The Purpose of the Blood of Jesus Christ

Knowing the true purpose of the blood of Jesus Christ will help you apply it correctly. This study outlines the reason why Jesus had to shed His blood and died.

In this Article:

1. Introduction
2. The Blood is the Life of the Flesh
3. Why Did Christ Have to Shed His Blood
4. Redemption Only by the Blood of Christ
5. Atonement Made But Once
6. Apply the Blood Rightly

Introduction

Although several benefits can be derived from the atonement of Christ, we must not overlook the main reason why He had to shed His blood on the cross and died. Many believers like to talk about the blood of Jesus Christ, but not all of them understand the purpose of the blood.

The Word of God consistently connects the shed blood of Jesus Christ to one thing, and that is the forgiveness of our sins.

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

1 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; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

It is hard, if not impossible, to find any other use or purpose in the Bible for the blood of Jesus Christ than for our redemption. 

In My Times of Ignorance

Before I knew the truth, I thought the blood of Jesus was just something you invoke when in distress. Just like many still do today, I would shout “blood of Jesus” when something bad was about happen.

I would remember the blood of Jesus when I was about to crash, fall, when I suddenly saw something scary, or when I just woke up from a bad dream.

Every morning when was going out, and every night when I was going to bed, I would plead the blood of Jesus Christ just for protection. I would often ‘cover my food with the blood of Jesus’ just for consecration.

We can argue the validity of the above scenarios, but I had a very serious problem then, the same that many still have today. The problem was that I never actually trusted the blood for my salvation.

This of course was the tragic result of my ignorance. I saw the blood of Jesus Christ as a magical power or tool to make my problems disappear or to turn negative situations around.

So, my goal with this study is to help all those who are still living in this ignorance. Especially those who are yet to truly trust in the blood for their salvation, though they try to invoke it for other non-biblical purposes.

Focus Texts:

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.

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

The Blood is the Life of the Flesh

Note that “the flesh” here refers to the body and not the sin nature. Life is taken when blood is shed. In the Old Testament, God forbade the eating of blood in Israel. He told them that the life of the flesh is in the blood:

Leviticus 17:10-12 And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 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. 12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.

See also:  Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:14; 19:16; Deuteronomy 12:23; Matthew 27:4,24.

Even modern medicine acknowledges the truth about the life in the blood. They would often require blood transfusion to sustain the life of a very sick person, especially for someone one who had recently lost plenty of blood.

Unless of course you are among the abortion advocates, and then you can deny the fact that there is life in the blood. But that is a topic for another day.

Since the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), every sin has to be atoned for by the death of something or Somebody. We began to see this right from the Garden of Eden when the blood atonement was first typified (Genesis 3:21).

Also, Abel’s sacrifice was accepted by God on the basis of the blood atonement (Genesis 4:4-5). This became the order of the day under the Mosaic Covenant.

This Covenant (the Old Testament), that was full of the shedding of animals’ blood, was replaced by the New Covenant established by the shedding of another blood, but this time, a special One:

On the cross, Jesus Christ paid for our sins by His own life. Remember, the life is in the blood. So, Jesus gave His life by shedding His blood. And we can have life today by that blood which He willingly shed for us.

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Colossians 1:14, 20  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins… 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Why Did Christ Have to Shed His Blood?

There is No Forgiveness Without the Shedding of Blood

In the Old Testament passage sited above, the Bible says that “it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul”.

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.

An atonement in the case is a payment made on behalf of the one who has sinned in order to redeem him from the penalty of his sins. This payment could not be made in any other way than the shedding of blood.

You cannot replace the blood with your good works, prayer without ceasing, fasting, helping and loving others, or even giving more money. When Cain tried to bypass the blood, his sacrifice was disregarded by God.

The Old Testament saints had to keep up with the shedding of the blood of those animals because that was the only way they could receive the remission of sin.

And the Bible says that they still didn’t get complete redemption (Hebrews 10:11) until Jesus Christ shed His blood.

The point is clear, no sin will be forgiven without the sacrificial shedding of blood. This is made clear in Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

Jesus Christ is the Only Qualified Mediator

“All have sinned,” the Bible says, “and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because of this, no one is capable of atoning for his own sin or the sins of others. Therefore, there has to be someone blameless who must do the job.

He must be a man since he will atone for the sins of man, He must also be God because that is the only way He would be the mediator between God and man. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who fits this description.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

The wages of sin, the Bible says, is death. So, whoever will atone for the sins of others must give His live. But because the forgiveness of sin requires the shedding of blood (as pointed out above), the mediator must shed His blood and die and a very bloody death.

He Must Die By Shedding His Blood

Jesus Christ could have drowned in water, He could have died of strangling, He could have died of food poisoning, or of severe starvation, COVID infection, chemical attack, or any other means of death which does not include the physical shedding of blood.

That would not have been an acceptable atonement because the shedding of blood is required for the forgiveness of sin.

Listen to the words of Jesus Himself when He was typifying His blood by the Holy Communion drink:

Mark 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Redemption Only by the Blood of Christ (the Purpose of the Blood)

Redemption is the buying back of something that is rightfully your but currently in the possession of another. The price is called a ransom. In our case, our redemption is the rescuing of our soul from hell.

And this can only be made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ which is the ransom for our redemption.

What we ought to realize today in the Church Age is the fact that the blood of goat and calf is not acceptable by God for the remission of sins. The sacrifices of the Old Testament (which ended at the cross) were mere shadow of the cross. Those animals typified Christ.

This is Not Something New

That Christ will shed His blood and die for the sin of the world has been divinely ordained “before the foundation of the world”. God has always had this as part of His plan.

1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

It Was Kept from the World

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Although the cross was unknown to the world, the plan has always existed with God.

You Must Trust in the Blood

From the day that Christ shed His blood on the cross, there came an end to any other sacrificial blood shed for sin. Therefore, anyone who has not put his or her faith in the blood of Jesus is yet to receive the forgiveness of sin.

Regardless of how religious you might be today, and how sincere you are in that religion, if you have not trusted in Christ’s shed blood for the forgiveness of your sins, you’re still an unforgiven sinner.

The forgiveness of our sins is tied to the blood that Christ shed on the cross. You do not have to take my words for it, just listen the Bible:

Romans 3:23-25 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 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.

Ephesians 1:6-7 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Colossians 1:12-14 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins

Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Hebrews 9:12-14 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. 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?

See also: Matthew 20:28; 26:28; John 6:53-56; Romans 5:9; Galatians 3:13;  Titus 2:14; Hebrews 13:12; 1 Peter 1:2,18-19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9; 7:14; 12:11.

What it means to trust in the blood is to admit you’re a sinner who cannot save him/herself. Believe that Christ has died in your place, shed His blood to fully pay the penalty of your sins. And that He was buried and He rose again for your justification.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

Christ Purchased Us by His Blood

Christ redeemed us from being the children of wrath to receiving the power to become the children of God. The price that He paid to accomplish this was His blood.

Isaiah 53:10-12 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 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; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Christ is to us the only source of righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

1 Corinthians 1:29-30 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Atonement Made But Once

It is needful for me to close this article by mentioning another important point. This is the fact that Christ’s atonement is the only and last acceptable atonement for all sins. It is referred to in the Bible as “one sacrifice forever” as you will see in the passages below.

Once you’re washed in the blood, you’re cleansed and forgiven once and for all.

One Sacrifice Forever

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.

Hebrews 7:26-27 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Hebrews 9:24-28 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Hebrews 10:10-14 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

The Objections

I understand the concerns of those who think or believe that they can lose their salvation. The problem with these people is that they do not understand the gospel. This ignorance makes them trust in their own righteousness to effect and sustain their salvation.

But trusting in Christ is what makes and keeps you saved. The Bible says that once you’re cleansed by the blood of Christ, you’re cleansed for life.

This is not an encouragement for licentiousness, it is simply the truth of the gospel as you can see for yourself in those passages.

Another indication of the ignorance of the gospel is concluding that the preaching of grace encourages sinful life. If you understand why you need to be saved and what it means to be saved, you will also understand the need to live for Christ.  

Apply the Blood of Jesus Christ Rightly

The atonement made by Christ is the only way out of the penalty of sin. You must therefore trust in the blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. This is the purpose for which the blood was shed!

You must also realize that because you believe that you can apply the blood of Jesus Christ for other purposes than your redemption does not make it biblical. In other words, believing something strongly and sincerely does not make it true if it is not true.

Your faith must be in the Word of God! The Bible says faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Therefore, if you make something up outside of the Bible and then believe it, that’s not faith, that’s foolishness.

The blood of Jesus Christ was not shed to help you bind the devil, avoid accidents on the road or in the air, keep you from poisonous substances, or many of the other non-biblical purposes.

God is able to protect and heal His people. But the blood of Jesus Christ was not shed to ensure physical protection or to miraculously remove our medical conditions in this life.

In Conclusion

A time comes in the future when we (the believers in Christ) will be rid of all dangers, diseases, and sicknesses. In the meantime, we live trusting in Christ to see us through and take us home.

Do not be ignorant! Listen to the Bible, and apply the blood of Jesus Christ for the purpose for which it was shed. I will close with this verse:

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

And that healing, obviously, refers to the spiritual healing of our souls.

I hope this is an encouragement to you.

Thank you for reading!