The blood of Christ is central to the Christian faith. It points to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and the forgiveness of sins that comes through faith in Him. Here is an overview of key biblical truths about the meaning and significance of Christ’s blood:
1. Christ’s blood represents His sacrificial death
The shedding of blood is a vivid image of death. When Jesus shed His blood on the cross, it signified His life poured out as a sacrifice for sins (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:22). Just as the blood of the Passover lamb delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Christ’s blood delivers believers from slavery to sin (1 Peter 1:18-19). His voluntary, substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins and reconciled us to God (Romans 3:25, 5:9; Colossians 1:20).
2. Christ’s blood brings forgiveness and cleansing from sin
According to Scripture, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). When we trust in Jesus and His finished work, His shed blood cleanses us from the guilt, penalty and power of sin. His blood purifies our conscience and washes away sin (Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7). It justifies us, declaring us righteous in God’s sight (Romans 5:9). The cleansing blood of Jesus removes the stain of sin from our lives.
3. Christ’s blood brings us near to God
Through His death, Jesus opened up a new and living way for us to enter God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19-20). His blood gives us confidence to approach God’s throne of grace, where we can receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Christ’s sacrificial blood tore down the dividing wall of hostility between us and God, granting us access into God’s presence (Ephesians 2:13-18).
4. Christ’s blood redeems and purchases believers
The Bible says we are redeemed, bought back from sin and death, through the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). He paid the price to purchase us from slavery to sin and set us free to be His own special possession (Revelation 5:9, Acts 20:28). Our lives are not our own – we belong to God because of the ransom He paid in Christ’s blood at the cross (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
5. Christ’s blood brings peace and reconciliation
Jesus’ death made peace between sinners and God through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20). It also brought reconciliation between Jews and Gentiles, tearing down divisions and making them one new humanity in Christ (Ephesians 2:13-18). The blood of Jesus brings peace in our relationships with God and others. His sacrifice on the cross is the basis for true unity, harmony and community.
6. Christ’s blood sanctifies and cleanses the church
The Bible speaks of Christ sanctifying and cleansing the church by the washing of water with the word. This cleansing work is tied to the blood of Christ which washes us clean from sin (Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 9:14). Through His sacrificial death, Jesus set apart the church to be holy, radiant and without stain or blemish. His blood removes impurity and makes the church acceptable before God.
7. Christ’s blood gives eternal life
By partaking spiritually of Christ’s blood, we receive eternal life. Jesus said whoever drinks His blood has eternal life, and He will raise them up at the last day (John 6:53-54). When we trust in Jesus’ death on our behalf, we spiritually drink His blood and participate in the benefits and new life from His sacrifice. His blood gives life – both now and eternally.
8. Faith in Christ’s blood unites believers
The blood of Jesus creates a strong, unbreakable bond between believers. We overcome the enemy of our souls by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). As we testify to the power of Christ’s redeeming blood, we proclaim the same gospel message that unites Christians across all times, places and cultures.
9. Christ’s blood enables our ministry as priests
As believers, we are all part of a royal priesthood that proclaims the excellencies of Christ (1 Peter 2:9). Revelation describes saints who were martyred for their testimony about Jesus and the word of God. They overcame the enemy by Christ’s blood and their testimony (Revelation 12:11). As priests serving God, the blood of Jesus enables our ministry and gives us power over the enemy.
10. Atonement and forgiveness through Christ’s blood
According to Hebrews 9:22, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” As the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus’ blood atoned for sins once for all (Hebrews 10:10). The New Testament links His shed blood to the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14). When we repent and believe in Christ, His blood forgives all our trespasses and blots out our transgressions.
11. Protection through covering by Christ’s blood
At Passover, the blood of the lamb covered and protected the Israelites from judgment and death (Exodus 12:13). Likewise, Jesus’ blood covers us and grants us passage through God’s judgment safely into eternal life. First Peter 1:18-19 declares that the precious blood of Christ redeems believers. Applying the blood of Christ by faith protects our lives spiritually.
12. New covenant inaugurated by Christ’s blood
At the Last Supper, Jesus lifted up the cup of wine and said it represented the new covenant in His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28). His death established a new covenant that fulfilled and completed the old covenant given through Moses. Believers are ministers of this new covenant instituted by Christ’s sacrificial death (2 Corinthians 3:6).
13. Access to the holy place by Christ’s blood
Under the old covenant, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place once a year to make atonement for sin (Hebrews 9:7). But the death of Christ opened a new and living way for us to come directly into God’s presence. As our great High Priest, Jesus entered heaven itself to appear for us in God’s presence, sprinkling His own blood on the mercy seat (Hebrews 9:11-12, 24-26).
14. Eternal redemption through Christ’s blood
The Bible says Jesus entered heaven itself to appear for us in God’s presence. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves but by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12). Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be repeated – He suffered once for all time and His blood redeemed us eternally (Hebrews 9:25-26).
15. Christ’s blood and the Lord’s Supper
At the Last Supper, Jesus took the cup and said it represented the new covenant in His blood. He told the disciples, “Drink from it, all of you” (Matthew 26:27-28). When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we remember and proclaim Christ’s death on our behalf, rejoicing in the salvation we have through His broken body and shed blood (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
In summary, the blood of Christ represents His atoning sacrifice for our sins on the cross. This vivid biblical image conveys the good news of forgiveness, cleansing, peace with God, and eternal life through trusting in what Jesus accomplished for us. As the old hymn says, there’s power in the blood – wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb!