Misunderstanding the blood of Christ

Recently we've been reconsidering many of the things we thought we understood regarding doctrine and faith. We have begun to question certain beliefs, church structures, and practices of the western church. Too often we have discovered unbiblical doctrines and activities. This causes us concern. We have deemed this our “rethink.”

Our questions include, how did we arrive at our doctrines? Does the Bible really teach what we think it teaches? Why do churches do what they do? What is the biblical basis of church leadership structure? Why do certain traditions get entrenched?

It's easy to be spoon fed the conventional wisdom, but it's an entirely separate thing to search these things out for one's self. In the past we have read the Bible with these unexamined understandings and interpreted what we read through those lenses. We were lazy about our Bible study, assuming that pastors and theologians were telling us the truth, but we rarely checked it out for ourselves.

Therefore, these Rethinks are our attempt to remedy the situation.

We should note that we are not Bible scholars, but we believe that one doesn't need to be in order to understand the Word of God.

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Introduction

In our experience we have encountered substantial numbers of Christians who misunderstand the sacrificial blood. The nature of the misunderstanding differs, but whether one is a Charismatic or Calvinist, both seem to have errant ideas about the blood.

What is the Purpose of the Blood?

The blood is the result of a sacrifice (see Leviticus chapter one). God set forth the requirement that animals would be sacrificed and the blood of those sacrifices would be sprinkled on the altar for the atonement of Israel's sins (Exodus 20:24, Exodus 29:12, Exodus 29:36). 

Leviticus 17:11 says, 

For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

The relationship between sin and blood is tightly connected. Sin is the problem, and the blood is the solution.

Atonement

The Hebrew word "atonement" is kaphar, which means to cover over. Thus the blood of the sacrificial animals covered over sin, but did not remove sin: 

Hebrews 10:4 ...it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Because of this it troubles us when we hear Charismatics talking about being "covered by the blood," as if Jesus' blood was some sort of protection:

In times of uncertainty and spiritual warfare, it is essential to recognize that the blood of the Lamb serves as a shield of protection.

Notice that this idea appeals to the OT concept of covering over. But Charismatics don't invoke the blood to cover over sin, rather, the blood wards off the attacks of the enemy or deflects peril.

There is no Bible verse that refers to the blood in this way. 

Calvinists/Reformists have their own variation of this error. GotQuestions.org describes it this way:

When God the Father looks at us, He no longer sees the old sinful self. The old you is now hidden with Christ in God. The Father ceases to count your sins against you because of your identification with the death and resurrection of His Son. In the eyes of God, you are changed into a new creation in Christ’s image... (Colossians 3:3)

It's a variation on the same idea, but instead of being covered by the blood of Christ one is covered by Christ, in this instance for warding off God's judgment rather than for the attacks of the enemy.

Again, there is no Bible verse that tells us that Jesus protects us from the Father.

Both perspectives are in error.

Jesus' Blood Cleanses, it Doesn't Cover Over

We are washed clean by Jesus' blood and are no longer dressed in filthy rags (Revelation. 7:9, Zechariah 3:4). Our sin isn't hidden under the blood, we have been set free from sin and been given new life as new creations. Jesus' one sacrifice is complete, sufficient, and all we need:

Hebrews 7:27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Jesus' blood was spilled to completely remove our sin:

Hebrews 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death...

Hebrews 10:10 ...we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all... 

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The blood is enough. The cross did it all, and nothing more is needed. This of course means that we are not "covered by the blood," we are washed clean by the blood, a past event for every Christian. All sin and death is already dealt with. 

Nor are we hidden is Christ to cover over our filthiness. Jesus doesn't cover us with His righteousness because of us still being filthy sinners, He actually, literally makes us clean. 

Conclusion

We are not covered by the blood, we are washed by the blood. Our protection is the indwelling Holy Spirit, not the blood. We do not invoke the blood, we ask for more of the Holy Spirit.

The blood does not hide us from the Father, the blood washed us so we can stand before the Father.

Jesus is not our camouflage before the Father, he is the one who presents us as clean to the Father.