Changed By The Blood

The cross is the instrument of death, the wooden construction upon which Jesus died. The power of the Gospel is inseparable from the power of the cross and the blood shed upon it.

The power of the cross is not in the wooden structure itself.  The power is not in any symbol of the cross which we wear or put on our church buildings.  The power of the cross is in what happened on that cross.  It is in the blood of Jesus which was shed on the cross for the sins of all mankind.

The Bible teaches that the life of man and beasts is in the blood in Leviticus 17:11; 14. Because the penalty for sin is death as by Romans 6:23, and since life is in the blood, God established the principle that forgiveness of sins comes only through the shedding of blood: 

Hebrews 9:22 "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission (from sin)."

In the Old Testament, the blood of animals was offered as sacrifice for sin.  The blood sacrifices were made over and over again whenever man sinned.  However, in the New Testament, God sent Jesus to shed His blood for sin once and for all.  It is no longer necessary that the blood of animals be offered as sacrifice for sin:

Hebrews 9: 12 "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

The power of the cross is in the blood of Jesus.  What spiritual power is in that blood?  The blood:  

-Was shed for the remission (forgiveness) of sins for many-Matthew 26:28

-Brought  redemption  from  sin-Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2,18-19;    Revelation 5:6-9

-Is precious, because it redeemed us-1 Peter 1:18, 19

-Cleanses us from sin-1 John 1:7

-Purges our conscience from sin: Hebrews 9:14

-Speaks for us: Jesus is our intercessor and His blood cries or speaks for us-Hebrews 12:24

-Gives access to God's presence so we can approach Him-Hebrews 9:12; 10:19-22; Ephesians 2:13

-Made Jesus the mediator between God and man- Hebrews 12:24

-Sanctifies us-Hebrews 13:12, 13

-Is the means of justification-Romans 3:24, 25

-Is the cup of spiritual blessings-1 Corinthians 10:16

-Redeems us from sin and sickness-Isaiah 53:4

-Backs Christ's promises-When Jesus took the cup of wine and said "This cup is the new  covenant in My blood" he was saying "Every promise that is part of that covenant will be kept at the cost of My own lifeblood" in Luke 22:20 

-Is the power behind  the resurrection of Jesus-Hebrews 13:20

-Brings life-John 6:53-57

-Enables us to do God's will-Hebrews 13:20-21

-Enables us to overcome all the power of the enemy: Revelation 12:11

-Provides protection-When the blood of the Passover lamb was placed on the doors of  the Israelites in Egypt, evil could not enter according to Exodus 12:21-23

These are the reasons Paul said:
 
1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are  saved it is the power of God."