Almost since the beginning of time the Blood Covenant has been the symbol of redemption.  Why all the blood and gore?  It is a profound mystery why God chose this incredibly deep ceremony to illustrate his love for us.  The Blood Covenant is divided into three parts.

The Hebrew Blood Covenant represents the Old Covenant found in the Old Testament.  The first Blood Covenant is found in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned and God killed an animal for their covering.  A detailed description is found in the story of David and Jonathan - and ends beautifully in Davids commitment to take care of Jonathans family forever inviting Maphibosheth to eat at his table instead of hiding in a cave.  Abram and Sarai entered into a covenant with God changing their names to Abraham and Sarah. There were rules associated with this covenant and if you entered into this covenant the sign was circumcision.  The Sanctuary and Ten Commandments were also symbolising how the Old Covenant would be fulfilled.      

Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant completely at the cross.  The reason Jesus had to die was because Adam had broken the covenant and because we were his decendants so had we - so we were all supposed to die becuase we have broken the covenant.  If someone broke the covenant they had to die - it was as simple as that.  If you turned your back on the agreement of the covenant and rejected it - you had died.  So he took the blame on behalf of all his created people and shed his blood to fulfill the agreement because of God's great love for us.  This finalized the old covenant.

As Jesus died on the cross a New Covenant was established that we, as his creation could enter into also.  Again as Jesus was 100% human he could establish a covenant on our behalf.  To enter into this New Covenant is our free choice and all we have to do is believe in what Jesus has done for us to enter into this covenant and recieve all the benefits of what this means including eternal life.  The seal of the New Covenant is the Holy Spirit.             

The Nine Steps of the Hebrew Blood Covenant paralleled with the Marriage Covenant of today.

Step 1
Old: Exchange Robes representing everything that you are. You give your life to the other.  
Jesus: He gave everything for us, his very life.
Marriage: You exchange your old life for a new one.
New: Recieve a Robe of righteousness in exchange for our filthy rags.  Even though we are broken and sin and have nothing to offer he covers us completely.  God does not see us as we are but through Jesus who wears a white robe of purity.

Step 2
Old: Exchange weapon belts which represents you pledging to protect the other person.
Jesus: He protected us from death by dying for us, He fought the ultimate battle with the Devil so we don't have to.
Marriage: You promise to protect and fight for one another.
New: God is our rock and strength and when we call for help he will protect us.
 
Step 3
Old: Cut the Covenant by walking through the blood of an animal and you vow never to break the covenant. As you walk around each half of the animal it is a death and rebirth process.  You die to the old ways and start a new walk with the new person.
Jesus:  He died for us because we broke the Old Covenant and someone had to die on our behalf otherwise we would have been lost forever. He loved us enough to provide a replacement.   
Marriage: The only way out of the covenant is to commit adultery or die.  Adultery is the same as death - it means you have died to the old covenant and created a new one with another person.
New: We are baptised and die to our old ways and are born again into the New Covenant.  We are aware that the only way out is to commit adultery/idolatry which is to turn our back on God.  Everything else can be forgiven but we cannot reject God for another.

Step 4   
Old:  The sign was circumcision. In some traditional ceremonies both arms are raised and the palms cut and the blood intermingles - you now become one life. In today's society we shake hands.
Jesus: You believe the blood was shed for your sins. He was your substitute.
Marriage: The beauty of sex is the profound symbol - two vigins on their wedding night. You promise not to commit adultery with another.
New: You are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Step 5
Old: You exchange names. Abram became Abraham.  He had God's name added to his own.
Jesus: He had many names. The Son of God. Christ. The Messiah.
Marriage: You are known by the same name.
New: We are known as Christians, disciples.

Step 6
Old: Make a scar in the wound as a permanent testimony to the covenant. Circumcision was a scar.
Jesus: He has scars in his hands, feet and side, that will last for eternity - as long as the New Covenant is in effect.
Marriage: You are no longer a virgin, in todays society some people wear a wedding band as a sign you are married or taken or 'in covenant'.
New: Being filled with the Holy Spirit is the sign of the New Covenant.

Step 7
Old: The Covenant Terms are read similar to the Last Will and Testament.
Jesus: He stood before witnesses and gave his life.
Marriage:  You promise that all your wealth, assets, liabilities, children and property will be combined as one.
New: You receive the wealth of God for your liabilities.  You recieve eternal life.  You also have access to the power that created the universe that is now living in you in the form of the Holy Spirit.  

Step 8
Old: Eat a memorial meal of the sacrificed animal.
Jesus: He was the passover lamb, he was broken for us.
Marriage: You eat the wedding cake and the wine. You are saying. 'I am in you and you are in me. We are now one with a new nature'.
New:  You eat the bread and the wine as a symbol of Christ entering into you afresh.

Step 9
Old: You plant a memorial tree that will last a long time to be a reminder of the covenant. It is sprinkled with the blood from the animal.
Jesus: He died on a cross that we are always to remember.
Marriage: Children - the family Tree?
New: You become filled with the Fruits of the Spirit.

Entering in to the New Covenant.


God desires to count you as righteous, just as He did Abraham.  He wants to bless you with all spiritual blessings.  He wants you to partake of His very own divine nature.  But you must say "yes" to the covenant.  Not just carry on the traditions of your fathers.  Maybe its time you made your own choice to accept or reject the covenant that is available so freely to you. You must agree with God that you are separated from Him by your sins, and that there's nothing you can do to earn your way into the covenant.  You then stand with Jesus taking the Holy Spirit into your life accepting Jesus as the one who made the covenant walk for you. Just as Abraham did.  John 20.22 We then become children of God by faith in Jesus, when Jesus puts His Spirit within us.  When you enter into the covenant, all the promises made to Abraham become rightfully yours.

The Holy Spirit brings you to Jesus who says," I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.  The penalty for sin is death and without the shedding of blood there is no forgives of sin.  And it's my blood you must accept on your behalf to become covenant children of God."  John 14.6, Romans 3.23: 6.23

Jesus says "If you enter into the covenant, you'll be known as my friend." (John 15.14-15) God is spirit and to worship him you must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4.24 You must be born again spiritually. John 3.1-7 The Holy Spirit is the seal that bears witness to the covenant.  He is the guarantee and constant reminder that we are in covenant with God through the blood of Jesus.  
Romans 8.14-17 says "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but we have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ…

It is the Holy Spirit within us who is greater than he who is in the world.  He is our source of strength.  He fights our battles for us.  He cleanses us of sin.  When He fills us with His presence, we experience His love, His joy, His peace, His power, His grace, His glory, and His life flowing through us. When Jesus said "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10.10) He was talking about his life living in us through the person of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, we can do all things through Jesus our Lord who strengthens us. This is the promised land of rest God has made available to us.  All who will may walk in this land by entering into the blood covenant with God through Jesus!

John 3.16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemened, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

I invite you to enter in to the New Covenant, there is nothing you can do other than simply believe.  His Holy Spirit will fill you and your life will be renewed and transformed into his likeness. You will have eternal life in the next but also a power filled adventure in this life.  Its worth it!  Pray, listen to his voice and study your Bible to find out how much he loves you and has planned for your life.


Nicki performs a Blood Covenant Blessing Ceremony for engaged couples or those who are married and are wanting to renew their vows. This beautiful evening worship service explores how the Hebrew Blood Covenant parallels with the marriage vows of today revealing God's extravagant love for each one of us individually.  Jesus desires to be the bridegroom and wants us to enter into a new covenant with him and recieve all the blessings that are rightfully ours when we become covenant children of God.  This beautiful worship service ends with couples and families doing communion together and renewing their covenant vows with God.    

If you would like to perform this ceremony as a couple or at your church as a worship service please contact Nicki at BlissfulMinistries@yahoo.com

More information on this profound understanding of the extravagant love of God read "The Miracle of The Scarlet Thread - Revealing the Power of the Blood of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation" by Dr Richard Booker.

 

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