The
phrase “blood of Christ” is used several times in the New Testament and is the expression of the sacrificial death and
full atoning work of Jesus on our behalf. References to the Savior’s
blood include the reality that He literally bled on the cross, but more
significantly that He bled and died for sinners. The blood of Christ has the
power to atone for an infinite number of sins committed by an infinite number
of people throughout the ages, and all whose faith rests in that blood will be
saved.
The reality of the
blood of Christ as the means of atonement for sin has its origin in the Mosaic
Law. Once
a year, the priest was to make an offering of the blood of animals on the altar
of the temple for the sins of the people. “In fact, the law requires that
nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood
there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). But this
was a blood offering that was limited in its effectiveness, which is why it had
to be offered again and again. This was a foreshadowing of the “once for all”
sacrifice which Jesus offered on the cross (Hebrews 7:27). Once that sacrifice was made,
there was no longer a need for the blood of bulls and goats.
The blood of Christ is the basis of the
New Covenant. On the night before He went to the cross, Jesus offered the
cup of wine to His disciples and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for
you” (Luke 22:20). The pouring of the wine in the cup
symbolized the blood of Christ which would be poured out for all who would ever
believe in Him. When He shed His blood on the cross, He did away with the Old
Covenant requirement for the continual sacrifices of animals. Their blood was
not sufficient to cover the sins of the people, except on a temporary basis,
because sin against a holy and infinite God requires a holy and infinite
sacrifice. “But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,
because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:3). While the blood of bulls and
goats were a “reminder” of sin, “the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without
blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19) paid in full
the debt of sin we owe to God, and we need no further sacrifices for sin. Jesus
said, “It is finished” as He was dying, and He meant just that—the entire work
of redemption was completed forever, “having obtained eternal redemption” for
us (Hebrews 9:12).
Not only does the blood of Christ redeem
believers from sin and eternal punishment, but “His blood will make our
consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14 NCV). This means that not only
are we now free from having to offer sacrifices which are “useless” to obtain
salvation, but we are free from having to rely on worthless and unproductive
works of the flesh to please God. Because the blood of Christ has redeemed us,
we are now new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and by His blood we are
freed from sin to serve the living God, to glorify Him, and to enjoy Him
forever.
