JESUS' BLOOD DEFEATED SATAN

                            By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

 Some enemies of Christianity have called the Gospel of Jesus Christ, “a bloody religion”. That stems from their ignorance of the Bible and the history of God's dealing with mankind from the beginning of time! When Lucifer led a revolt among Heaven's angelic host, Almighty God judged him and cast them out of Heaven!

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Behold I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10: 17-19)

Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden after their disastrous fall. Again, God their creator had to judge them. He also judged Lucifer which had hidden in the serpent to deceive Eve: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15)

God not only foretold the eternal destruction of Satan, but also the coming of the Messiah who would crush the serpent's head. This is the first mention of Messiah Jesus, the SEED of the woman (virgin birth) who would give His life's blood to redeem the world from Satan's evil kingdom.

The Bible states: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3: 16,17). Our Lord declared: “I have come to seek and to save them that are lost.” (Matt.18: 11)

                 CHRIST’S DEATH & RESURRECTION!

“And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head. And they crucified Him, and parted His garments, casting lots...” (Matt. 27: 30, 35); And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the land until the ninth hour, and the sun  was darkened, and the veil in the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father into Thy hands I commend My spirit and, having said thus, He gave up the ghost.” (John 23: 44-46)

 “In the end of the sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  And, behold there was a great earth quake: for the angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and came and rolled back the STONE from the door and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

“And for fear of Him the keepers did shake and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is RISEN from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you.

“And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, JESUS met them, saying, All hail. And they came and worshipped Him.” (Matt. 28:1-9)

                          JESUS CONQUORS SAUL!

“And Saul, yet breathing out threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this WAY, whether there were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

“And as he journeyed, he came  near Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light from Heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, Why persecutest thou me?

“And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I AM JESUS whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks (goads). And he trembling and astonished said, What wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

“And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink… And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house, and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

“And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized….And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:1-9, 17, 18, 20).

                     PURE GOSPEL OF CHRIST!

     St Paul writes: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for your sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures.” (1 Cor.15: 3,4)

 The Gospel of Jesus Christ is indeed BRUTAL! It is difficult to write about such holy things as God sacrificing His own Son; being incarnated, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a Virgin and dying on the CROSS of shame to save lost humanity, rising from the dead and carrying His own Blood in the Holy of Holies in Heaven!

  “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest, by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh. And having an high priest over the House of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.” (Heb.10: 19-23);

“Neither by the blood of bulls and goats, but by His own BLOOD Jesus entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth  to the purifying  of the flesh; how much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, PURGE your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God? (Heb. 9:11-14)

                 REDEMPTION BY THE BLOOD!

    The Blood of Jesus Christ shed for the entire world has effectively stopped Satan in his tracks! He cannot cross the Blood Line. Our Saviour's blood saves and forgives us, cleanses and purifies us, heals us and delivers us. The Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord is the only Solvent that can Purge the conscience of sinning mankind.

     The Bible says: “God hath delivered us from the power of Darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have Redemption through His BLOOD, even the Forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13)

     He has purchased our PEACE by the blood of His cross: “And having made PEACE through the Blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say,  whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled.” (Col.1:20,21). 

“According as he hath Chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before in love: Having predestinated  us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. To the praise of the glory of His grace, whereon He hath made us accepted in the beloved.

“In whom we have REDEMPTION through His BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.

“In whom also ye trusted, after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with the Holy Spirit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:4-14). The blessed Holy Spirit lives in and works from Jesus' Blood, to bring eternal life and vibrant victory in our hearts! 

                 JESUS’ BLOOD OVERCAME SATAN!

 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you…” (James 4:7,8); “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith…”  (1 Peter 5:8,9)

“He that spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely GIVE US all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth; It is Christ who DIED, yea rather, that is RISEN again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay in all things we are more than CONQUERORS through Him that loved us.   

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 8:32-39)

                    THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB!

“And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of  His Christ: for the ACCUSER of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him (Satan) by the BLOOD of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev.12: 10-11)

 “And I heard a great voice out of Heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away tears from their eyes; and their shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto Him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be His God, and He shall My Son.” (Rev. 20: 3-7).

The Bible says: “…It is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul.” (Lev.17:11); “Without shedding of blood there is no remission for sins….” (Heb.9:22); “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.” (1 John 1:7).

[A1] Thanks be to God who gave us Jesus Christ as His Paschal Lamb to purchase our salvation: “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father; To whom be glory for ever and ever.” (Gal.1:3,4). Amen.