Purpose of Sprinkling with the Blood of Jesus Christ

T

todd Oct 28, 2010

I've been meditating on 1 Peter 1:1-2 (NASB) which speaks of those who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ.

I see in this an order of events, a sequence...
1. God the Father saw this would occur
2. The Spirit currently does the sanctifying work
3. Resulting in ("unto") or perhaps "leading to" obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ

I would like some help on the significance of the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. What does this mean? What is its purpose?

It appears that sprinkling is something that occurs after the sanctifying work of the Spirit has taken place. I might have thought that the sprinkling was part of the sanctifying work of the Spirit, not something that comes afterwords.

Any thoughts?

sermonindex Oct 28, 2010

Hi Todd,

I had a post, which I accidentally lost, so here are the scriptures I'd brought to your attention. It might be more interesting for you this way! Be blessed!

Sparks says that 'sprinkling' had the effect of connecing the things that were sprinkled, together, as when Moses sprinkled the book and the people.

Young's 1
Pet 1:2 according to a foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

Notice his use of IN instead of 'by', and check an interlinear and Strong's numbers for the Greek. It's interesting!

Heb 10:19 - 22, 1 John 1:5 - 7

Peter was writing to Christians, so he is not describing how to be saved, but rather, how to remain in the faith; so, looking closer at 'obedience of faith': Rom 1:3 - 5, Rom 16:25, 26.

Always remember that Christ came to free us from sin so that we could regain fellowship with Father in heaven. The law, which had been interjected for a long season, was for the purpose of continually pricking the conscience (crown of thorns) of Jews (first) as to their shortcomings of God's glory. In His grace, God had commanded a system of sacrifices which offered not only ways for their sins to be covered, but also for them to thank and worship Him.

Now, Christ's sacrifice, and our being made fit through faith to receive the Holy Spirit, has replaced ALL that. THEREFORE, through the Spirit, we are enabled to do and become ALL that is required of us - not through intermittent spurts of faith - (but) by being believing continuously.

S

sojourner7 Oct 28, 2010

To the Jew, blood signifies relation;
blood means life. Blood was necessary
to cleanse and sanctify the offering.
Blood was required to atone for guilt
and wrong.
When GOD'S Own Son began a new covenant;
which was to signify relation and bring
life with GOD, it required HIS own blood
to cleanse and sanctify us, to atone not
only for Israel but for all of humanity!

T

twayneb Oct 29, 2010

I think sojourner7 is right. Go to the Old Covenant and look at the significance of the sprinkling of the blood of the sacrifice. Then go to Hebrews 10 or so and look at the comparison of the blood of the Old Covenant and the blood of Jesus Christ in the New Covenant. The verse in 1 Peter you refer to is not a linear progression or a sequence of events.

T

todd Oct 29, 2010

I might end up doing more on an in-depth subject on the subject.

I'm not sure why you think there is not a sequence. It says those who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God (past/first), by the sanctifying work of the Spirit (current/now/second), unto obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ (future/third). That is how I see the sequence. I could be missing something, but it comes across that way to me.

Otherwise, what does "unto" mean?

It sounds like Peter is saying God saw this would occur, the Spirit works to make it happen, and it leads to certain things.

I have some understanding that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin, but is that meant to be pictured as His blood being sprinkled on us? What is the significance of the sprinkling?

A

Areadymind Oct 29, 2010

I think this is an incredibly good question Todd. Thank you for bringing it up. Now you have me thinking too.

A

Areadymind Oct 29, 2010

OK, I am going to go completely (well probably not so completely) out on a limb here...

In Leviticus 16:13-14 it says that "He (Aaron) shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not: and he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle the blood with his finger seven (perfection) times."

The mercy seat sat upon the top of the Ark of the Covenant, and Two Seraphim gazed down upon it. Two angels were also looking down upon the resurrection/burial place of Christ...Luke 24:4. Peter will also mention ten verses later that the Angels desire to "look into" these things of the gospel.

I am no Greek Scholar at all, but if the KJV is right and Todd is right that there is a progression here, then it certainly is a curiosity. From reading it, I would agree there does seem to be a progression. If that is true then there ought to be clues in the context.

Verses 3-5 immediately follow and they speak also of three phases, although they appear to be recorded in a different order than verse two.

1.) Verse 3 emphasizes how we have been "begotten" (King James Version.) The ESV version renders it thus...rather than "begotten" it states, "caused us to be born again." As far as I understand, when I studied this...this is the single most powerful use of this "born again/begotten" idea anywhere in the New Testament other than when Jesus himself used it (I confirmed this with a friend of mine studying to be a greek scholar a few months back.)

This then echoes the "elect," past tense emphasis as Todd first pointed out. That lively hope...is a result of a "past tense" occurrence...aka the resurrection.

2.) Verse 4 looks forward to a future promise of an "inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved IN HEAVEN FOR YOU." It is going to be very important to keep in mind the words I just caps locked.
So here we see a future tense occurrence correct?

3.) Verse 5 speaks of a present tense keeping, by the Power of God -Through Faith- unto salvation ready to be revealed at the last time.

I do not think you are wrong to suggest a progression even in the slightest as the following verses rehash this idea. Sorry to disagree with you Travis...I love you bro!

Galatians and Hebrews both make incredibly heavy cases that we are not only saved by faith but "kept" by faith. There were also articles "kept" under the mercy seat. Kudos to who can state what they were without looking it up :)

OK. Sorry this is so long winded...but there is an odd verse in the book of Revelation that I have always kept in the back of my mind, and I am wondering if it is just now starting to make sense because of your Question Todd.

"And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." -Revelation 12:19

Here is one more verse that is incredibly interesting in relation...Numbers 7:89 says, "And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him."

OK, by now we have seen quite a few connecting concepts...an Ark, Voices, Sprinkling of Blood, and the ark is in Heaven in Revelation.

Is it possible that this sprinkling that Peter is speaking of is specifically that sprinkling of Jesus Blood upon the mercy seat?

Here it gets a bit more scholastic, and I suspect this is something not commonly known. The Word used for propitiation in the New Testament is "hilasterios" It is COMPLETELY linked to the concept of the mercy seat and the blood sprinkled upon it being the blood of Christ. I am completely tempted to write out all of Spiros Zhodiates commentary on the word "hilasterios," but for the sake of brevity (LOL) I will say one really interesting point. In the Greek language, the Antonym to "hilasterios," is "anathema," which you may quickly recognize to mean "accursed." Propitiation, linked to the mercy seat where the blood of Christ is sprinkled is the opposite of curse, but freedom from it.

Thus...when God looks upon the Mercy Seat...he sees the blood of the innocent lamb, his Son, who became a curse for us...and interestingly Revelation seems to indicate that this ark (mercy seat) is in Heaven. And voices come out of it in heaven...just like voices came through it on earth toward Moses.

OK...so if Peter says there in verse 4 that this inheritance is incorruptable and undefiled (pure blood of a lamb) and fadeth not away, and is reserved IN HEAVEN. Is it altogether unreasonable to assume it is speaking of the blood sprinkled on the ark of the covenant in heaven?

This then would explain why the "sprinkling of blood" is Future tense. Because we will enter into our inheritance based upon the Blood in heaven, which is yet "future" for us. Though it is present tense with God. Christs blood saves us, keeps us, and presents us faultless before his Father. It is also worth noting that 1John says that we have an "Advocate" with the Father. 1 John 1:1-2, where interestingly enough the word Propitiation is used again. The implication being...Christs Blood ever advocates for us...and that advocation cannot be separated from the idea of the blood on the mercy seat.

Is it possible that the voices heard in Revelation out of the ark are our prayers? Our prayers made pure to God through the blood of Christ through the sprinkling of His blood? If so, it would seem that the Ark of the Covenant is the PA system between man and God. As Moses heard voices from heaven through the mercy seat...

Well, uhhhh I guess that is my stab at it. Sorry for the length.

M

mguldner Oct 29, 2010

Wow that is an interesting post Jeremiah I understand your logic :).

Something that may be consider further is Christ being eternal, I believe we no longer have the Old Covenant temple laws not because strictly the start of the new Covenant but because Christ Sacrifice made was/is eternally made for all sin. Meaning the Old Covenant temple sacrifices made with animals couldn't add to what Christ did this is like saying which is Larger Infinitey or Infinitey times two? This example is a paradox meaning they are equal being infinitey is a number that never ends and so two infinitey is illogical, SO Christ's sacrifice was infinitely made anything further that is tried to be added is like trying to add onto infinitey which never stops so its quite pointless to try.

I apologize if that is off topic, but the blood of Christ is not only for yesterday or even today, but for also the future to come. Because Christ Jesus is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever this I believe includes His eternal sacrifice.

A

Areadymind Oct 29, 2010

Actually Matthew your thought is not off topic at all because Revelation 13:8 says, "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, (the beast) whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Christs blood is eternal! (Ever wonder why there needed to be a virgin birth?)

M

mguldner Oct 29, 2010

Wasn't this because the blood line of the father is what was past on to the children? If this isn't correct let me know I don't mind correction at all :)

sermonindex Oct 29, 2010

mguldner said

not because strictly the start of the new Covenant but because Christ Sacrifice made was/is eternally made for all sin.

But that IS the start of the New Covenant God was making with believing Israel, BECAUSE Christ's sacrifice is eternal for all sin. So, you're absolutely going in the right direction.

Areadymind,

Very interesting posts!

Many times in the New Testament the writers are forced to lay things out in a linear fashion (note, I don't say progression), because of the limitations of EXPLANING what they know simultaneously about the condition into which faith in Christ has brought them. (I feel this very much in Romans, when Paul seems to tackle the same truth from several angles one after another, in his attempt to cover all the bases.)

Regarding the Ark of the Covenant, it at one time contained the two tablets from Sinai, Aaron's rod that budded and the shewbread (I think) - all symbols which were fulfilled in Christ (our ark of a new covenant).

The purpose of SPRINKLING the Ark of the Covenant, was to connect the people to God (again) through the sacrifice. Remember, this particular ceremony happened only once a year at Passover, on the Day of Atonement.

When Christ died on the day before Passover, apparently it was at the time of the last sacrifice due to be made at the Temple. Instead, the Temple vail was rent from top to bottom, utterly destroying any potential entry to the Holy of Holies with the blood to sprinkle, the following day.

It is inconceivable that this passed without that year's High Priest noticing! (It is also interesting, I think, that the High Priest that year was a Sadducee; they don't believe in resurrection from the dead.) Paul makes the point at the start of Romans, that Christ's resurrection PROVED that He was HOLY, as does Peter in Acts 2:24.

(It was also a year of Jubilee (50th year), which would make that particular 'pentecost' even more symbolic AND REAL.)

Noah's ark contained the people being saved by God from the flood (of death). (Much more could be said about the pictures of the New Covenant in Noah's experience.)

The other thing which leapt out at me from your posts, is this rendering from Tyndale's New Testament, regarding how Paul describes his ministry to the Corinthians. Peter is, basically, putting this into shorthand in the introduction to the body of his epistle, and it's worth looking at 'by' in the Greek, and check in Strong's. I think it establishes a different feeling from that of a sequence.

[We are studying
NASB: 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood:

KJV: 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ

Tyndale's New Testament
1 Peter 1:2 elect by the foreknowledge of God the father, thorow the sanctifying of the spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ.]

So please, in Tyndale, note Paul's references to 'atonement' (blood of sprinkling) which are not in the KJV, although clearly they are implied. What intersts me, is that Tyndale read 'atonement', and this is what Peter is talking about. The first paragraph I've included, because it's an expansion of Peter's 'by ... the Spirit', I believe.

2 Cor 5: Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh. Insomuch that though we have known Christ after the flesh, now henceforth know we him so no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.

Nevertheless all things are of God, which hath reconciled us unto himself by Iesus Christ, and hath given unto us the office to preach the atonement. For God was in Christ, and made agreement between the world and him self, and imputed not their sins unto them: and hath committed to us the preaching of the atonement.

¶ Now then are we messengers in the room of Christ: even as though God did beseech you thorow us: So pray we you in Christe's stead, that ye be at one with God: for he hath made him to be sin for us, which knew no sin, that we by his means should be that righteousness which before God is allowed.

'that ye BE AT ONE with God'. Someone has noticed you can split 'atonement' thus. AT-ONE-ment.

Lastly, about thunders and lightnings and mountain tops and voices; some time ago I noticed the parallel between Sinai and Pentecost. Mountains represent authority - headship. When Moses went up the mountain, on the day God was going to show Himself SPEAKING with Moses while the children of Israel observed, there were great thunders and lightnings (smoke and fire) and shaking. (Exo 19 and Heb 12.) Similarly, on the day of Pentecost, FIRE appeared on the HEADS of the believers, and THEY SPOKE in tongues. Another description of God's voice is 'as the sound of many waters'. This reminds me that 'sea' is a synonym for 'peoples' in scripture in several places.

Okay. My turn to say corrections are welcome!

A

Areadymind Oct 29, 2010

Genealogically speaking...yes Matthew, you are right. We are all called sons of Adam. However Jesus was the Son of God. In Matthew's gospel however Matthew oddly does have a couple anomalies in his genealogy as he emphasizes four mothers in the line.

I am not sure how DNA transfers blood type, whether the mother or the father determines that. Any prof's or doctors who post here able to give insight into this?

AlivetoGod. Also some great additions to the discussion. Cannot respond now, might be able to later tonight.

W

whyme Oct 29, 2010

The OT sprinkling of sacrificial blood on the vessels of the temple, the altar of the temple and even the people of God caused that which the blood touches to become holy ( sanctified ).

L

Lesserlight Oct 29, 2010

Great thread

I agree on the sequence and I have always seen a sequence as we go from being the first Adam to becoming the last Adam, but I never saw it in the verse being used until now....... However it sure fits

The reward of the high calling for us is the life of Jesus ..... not just Him in us but a seed that has been resurrected and matured into the tree that produced the seed in the first place.

The life is in the blood and upon the Ark without the mercy seat (because it has already ascended into heaven) is a picture of what we are to become (pure gold of the mercy seat versus beaten gold on top of wood of the bottom)

So at the end we are in the image of the one whose life is found in the blood

Doug

W

whyme Oct 29, 2010

You are, biblically "sanctified" at new birth. Remember the passage....He is perfecting forever them that have been sanctified. This sanctification is the initial consecration of the believer unto God. The passage that begins this thread and the question of the order of the passage is merely a description of conversion.

sermonindex Oct 29, 2010

Hi all,

I've just had a bit of pang about my previous post - not because I don't believe what I shared, but because it's what I've picked up from posts and listening to sermons over the years. I, personally, for instance, have not read the books or done the research for myself, which concluded that Jesus died at the time of the evening sacrifice. My own lack of Bible study is also reflected!

Regarding blood lines, this is a whole other study. Here are two places for more about Christ's genealogy. It is indeed very important that He did fulfil EVERY prophecy which had been given about Him.

http://mp3.biblebase.com/workmanworkshops/The%20Seed_09.PDF

https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?viewmode=flat&order=0&topic_id=26911&forum=36&post_id=&refresh=Go

Phil Goble in his showing of the credentials of Jesus Christ to claim to be Messiah, points out from his knowledge of Jewish culture, that Joseph would 'only' have had to SAY 'He is mine', for the matter of His paternity to be accepted by the community. Thus, Jesus was, technically, ADOPTED by Joseph. By this means, He became descended from David LEGALLY through His earthly pater. He was, according to the study above by philologos, also descended from Judah through Mary.

As the Passover Lamb for us, the LIFE which was in His blood is what is important, spiritually, (mentioned by LesserLight), because it is eternal.

Genesis 9:4 But flesh with the life thereof, [which is] the blood thereof, shall ye not eat

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul.

Leviticus 17:14 For [it is] the life of all flesh; the blood of it [is] for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh [is] the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his OWN blood, suffered without the gate.

Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

[YLT Hebrews 13:20
And the God of the peace, who did bring up out of the dead the great shepherd of the sheep--in the blood of an age-during covenant--our Lord Jesus,]

Please (again), look at the Greek which has been translated 'by' by the NASB. For me 'by' is inferior because of the way we use it in English, even if it is a fair translation. Maybe we can talk about this some more, and what you all think 'by' means when you read it?

A

Areadymind Oct 30, 2010

"Regarding the Ark of the Covenant, it at one time contained the two tablets from Sinai, Aaron's rod that budded and the shewbread (I think) - all symbols which were fulfilled in Christ (our ark of a new covenant)."

Close, it was not shewbread, but a Pot of Manna, Hebrews 9:4

However, you were in the right food group LOL! So you get sentimental kudo's!

Even if it is not a progression I think many of the things we are considering here are resounding to be very true with me.

"The purpose of SPRINKLING the Ark of the Covenant, was to connect the people to God (again) through the sacrifice. Remember, this particular ceremony happened only once a year at Passover, on the Day of Atonement."

I really liked this quote as well. I think it dovetails nicely into understanding the purpose of the mercy seat in relationship to the people. While Christ did die at a point in time by our reckoning, it is obvious that there is an eternality to the cross...to the atonement, to the sprinkling of his blood. Christ's face was set like flint toward Jerusalem. How I wish above all things in life that I would learn to have my face set like flint toward the will of God for my life. I find it is so easy to talk about the will of God in the manner of an academician. I would rather just learn to have a flinty set of face...

Dear God help us.

I also know very well what you mean by feeling convicted about sharing information before verifying it. I appreciate your conviction deeply as I was just preaching the other night, and something came out of my mouth that I realized afterward I had not personally verified. I wanted to puke. I am thinking I need to apologize to the congregation.

In your second post, the Hebrews 13:20 quote was dead on..."the blood of the eternal covenant."

A

Areadymind Oct 30, 2010

I will have to listen to that sermon by Brother Ron. I have loved listening to his stuff.

sermonindex Oct 30, 2010

Areadymind,

Thanks for your comments. :-)

I need to warn if you haven't noticed already - the link to philologos is a PDF (!).

T

todd Oct 30, 2010

So, instead of thinking of a progression that is taking place over an extended amount of time, maybe it is really "merely a description of conversion," as whyme stated. If that is a case, perhaps we could understand it as an "unpacking" of this event (conversion). That Peter is giving us more insight into what takes place.

Whyme, while I do appreciate what you have said, I'm not sure you have offered your thoughts specifically about the significance and purpose of sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ (or I may have missed it). If this is something that happens at conversion, why does it happen?

If "obedience" happens at conversion, how do you understand that?