Jesus Christ purges our guilty consciences.  So, we see the blood is multi-purpose.  Not only does it justify, but it also brings peace, it redeems, it brings forgiveness etc.  It’s not an ‘either/or’ situation, it’s ‘both/and’.

7.  Hebrews 13:12. "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside of the gate."

The blood of Jesus Christ sanctifies us. That means the blood sets us apart from sin and unto God. As we have seen, it does many other things.  The blood is multi-purpose.  It doesn’t have an ‘either/or’ task, it has a ‘both/and.’

8) 1 John 1:7. "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."
The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.  In 1 John 1:9 it says He will cleanse from all sin.  So, which is it?  Is it the Lord or the blood which cleanses?  But this is not an “either/or situation but a “both/and.”
 

9. Revelation 1:5…. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His blood—

Now we see that the blood of Jesus Christ washes us from our sins. How amazing!
His blood is wonderful. It does many things for us. The blood,

• Brings us near to God: Ephesians 2:13.
• Cleanses our guilty consciences: Hebrews 9:14.
• Cleanses from all sin 1 John 1:7
• We are forgiven through the blood: Ephesians 1:7 and Hebrews 9:22.
• The blood justifies us: Romans 5:9.
• The blood makes peace between us and God.
• The blood redeems us: Ephesians 1:7 and 1 Peter 1:18-19
• And sanctifies us: Hebrews 13:12
• It even washes us (Revelation 1:5).

The blood really is amazing!

And that’s the Gospel Truth!

Note: for more Gospel messages and contact information go to MilesMcKee.com