Post by benariel on Jul 25, 2015 14:11:57 GMT
Following is an article I wrote 9 years ago. Just wondering what some of you think of this. I personally believe it is scripturally sound..it was written during one of the few times in my 15 years of backsliding that I had to a large degree returned to the faith, was teaching Bible studies and going to a good church for several months:
Misconceptions about Christs Blood
Many Christian churches teach about “the blood of Christ.” The Biblical concept of the blood of Christ is that it was the element of Christ’s sacrifice that purifies us of sin. Yet I have been in many churches where it is proclaimed that the “blood” has other somewhat mystical powers that are not attributed to it by the Scriptures.
For example, often in churches – especially Pentecostal churches, one may hear statements like, “Covered in the blood,” or, “I plead the blood of Jesus,” or, “I claim the blood of Jesus.” It seems the “blood of Christ” is used as an invocation for everything from protection against evil spirits, to some sort of catalyst that will permit healings or miracles to occur. The “blood” is attributed with powers of an almost magical nature. Yet this was never taught by Jesus himself, nor is anything remotely resembling it found in the Bible.
In Exodus 12 the Jewish slaves in Egypt were told to place lambs blood on their doorposts as protection against the death angel that had come to strike the firstborn. It was a symbol of Christ’s later sacrifice which was to redeem people from death. In the New Testament we find the blood of Christ cleanses us from sin (1 John 5:7) and this refers to the condition of sin, or sin committed, not a shielding against temptation. Yet some churches teach that the blood can shield us from temptation.
The New Testament also teaches we are made near (to God) by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13), that we are redeemed by the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18 – 19), and the blood of Christ purges our conscience (Hebrews 9:14).
Hebrews chapter 9 explains the blood sacrifice of Christ and makes it clear that it was a one time event with everlasting implications. Verses 25 and 26 show that Christ’s sacrifice was one time and that shedding of blood was sufficient for redemption.
Romans 3:23 – 25 states, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 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…”
Here we see that the “blood” serves a specific purpose: that of redeeming and cleansing a person of sins; the remission of past sins.
Matthew 26:28 speaks of Christ’s explanation of the communion when he states regarding the cup of communion wine, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
The word “remission” used in Matthew translated from the Greek “aphesis” means “To release from bondage, and forgiveness and pardon of sins.” The word “remission” used in the Romans verse is “paresis” which means, “passing over, letting pass, neglecting, disregarding.” There is nothing there that suggests the blood of Christ is symbolic of anything other than forgiveness and redemption.
Christians sing songs like “Power in the blood” and others that emphasize that there is a power in the blood of Christ that goes beyond what God intended it. But Scripture teaches that power comes through the SPIRIT. Acts 1:8 says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” Luke 24:49 in referring to this says, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
1 Corinthians 12:7 – 11 says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
Power also comes through the NAME of Jesus Christ. In Acts 3:6 Peter commands in the name of Jesus for a lame man to be healed. In Acts 16:18 Paul uses the name of Jesus to command an evil spirit to depart from a girl. In John 15:16 and 16:23 Jesus says that whatsoever you ask the father in his name will be given.
So we see that the real power for working miracles, healings, resisting temptation, and protection against evil come from the SPIRIT and the NAME of Jesus, not from the blood of Jesus. Pleading or claiming, “applying” or otherwise invoking the “blood” of Christ is not taught anywhere in the Bible. It is false doctrine, like so much else that has been incorporated into the Christian church over the years. The true power is from the Spirit.
Misconceptions about Christs Blood
Many Christian churches teach about “the blood of Christ.” The Biblical concept of the blood of Christ is that it was the element of Christ’s sacrifice that purifies us of sin. Yet I have been in many churches where it is proclaimed that the “blood” has other somewhat mystical powers that are not attributed to it by the Scriptures.
For example, often in churches – especially Pentecostal churches, one may hear statements like, “Covered in the blood,” or, “I plead the blood of Jesus,” or, “I claim the blood of Jesus.” It seems the “blood of Christ” is used as an invocation for everything from protection against evil spirits, to some sort of catalyst that will permit healings or miracles to occur. The “blood” is attributed with powers of an almost magical nature. Yet this was never taught by Jesus himself, nor is anything remotely resembling it found in the Bible.
In Exodus 12 the Jewish slaves in Egypt were told to place lambs blood on their doorposts as protection against the death angel that had come to strike the firstborn. It was a symbol of Christ’s later sacrifice which was to redeem people from death. In the New Testament we find the blood of Christ cleanses us from sin (1 John 5:7) and this refers to the condition of sin, or sin committed, not a shielding against temptation. Yet some churches teach that the blood can shield us from temptation.
The New Testament also teaches we are made near (to God) by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13), that we are redeemed by the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18 – 19), and the blood of Christ purges our conscience (Hebrews 9:14).
Hebrews chapter 9 explains the blood sacrifice of Christ and makes it clear that it was a one time event with everlasting implications. Verses 25 and 26 show that Christ’s sacrifice was one time and that shedding of blood was sufficient for redemption.
Romans 3:23 – 25 states, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 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…”
Here we see that the “blood” serves a specific purpose: that of redeeming and cleansing a person of sins; the remission of past sins.
Matthew 26:28 speaks of Christ’s explanation of the communion when he states regarding the cup of communion wine, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
The word “remission” used in Matthew translated from the Greek “aphesis” means “To release from bondage, and forgiveness and pardon of sins.” The word “remission” used in the Romans verse is “paresis” which means, “passing over, letting pass, neglecting, disregarding.” There is nothing there that suggests the blood of Christ is symbolic of anything other than forgiveness and redemption.
Christians sing songs like “Power in the blood” and others that emphasize that there is a power in the blood of Christ that goes beyond what God intended it. But Scripture teaches that power comes through the SPIRIT. Acts 1:8 says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” Luke 24:49 in referring to this says, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
1 Corinthians 12:7 – 11 says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
Power also comes through the NAME of Jesus Christ. In Acts 3:6 Peter commands in the name of Jesus for a lame man to be healed. In Acts 16:18 Paul uses the name of Jesus to command an evil spirit to depart from a girl. In John 15:16 and 16:23 Jesus says that whatsoever you ask the father in his name will be given.
So we see that the real power for working miracles, healings, resisting temptation, and protection against evil come from the SPIRIT and the NAME of Jesus, not from the blood of Jesus. Pleading or claiming, “applying” or otherwise invoking the “blood” of Christ is not taught anywhere in the Bible. It is false doctrine, like so much else that has been incorporated into the Christian church over the years. The true power is from the Spirit.