by Gary L. Evans
The Power of The Blood — Part 1
Mat 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
The word “strait” is from the Greek “sten-os'” which means “narrow (from obstacles standing close about).”
The word “destruction” is from “ap-o’-li-a” and means “ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal).”
The word “life” is from “dzo-ay'” and means “life (literally or figuratively).”
Jesus instructed (commanded) us to enter through the narrow gate and follow the narrow path which leads to Eternal Life. And He warned us that few people would succeed in finding it. He also said that everyone else would not even try, but would travel through the wide gate and follow along the wide highway which leads to utter destruction and even eternal death. This is a parable or dark saying about the extreme difficulty and rarity for anyone to find Eternal Life. Who can understand it?
Exo 6:2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
The word “LORD” is from the Hebrew “yeh-ho-vaw'” which means “(the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.”
Note that Moses will later give all of The Hebrews God’s Laws and enter them into The Lord’s Covenant of The Law.
Exo 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
The word “God” is from the Hebrew “ale” and means “strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity).”
The word “Almighty” is from “shad-dah’ee” and means “the Almighty.”
The word “JEHOVAH” is from “yeh-ho-vaw'” which means “(the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.”
Exo 6:4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
The word “covenant” is from “ber-eeth'” and means “(in the sense of cutting (like H1254)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh).”
Note that the word “covenant” literally means the act of presenting a blood sacrifice used to seal the promised agreement or contract. All covenants with The Lord had to be sealed by a blood sacrifice.
Exo 6:5-6 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
The word “redeem” is from “gaw-al'” and means “A primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship), that is, to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative’s property, marry his widow, etc.).”
Exo 6:7-8 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.
The Egyptians in this case symbolized “Satan,” because over the four hundred years that the Children of Israel had lived in Egypt, the Pharaohs had forgotten the salvation that Joseph had brought to Egypt four hundred years earlier by saving them from famine. And they had forgotten that the Pharaoh at that time had made Joseph the governor second in command over all of Egypt. But the Pharaoh who ruled at the time of Moses was among the most wicked of men. He it was who wrote The Book of The Dead, which is still regarded today as The Satanic Bible. So this fact emphasizes the fact that Egypt (or the Pharaoh) at this time and in this context of having enslaved the Hebrews symbolically represents Satan.
The Lord’s promise to redeem the Hebrews was required to be sealed by a blood sacrifice. So the people were required to offer up a lamb as the sacrifice and put the blood over the doorposts of their houses. This sacrifice is called The Passover to this day, because when The Death Angel that came over Egypt to kill all of the firstborn saw The Blood of The Lamb over the doorposts, he passed over those houses.
So The Lord had compassion for The Children of Israel and redeemed them, bought them back, from their slavery in Egypt with The Passover. And this act in turn symbolized how The Lord will be The Redeemer of The Whole World by purchasing their souls from Satan The Devil who has enslaved them to sin and death. And The Lord has sealed this purchase with The Blood of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
The Power of The Blood — Part 2
Num 15:22-23 And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses, Even all that the LORD hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses, and henceforward among your generations;
Transgression of God’s Law is the definition of sin. And we know that committing sin is the path to death, even the death of the soul.
Num 15:24-26 Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance: And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.
When the people as a group or congregation become guilty of any sin COMMITTED IN IGNORANCE, then their sin can be atoned for and they can be forgiven. But please note the strict condition, my friends.
Num 15:27-29 And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
And if any individual becomes guilty of a sin COMMITTED IN IGNORANCE, then their sin can be atoned for and they can be forgiven. Again, please note the strict condition, my friends.
Num 15:30-31 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
The word “reproacheth” is from the Hebrew “gaw-daf'” and means “A primitive root; to hack (with words), that is, revile: – blaspheme, reproach.”
But if any individual becomes guilty of a sin COMMITTED WILLFULLY, he will be put to death. Thus there can be no atonement for deliberate or willful sin, which is the same as BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD.
Once we learn what sin is, that is, once we learn what God’s Will is for us, then we must obey Him. Of course, it is assumed that we believe in God and believe in God’s Word, thus we then cannot have any excuse not to obey The Word of God.
1Ti 1:12-14 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Paul shows us that UNBELIEF IS IGNORANCE. So an unbeliever who reads the Bible but remains in unbelief is still considered IGNORANT OF SIN. In this fact, we learn of God’s Divine Love for all of His children, and His desire that none should die in the eternal sense. Thus it is those of us who have received Knowledge of God and of His Law that are held accountable to obey perfectly.
Lev 18:4-5 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
Dr. Bullinger states: “live = “live again” in resurrection life (Rev_20:6). The Chaldee paraphrase = “shall live by them to life eternal”. Compare the other passages where “live” is used in this sense: Eze_13:21; Eze_20:11. Luk_10:28. Rom_10:5. Gal_1:3, Gal_1:12. Neh_9:29. Rom_1:17. Heb_10:38, &c. In this sense the verb is used more often than is generally thought. Compare Isa_26:19; Isa_38:16; Isa_55:3. Eze_18:19; Eze_33:19; Eze_37:3, Eze_37:5, Eze_37:6, Eze_37:14. Hos_6:2. Amo_5:4, &c. The spiritual authorities of the second temple so interpreted the phrase. Thus “eternal life”, by faith, is set in contrast with eternal life by works.”
The Lord Promised that if we would obey His Laws perfectly, then we would Live, that is, with Eternal Life, and this “by our works.”
The Power of The Blood — Part 3
Deu 29:2-4 And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
The Lord did not give us the heart and mind able to see and perceive and ears to hear and understand. Thus it is impossible for us to obey The Law perfectly, because we do not, by our flesh nature, have the ability to do it. And we cannot gain Eternal Life by our own works of obedience. Therefore we are all doomed to die as sinners.
Ecc 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Eze 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Every man is eventually found guilty of transgressing God’s Laws at least in some ways, which is the definition of sin. Alone and left to our own abilities, we are all lost and without hope in this world of sinners, hopeless in that we are not capable of obtaining Eternal Life. Then how can we be saved from sin and eventual death?
Isa 43:8-11 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
God Most High, our Creator, is our Promised Savior, and there is no other.
Eze 11:17-20 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
The word “one” is from “ekh-awd'” which means “A numeral from H258; properly united, that is, one; or (as an ordinal) first.”
The word “heart” is from “labe” and means “the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything.”
The Lord Promised to give us a New Heart to replace our fleshy heart, so that we may indeed obey His Laws perfectly. Then we will truly be The Lord’s Chosen People and He will be our God.
Eze 36:24-28 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Dr. Bullinger states: “new heart. Not the old heart improved, but a new heart created and “given”. The old one “taken away.”
The Lord Promised to cleanse us from sin, and to give us a New Heart and Mind, and to give us The Spirit of God, The Holy Spirit. Then we would obey His Laws perfectly and be His Chosen People and He would be our God.
Jer 31:31-33 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Paul quotes from Jeremiah.
Heb 8:7-10 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
The Lord declared that He would give us a New Covenant to supersede the First Covenant of The Law. Note that The First Covenant could not save us because we did not have the heart and mind to obey perfectly. But in The New Covenant we are given the Heart and Mind of Christ, Who was without sin and Who obtained Eternal Life by His Own Works done in the flesh. The New Covenant therefore provides us OUR SALVATION, not that we are saved by our own works, but The Heart and Mind of Christ dwelling in us does the work of perfect obedience to God’s Law for us, our old fleshy heart and mind being as dead to this world.
The Power of The Blood — Part 4
Mark 10:32-34 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
Jesus repeatedly told His Disciples that He was going to be killed by the hypocrites, which included the descendants of Cain, the first murderer, son of Satan. And Jesus said that after His burial He would rise from the dead on the third day. Jesus was destined to be The Passover Lamb to seal The New Covenant in His Blood, which God had promised to offer the people of this world.
Mark 15:12-15 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
The word “crucified” is from the Greek “stow-ro’-o” which means “to impale on the cross; figuratively to extinguish (subdue) passion or selfishness: – crucify.”
Mark 15:16-20 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
The word “Praetorium” is from “prahee-to’-ree-on” and means “Of Latin origin; the praetorium or governor’s court room (sometimes including the whole edifice and camp).”
Mark 15:21-25 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
Dr. Bullinger states: “the third hour. Of the day (Joh_11:9), i.e. 9am. No discrepancy; for the sixth hour of Joh_19:14 was the sixth hour of the night (from about sunset), viz. “about” midnight (in the midst of the trial), when Pilate said “Behold your King”. The context there and here explains and settles the matter. Here, the trial was over; in Joh_19:14 the trial was going on. See App-156 and App-165. It was the hour of the morning sacrifice.”
The Hebrew day began at sunrise, which we today consider to be about 6:00 am. So the “third hour” of the day would be 9:00 am our time. That was the time of day that they crucified Jesus, which was the traditional time of the morning sacrifice. Note that as Dr. Bullinger stated, the trial had been held the previous evening at about midnight, which was “the sixth hour” of the evening, which by Hebrew tradition began at sunset, or about 6:00 pm our time today.
Mark 15:26-32 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
Mark notes that The Lord’s crucifixion with thieves was the fulfillment of Prophesy.
Isa 53:7-12 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 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. 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.
Jesus was crucified to shed His Blood in sacrifice to atone for our sins, my friends. Our Lord’s Blood SEALED THE NEW COVENANT that promised to give us a new heart and mind so that we could obey God’s Law perfectly, that is, to give us the Eyes to See and Ears to Hear, so that we would truly be God’s People.
Mark 15:33-35 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
The “sixth hour” would have been about 12:00 noon when darkness covered the earth. After that time Jesus began quoting Psalm 22 while nailed to the cross. And He continued reciting the entire Psalm to the very end until He finished at about 3:00 pm in the afternoon, or the “ninth hour.” And then He died.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.