Born-again people make mistakes. I mean, we sometimes flat-out miss God. That doesn’t mean we’re looking for a way to sin and get out of it. No, we’re looking for a way to get sin out of our lives and grow in the righteousness of God.

That’s why it is so vitally important to realize the Bible is not a religious book. It is the copy of a covenant between you and God, and it’s sworn in blood.

Both the Old Covenant and the New were ratified in blood. Both of them are blood-sworn oaths to certain people. But there is a big difference between them.

The Old Covenant, first recorded in Genesis, was between Abraham and God, and sworn in the blood of animals. God told Abraham to kill specific animals and lay them out a certain way. It was God’s walking in the blood and passing between those animals that convinced Abraham that God was serious about fulfilling what He had promised to Abraham and his seed.

Later, under Old Testament law, a priesthood and ministry was set in motion in order to continue to sacrifice animals. Galatians 3 says it was done because of man’s transgression—he kept breaking the covenant.        

In relation to that covenant, Jesus came and established the New Covenant. Jesus is called the Lamb of God because He was the final sacrifice under that first covenant. When His sinless blood was shed, then that settled sacrificing for sins forever. Under the Old Covenant, the blood of animals could only “atone” for sins, or cover them up. But the blood of the Lamb of God obliterates them.

When you become a believer, the blood of Jesus does not cover up your sins, it completely redeems you. Your sins are no more. His blood washes you clean. After that, when you come before God, He sees you as clean. You don’t have to sacrifice an animal to get forgiveness—or do anything else for that matter. You simply have to repent….and the blood of Jesus will cleanse you. He paid the price for your sin. You don’t have to pay any price. You can’t! There’s nothing you can do to be forgiven, except ask for forgiveness and have faith in the blood.

In the same way, if the devil is putting condemnation on you, you don’t have to receive it. Just plead the blood, like you would plead your case before a judge. Because of the blood, you’re innocent, as though you’d never sinned. You’ve been redeemed. You’ve been reconciled. You’ve been bought with the blood of Jesus.

Speak the Word

Because of the blood of Jesus, God forgives my sins and cleanses me from all unrighteousness.  (1 John 1:9)