What's in your blood?
Either righteousness or sin is in your blood and one or the other is controlling your life. In fact, your blood is the source of all of your life. Your blood is your life and your body is the temple where that life is manifest. The moment your blood is drained from your body, the body becomes nothing but a lifeless skin tent. It is over and in the grave you go. We must relearn in our church world the value of our blood and how all life is manifest by the blood. Note what Moses wrote by the Holy Spirit, "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. For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off." (Leviticus 17:11,14). "But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat." (Genesis 9:4).
All of human life is in the blood and this fact settles the truth that all of redemption is also by the blood. The only cleansing for human blood is divine blood. As quoted above, the Father said by His Spirit, "I have given it (blood) to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls." The only effect that human programs of improvement have on people is cosmetic and short-lived. Whether it is humanistic psychology or the church's hybrid version, these programs are totally helpless to change the human heart. Only divine blood will change the spiritual component of human blood.
Until the blood of Jesus Christ redeems a person, they will be shackled by the bent of sin and the downward pull. Yes, many people have reformed and redirected patterns of life. A large number of self-help programs and preachers have aided many in learning how to cope and manage their life a little better. Because of the sin still present in their blood, most of these people continue to revert back and forth. They are helpless to effect lasting change.
The medical profession knows well the value of blood in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and physical problem. Your doctor may listen to all of your pain descriptions and emotional feelings, but if he or she is a top-notch professional, they will draw a sample of blood. Once the analysis is received from your blood, the doctor can then really learn of your true condition. They will document this information in your files so that you cannot later sue them for a misdiagnosis and mistreatment. Your blood is a picture of your condition in scientifically proven facts. No doctor would dare trust your word over your blood sample.
The emotions of human life are constantly manifest in the blood. If you become angry, your face will flush and turn red in varying degrees, depending largely on the level of your emotional reactions. If, on the opposite side, you are suddenly frightened, your face turns pale and weakness is evident in your entire body. Physical sicknesses are more often the result of emotional condition than physical ones. I remember when our church family was being sued by our prior denomination. In an effort to take possession of our large campus and properties, I was the villain that had to be destroyed. The court required depositions where I was questioned vigorously almost to despair. Every time these depositions were conducted, I would be sick to the point of becoming bedfast for at least one or two days. Emotions are reactions, good or bad, that are clearly evident in man's very life stream.
Sin is in the Blood
This obvious fact seems to have escaped most Bible students today. Sin is not just a free act or expression that has no bearing on the individual's life. Your life stream is your blood and every emotion is clearly a reflection of that life stream. This is why sin is so destructive and impacting. Apostle Paul probably nailed sin and its effect as strong as any Bible writer in the entire Holy Book. Listen carefully! "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I." "Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me." "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:14-15,17-21,23-24).
This stream of sin that the apostle identified was locked in his very nature. He was wretched and miserable. His blood was contaminated and there was no answer until he identified the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:2). It is exciting to look at chapter seven where man is a captive and wretched and then move to chapter eight where he is "quickened by the same Spirit that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead." It is very clear that this corruption was in man's nature and flooded his entire life stream. The blood was contaminated. Sin was in the man's blood and there was no physical or human escape. But, the sin offering of the Son of God was uncontaminated blood that can be applied to man's contaminated blood. When this occurs, there is a cleansing; sanctification, and a justification, and the creature becomes a "new creation." The nature is still there, but its power has been broken and the creature is "quickened" by His Spirit that dwelleth in the believing soul.
Look at the Holy Spirit's words, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:2,4,6,9,11).
The Spirit of the living God is ready at your surrender and invitation to break every ounce of the destruction that operates in your life. The nature of sin is a tool in Satan's hand to "kill, steal, and destroy." (John 10:10). Our doubts, frustrations, anger, rebellion, stubbornness, etc. all are emotions in our blood or life stream caused by this nature of self and sin. When we live in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, pray in the Spirit, sing in the Spirit, and simply live in the power of the life of Jesus Christ; then His blood constantly sanctifies our blood and we are preserved in righteousness. It must become a lifestyle, not just a visit to church or a few minutes of listless prayer every day. Living in the Spirit is victorious living all day long.
The Roots of Sin
Now, that we understand how sin contaminates the blood we must know how that uncleanness passes from parent to child and even from person to person. Sin does not just contaminate the blood of the disobedient person; it can contaminate their children, grandchildren, and anyone that allows the spirit of that person to be an influence on them. If the entire life principle of each of us is in our blood, and it certainly is clear by Scriptures, then, this spirit of that unclean person can affect others. Our world is evidence of how all of us are being affected by the people with whom we have close relationships.
Every pastor knows the peril of allowing new people with strange doctrines into the heart of his congregation. Within a short period, some of the most faithful friends are contaminated and lost. Parents are weeping today because teenagers are meeting total strangers on a web site and within days or a few weeks disappear in the yonder and often are lost forever. Wives or husbands go to work on new jobs and meet fellow workers and then suddenly the cords of long happy marriages are broken and another home is in despair. Understanding sin in the blood and the life principles that are projected to others helps us understand what has happened. There is no power in the human life more overwhelming than the life principles in each of us for good or for bad.
It also can help us be wise in protecting our church family, our family members, and our marriages. We need strong pastors who are wise, kind, and spiritual. We need dads and moms who understand the influences of sin and the power of contaminated blood.
Shepherds in God's House
There is no one in God's kingdom that has more potential for good than pastors and teachers. Much of the church world is made up of "sheep without a shepherd." They are prime targets for the many cults and television religion stars that prey on the emotionally empty and gullible multitudes. The most destructive idea that has invaded the church world is the non-discerning approach to everyone and everything. All ideas are equal in the minds of many. But, allowing that idea to prevail is quickly becoming dangerous and many are learning of the pain that follows.
Fathers & Mothers in the Home
The Biblical home is a "safe place" where children can grow into discerning adults. If the home is to be a "safe place," everything the family does, from entertainment to friends, must be guided by sound wisdom. Music is not just words of a song, but it is also the spirits of the singers. I will never forget one young lady (teenager) in our congregation that developed anorexia and was deteriorating quickly. Called by the parents, I went to the home and spent time counseling and learning. Her favorite worldly singer also was anorexic. When I shared how the spirit of the singer was affecting the spirit of the teenager and the family and young lady accepted my pastoral guidance, she was totally delivered. Sin in the blood of the singer was contaminating and projecting that spirit in this dear girl. Our teenage world is almost lost to these unclean influences. It can be found in any kind of music, entertainment, books, or simply by close friendship with any unclean person.
Separation From the Unclean
No wonder the Bible draws a sharp line of separation for the Bible believer's life and relationships. "What fellowship hath light with darkness" is a valid question for every Christian to answer. The Bible says, "be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers." Let's look at this powerful passage, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (II Corinthians 6:14-18).
The apostle was not trying to get us to ignore the unsaved or to shun and reject the multitudes that need Jesus Christ. But, he was showing us that our lives must draw a sharp parallel that does not allow the influences of corrupted lives to pass into our spirit and person. There must always be a wall between the sanctified blood (life stream) of the righteous and the contaminated blood of the unholy. While our compassion and love must pass across that wall, the darkness must not be allowed to pass back. It is not always an easy walk, but it is a safe one. Jesus said it best in His prayer for His disciples. "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." (John 17:15-18).
The church world has become so contaminated that there is no difference between those claiming the light and those loving the darkness. Because of this, we have nothing to offer the world but the self-help programs of humanism and psychology. That is why our church leaders have resorted to psychologists, ten step programs of recovery, and myriads of social gimmicks to build their churches. They are not building the church of Jesus Christ, but the synagogues of Satan. (Rev. 3:9). Nothing but the blood of Jesus Christ can be used to build His church. It is blasphemy to call a church His church unless it has been purchased by His blood.
The Blood of Jesus Cleanses From All Sin
Sin is in the blood, not just in the head or in the emotions. When a person lives in sin, they have contaminated blood. As Apostle Paul said of his sins, sins make you wretched and captive. There is no escape except by the blood of Jesus Christ. Dealing with sin by trying to turn over a new leaf is utterly foolish. The only power in God's universe that can wash a sinner clean is the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. Even the love of God requires the blood offering of His Son.
No writer in the Holy Writ captured the depth of redemption as well as Isaiah. The Father planned and executed the sacrifice of the Son of God. The Jews, the Romans, and every living soul shared in His death, but our part was secondary to the Father's plan. God the Father crucified His Son. He, Jesus Christ, was stricken, smitten, and afflicted of His Father. Look at the exact words, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." "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. 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." (Isaiah 53:4, 10-11).
This is why the blood of Jesus Christ is supernatural. Every soul that is saved and delivered by this blood is "saved to the uttermost." (Hebrews 7:25) It was a miraculous decision by a sovereign act of the Heavenly Father to put His Son to death. He did this so that every living soul might receive an invitation to become sons of God. If the Jews had killed Jesus, it would make Him a martyr, not a Savior. If the Romans had killed Him, it would have been an act of terror. If we had killed Him, it would have been blasphemy. But, the Father crucified His Son making His death the greatest act of redemption in human history.
Transformed, Made Whole, No Condemnation
What's in your blood? Sin is in the blood of every soul before Jesus' blood cleanses them. Our world is consumed with problems because of the evil that is present in the blood of mankind. The church world, as a whole, has turned to every conceivable possibility to help fallen man to solve their emotional problems, except proclaiming the mighty power of the blood of the cross. All of our efforts to rescue mankind without dealing with his contaminated blood are utterly hopeless. Sin is in the blood, not just in man's head or his emotion and the only power to cleanse the blood of man is the blood of Jesus Christ. This article began by recording the unfailing words of the Creator God, "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." (Leviticus 17:11).
