Discerning the Difference Between the Blood and the Name of Jesus
Bob Yandian
The Blood of Jesus
“Almost everything by the law is purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness) of sins (Hebrews 9:22).
“He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on the face of the earth and has determined their preappointed times and boundaries of their dwellings…” (Acts 17:24-26).
We divide ourselves by race, gender, age, color, income, education, social status, and place of birth. The world makes much of these differences, setting themselves above others who surround them. If you look at the world, many things separate us. But these things don’t matter much at all when you see what unites us, our blood. There is no such thing as black blood, white blood, old blood, educated blood, or wealthy blood. We all come from Adam and Eve.
We can accept a matching blood transfusion of any color, race, gender, age, or social status. You can only get a skin graft from yourself, not from anyone else. Jesus did not shed his skin for us, but His blood, that which unites us all. It is the blood of Jesus that takes, washes away, our sins. His blood speaks of His life which He offered freely for us. He gave His life, displayed by the shedding of His blood, a ransom for all mankind. The blood of Jesus has only one use, the remission of sins for the sinner to be born again (Matthew 26:28) and the Christian to return to fellowship with God (1 John 1:7). Our good works, naturally or spiritually, cannot save us from sins or wash our sins away. Only the blood, the sinless life, of Jesus can do that. That is the single purpose of Jesus blood.
The Blood of Our Covenant
“As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to the disciples and said, take and eat; this is My body. And He took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to them saying, drink all of it. For this is My blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Mathew 26:26-28).
The blood of Jesus has only one use, to cleanse and remove sins. It cleanses in the life of the sinner at salvation and in the life of a believer who confesses his sins.
“Whoever eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, has eternal life” (John 6:54).
“The church which He has purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).
“Propitiation and righteousness through faith in His blood” (Romans 3:25).
“Justified by His blood” (Romans 5:9).
“The communion (fellowship) of the blood” (1 Corinthians 10:18).
“We have redemption through His blood” (Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14)
“We are made near by the blood…” (Ephesians 2:13).
“We have peace (reconciliation) through His blood” (Colossians 1:20).
“Sanctified the people with the blood” (Hebrews 13:12).
“We were not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19).
“The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us” (Christians) from all sins” (1 John 1:7).
The Blood is the Only Thing That Cleanses From Sins
Jesus’ blood cleanses sinners for eternal life and Christians for daily fellowship and productions. The old hymns and choruses were correct, “What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus.” “There is a fountain filled with blood, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.” “Oh the blood of Jesus, it washes white as snow.”
The Blood Was Not Given To Us And We Have No Authority to Use It
The blood has not been given to the church. God owns the blood and uses it. Acts 20:28 says, “…the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” “Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood…” (Revelation 1:5).
You cannot plead the blood, claim the blood or cover with the blood. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Revelation 12:11).
Our commitment to God begins at the new birth (the blood of the Lamb), daily growth in God’s word in front of the world and commitment to God even if it demands our life.
The blood of the lamb (the new birth) and the word of our witness (growth in the Word of God before the world, discipleship) and remaining faithful and committed to God even to the point of having to give our life for our faith. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).
The Blood is Seen in the Red Sea and the Jordan River
The Red Sea is a type of gaining salvation through the blood of Jesus. Israel went in and came out. Pharaoh went in and drowned. We went in and came out. Our sins went in and were drowned.
The Jordan River is a type of regaining fellowship for believers through the confession of daily sins and cleansing by the blood of Jesus. This enables us to leave the wilderness of carnality and enter into the land of blessings, our new daily walk with God.
The Name of Jesus Has Been Given to Us As Our Power of Attorney
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth” (Philippians 2:9-10).
The name of Jesus is given for:
1. Prayer – “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).
2. Over demons – “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” (Luke 10:17).
3. Healing – “Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).
4. Part of the great commission – “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17-18).
The Name of Jesus Has Been Give to Us, The Church
What does this mean? It is simply God giving us His Son’s name to use as power of authority.
If a life insurance salesman comes to your house with a policy for you to sign, the salesman signs it also. He has been given the authority to sign in the name of the company he is representing. When he signs, it is as good as the president of the company signing. To say you are now covered is as good as the board of directors saying you are covered. It is your assurance that you are protected, and it is guaranteed.
When Jesus left the earth, He gave His disciples the authority to use His name for certain transactions, salvation, healing, and standing against the works of Satan. To tell a new convert they are saved, is as good as Jesus saying it Himself. This is the trust God has put into you by giving you the right to the use of the name of Jesus. To tell a demon to depart from someone in the name of Jesus is just as if Jesus were saying it Himself.
On television many years ago, when the arresting officer came to the door, he would always say, “open up in the name of the law.” He did not come in his own authority, but in the authority of the law enforcement arm of justice. When he used the phrase, “in the name of the law”, it was just as if the chief of police was there saying it. The arresting officer does not come in the power of the law, but in the name. To resist the authority of the officer is to face the power of the law. If the criminal does not surrender, he will face the dogs, guns, and greater fire power of the law. The power of the law backs the one who comes in the name of the law.
You have not been given power over Satan. He and his demons are more powerful than you. One demon is more powerful than you. You use the authority of the name of Jesus over the power of Satan. If Satan resists your authority, He will face the power behind the name of Jesus, again. He met the power of God at the resurrection and lost. Jesus spoiled principalities and powers and made a public display of them before the entire universe (Colossians 2:15). He is not about to resist that name and face the humiliation again.
