Do We Still Need to Plead or Apply the Blood of Jesus? Here’s What Scripture Says
In the previous post, we established from the Scriptures that our very identity in Christ as His church is directly linked to the death of Jesus, refuting the claim that the death of Jesus has no relevance for the church. Our purchase price as His church is the blood of Jesus, which resulted directly from His death (Revelation 5:9-10; Hebrews 9:22). Moreover, our identity in Christ as those who have been sanctified, a holy nation, is directly linked in Scripture to the offering of Jesus’ body, His death (Ephesians 4:24). These truths directly refute the claim that the death of Jesus has no relevance for the church but only for the world.
Not only is our redemption and identity in Christ as His church firmly associated with the blood and death of Jesus, but Scripture also directly teaches us that, as a church, we are able to enforce our victory over the devil and his angels by the blood of Jesus, which resulted from His death. Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
First, this text is not referring to angels. Angels are spirits that do not die (Matthew 22:30; 1 Corinthians 15:54), so this text obviously cannot refer to angels or any spirit beings, since those who overcame did not love their lives even unto death. It specifically refers to human beings. Second, Jesus did not die for angels (Hebrews 2:16-18), but for mankind, and specifically for those who have believed in Jesus as their Savior and who enjoy the blessings His death and blood provide. Moreover, this text is not a reference to an event that happened in prehistoric times or before the creation of the earth. The very opening of the book of Revelation affirms that the revelations in the book point to the future, from the time the revelations were given (Revelation 1:1). Since these revelations were written after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1), this text specifically refers to the period of the new covenant, and specifically to the church. According to Scripture, the church is able to overcome the devil by the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony. This is a direct blessing the church has as a result of the death of Jesus, further debunking the idea that the blood of Jesus has no relevance for the church.
This biblical text debunks the claim that the blood of Jesus is already on the mercy seat, speaking better things than the blood of Abel, and that it therefore does not need to be pleaded or applied. It also debunks the idea that it is an error for Christians to plead or apply the blood of Jesus, and the idea that the blood of Jesus was only for protection against God’s judgment, not against the devil. Right here in Revelation, in the New Testament, we are directly told that the blood used against the devil was part of what brought victory over the devil and his angels, not victory over God’s judgment or a means of overcoming God’s judgment. This wasn’t a passive victory. It was an active victory the overcomers obtained even in the face of death, through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.
How do we gain this victory that comes through the blood? Scripture teaches us how. By agreeing with Scripture, and speaking what Scripture says the blood of Jesus does for us, including giving us victory over the devil, we enforce that victory and make it a reality in our lives. Scripture teaches that the communication of our faith becomes effectual by acknowledging the good we have in Christ (cf. Philemon 6). Jesus Himself taught multiple times that whoever says something and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, will have whatever he says (cf. Mark 11:22-24; Matthew 17:20). There is nothing better to say, and to be guaranteed the results, than saying what God says brings us victory. This includes declaring the victory we have over the enemy through the blood of Jesus (Revelation 12:11). Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21).
When Jesus died on the cross, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). But we are deceived if we think we gain the benefits of Jesus just because He died and rose again. The sinner must believe in Jesus, and accept Him as his Savior to be saved. No one becomes automatically born again just because Jesus died, although His blood is on the mercy seat. The Bible does not teach that because the blood of Jesus is on the mercy seat, Christians no longer need to ask for forgiveness of sins, since forgiveness for God’s church comes through His blood (Ephesians 1:7). On the contrary, 1 John 1:9, as well as James 5:14, which was written specifically to the church, teaches the church that we must pray and confess our sins to God to receive His forgiveness. Jesus’ death made His authority available to every believer. But Having that authority does not automatically mean you benefit from every blessing that authority brings. Many Christians don’t. You must be aware of this authority, and know what it does and how to use it. So there is no biblical basis to claim that because the blood of Jesus is already on the mercy seat and speaking better things, there is no need to apply or plead it. We see the opposite in Scripture.
Don’t fall for the deception that it is unscriptural to plead or apply the blood of Jesus against the devil. That is a direct contradiction of Scripture. It is a deception that makes you play into the hands of the devil, and makes you forfeit the very means God has given you to overcome him. Stick with what Scripture says. Only Scripture is given for doctrine, not the words of men that contradict what Scripture teaches.
Through the blood of Jesus, we overcome the devil. This is a direct benefit of Jesus’ death for His church.
Kwadwo Omari, PhD
July 3, 2026