The Blood of Sprinkling

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." Hebrews 12:22-24

sprinkling: Greek word rhantismos meaning a cleansing or purification; the blood of sprinkling, i.e. appointed for sprinkling (serving to purify).

With the exception of I Peter 1:2, this word is used exclusively in the book of Hebrews.  This is fitting since Hebrews speaks primarily of our redemption in Christ as compared to the Old Testament offerings.  We know that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22).

Why does the sprinkling of Jesus' blood speak of more excellent things than Abel's?  Because Abel's blood was spilled by his muderous brother Cain and "cried out" from the ground to the Father for retribution (Genesis 4:10).  Yet Jesus' blood spilled as a willful offering cries out from the altar in Heaven for mercy.  While the cry of Abel's blood brings about curses, the cry of Jesus' blood pours out redemption.

When are we sprinkled (cleansed/purified) by the blood of Jesus? When we turn in faith to Him and as we walk continually with Him.

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

In attempting to demonstrate how religious some people could be, a Christian woman spoke to me of people pleading the blood of Jesus.  She claimed how such was unscriptural and that the only direction we are given about the use of Jesus' blood is for the purposes of communion in the Lord's supper as a remembrance.

It occurred to me that many Chrstians sing about how the blood of Jesus will never suffer loss and how there is power in that blood, but how many really know what the blood of Jesus accomplishes and how to apply it to our lives?  When we appeal to the blood of Jesus, we are affirming what the word of God says about the redemption and victory in Jesus' blood.  We are recognizing and appealing to that power which is available to us.

The blood of Jesus is not being continually offered as Catholics insist (Hebrews 10:10). Neither is it applied only once when we are saved as many Protestants attest.  The blood of Jesus was offered once, but is continually accessible to those who believe (Hebrews 10:19).  When the Accuser of the brethren is stands before us to condemn, we should not plead the fifth and remain silent; we need to plead the blood.  We have no defense in and of ourselves, it is all due to the blood of Jesus.  It is by testifying to what the blood accomplishes for, in, and through us that we overcome.

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Revelation 12:11

The following prayer is an excerpt from the book "Lucifer Exposed" by Derek Prince, which I highly recommend for your edification.

Through the blood of Jesus, I am redeemed out of the hand of the devil. While I'm walking in the light, the blood of Jesus is cleansing me - now and continually - from all sin. Through the blood of Jesus, I am justified, acquitted, not guilty, made righteous, just-as-if-I'd never sinned. Through the blood of Jesus, I am sanctified, set apart from sin and Satan's kingdom, and made a partaker of God's holiness.

Additional Resources
Becoming What We Know
The Blood of Jesus Christ
Dirty Blood
The Blood of the Lamb
How to Apply the Blood (PDF)