There Is Power in the Blood is a gospel hymn written by Lewis Edgar Jones that focuses on the cleansing and transforming efficacy of the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. The song explores themes of redemption and justification, inviting the faithful to find freedom from the burden of sin and victory over evil through the Lamb of God.
Its message declares that spiritual renewal and the strength to serve God daily flow from the atoning work accomplished at Calvary. Rooted in New Testament scripture, the hymn provides a reverent testimony to the sufficient grace found in Christ’s sacrifice for the forgiveness and sanctification of the believer.
VERSE 1
Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
REFRAIN
There is power, power, wonder-working pow’r
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder-working pow’r
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
VERSE 2
Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
VERSE 3
Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
VERSE 4
Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
Finding Hope and Victory
Many people carry a heavy weight of guilt that only a transformative spiritual encounter can lift. This classic hymn provides a clear answer to those seeking freedom from the chains of past mistakes. Lewis Edgar Jones composed this gospel song in 1899 to celebrate the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Since its debut, the song has encouraged congregations to trust in the cleansing power of the cross. Its repetitive and joyful refrain emphasizes that spiritual renewal is available to every believer. Today, it remains a staple in evangelical worship due to its simple yet profound theological truths.
Wonder-Working Power for Every Believer
“Free from the burden of sin” addresses the primary spiritual longing for relief from the weight of guilt. Ephesians 1:7 explains that believers have redemption and the forgiveness of sins through His blood.
Consequently, the blood of Jesus acts as the only means to lift the heavy debt of sin off the soul. This liberation allows the faithful to walk in a new relationship with God without any further condemnation.
“Whiter, much whiter than snow” provides a vivid picture of the total purification available to every human heart. Psalm 51:7 expresses this desire by asking God to wash the soul until it becomes whiter than snow.
Therefore, the life-giving flow of the Savior’s sacrifice effectively removes every spiritual stain from the past. This transformation shows that even the darkest sins become clean through the mercy of the Lamb of God.
“Victory win” focuses on the believer’s triumph over the power of evil and daily temptations. Revelation 12:11 records that the saints overcame the enemy specifically by the blood of the Lamb.
As a result, the hymn encourages Christians to rely on Christ’s finished work for strength in their spiritual battles. We find the ability to serve the King and sing His praises through this enduring victory.
“Service for Jesus your King” shifts the focus from personal forgiveness to a life of active devotion. The song suggests that the power found in the blood enables believers to serve God effectively.
Furthermore, this strength allows individuals to live daily in a way that brings praise to the King. Scripture teaches that Christ’s blood purifies our conscience to serve the living God.
Story Behind the Song
Lewis Edgar Jones was a farm boy from Illinois who discovered a deep passion for writing gospel music. He attended the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and graduated in the same class as Billy Sunday. While he worked a professional career with the YMCA, he spent his free time crafting hundreds of hymns.
In 1899, Jones attended a powerful camp meeting at Mountain Lake Park in Maryland. The atmosphere of the meeting inspired him to write the words and music for his most famous work. He eventually sold the manuscript to H.L. Gilmour, who published it in a collection titled Songs of Praise and Victory.
Interestingly, Jones often published his music under various pseudonyms like Mary Slater or Edgar Lewis. Despite his humble approach, his rousing melody quickly spread across the globe and reached as far as Australia. Today, over a century later, his simple message of victory continues to inspire worshippers in many languages.
For more information, you can visit Hymnary.org or Luke Powell Ministries.
Digging Deeper
Some modern listeners find the repetitive nature of the chorus to be a point of interesting discussion. However, this repetition serves a specific purpose by reinforcing the core theological message of the song. While some critics of modern music dislike repetitive lyrics, this 1899 hymn proves that repetition is an old tool.
Furthermore, the song’s melody was so catchy that it inspired a famous labor parody in 1913. Activist Joe Hill used the tune to write “There Is Power in a Union” for the workers’ movement. Recently, groups like Elim Sound have even updated the song with modern folk arrangements for new generations.
Power in the Blood Relevant Bible Verses
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7 NKJV
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 NKJV
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:14 NKJV
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. Revelation 12:11 NKJV
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Romans 5:9 NKJV
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:21-24
And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. Revelation 1:5 NKJV
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls. Leviticus 17:11 NKJV
So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. Hebrews 9:28
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There Is Power in the Blood, Lyrics and Music by Lewis Edgar Jones. Composed in 1899 and published in the collection Songs of Praise and Victory by Henry Lake Gilmour and William James Kirkpatrick. This song is currently in the Public Domain. For further study and verification, visit HymnInfo.