The Blood of Christ
Course 4 of 6

SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Sin is a “transgression of law” (1 John 3:4.) The Bible does not teach that babies are born in sin nor do they inherit anyone’s sin. As noted above, sin is a violation of God’s law and in order to violate that law, one has to be able to know it. “Therefore to him who knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17) and “...whatever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23) both show that knowing and not acting out of faith are involved in sin. Babies cannot reason in such a way as to sin before God. God himself made the issue plan when he said, “The soul that sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20.) To be sure Adam and Eve introduced death into the world (Romans 5:12) but each person bears their own guilt. And we all have guilt. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23.) Look at what sin does for us: We are separated from God (Isaiah 59:2), causes us to be lost (Matthew 18:11), condemns us (John 5:29), makes us eternally separated from God (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9), makes Hell our home for eternity (Matthew 25:30).

Sin is a problem all people have and it must be dealt with to have peace in this life and the life to come. Let’s see what God has done about it and what we need to do.

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

Our last lesson dealt with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and how horrible it was. Good folks ought to see in the terror of the cross just how terrible sin really is. Yet, we see in the Lord’s death the means of our salvation. The blood of Jesus washes away sin and nothing else can. Let’s stress this. The blood of Christ is what washes away our sins. Period!

While we are all sinners, we cannot save ourselves. “O Lord we know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23.) We left God by our sins and now we can’t get back to Him by ourselves for we do not know how. However, there is God’s grace. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8.) By His grace Jesus “tasted death for every one” (Hebrews 2:9.) Because we couldn’t save ourselves and God loved us, He provided a way for us to be saved. He provided the sacrifice for our sins. That is the amazing grace of God.

The New Testament describes exactly what removes our sins:

A. Justified by His blood (Romans 5:9)
B. Forgiveness of sins through His blood (Ephesians 1:7)
C. Brought near to God by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13)
D. We have peace through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20)
E. Redeemed...with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19)
F. He washed our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5)

The blood of our Lord is the agent that directly washes away sin.

THE BLOOD HAS TO BE LOCATED SOMEWHERE

If the blood of Christ washes sin away, how then do we use it? God has always required the use of blood in dealing with sin and He always put the blood somewhere. An Old Testament example may help. Study very carefully Exodus 12:21-23. This is the story of the 10th plague in Egypt—the death of the firstborn. In order for Israel to escape this awful plague, they had to take the blood of the Passover lamb and apply it to the lintel and 2 doorposts. When the Lord saw the blood in its proper place, He would pass over that house and those in the house were saved from the plague.

What do you suppose would have happened if the people put the blood somewhere else - say a back door or side window? The Lord would not have seen the blood where He was looking for it and those in the house would die. The Lord put the blood in a certain place and it had to be done as he commanded. So it is with the blood of Christ. God has put it somewhere and we must follow His direction to use it. But where is it?

THE BLOOD IS NOT IN FAITH

God did not locate the blood of His son in faith. Faith is important (Hebrews 11:6) and we must believe in Jesus as God’s son (John 8:24.) While salvation by “faith only” is a popular doctrine among many, God did not put the blood that washes away sin in faith.

In Acts 2: 22-40, Peter preaches the first sermon on salvation ever. He spoke of the Lord’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to God and stated in verse 36, “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” The words “know assuredly” mean to believe. They had not seen with their eyes Jesus as Lord and Christ but faith knows assuredly what is not seen (Hebrews 11:1.) And they did believe for they interrupted Peter asking, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (verse 37) Yes these people believed but Peter didn’t say that they had nothing to do because they believed. Believing or “knowing assuredly” was not enough. They were told to “repent and be baptized...for the remission of sins” (verse 38.) Clearly those folks needed more than faith.

THE BLOOD IS NOT IN REPENTENCE OR PRAYER

In Acts 22:1-16, the apostle Paul relates the story of his conversion to Christianity. He was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians for he was zealous to do the will of God (v.3.) On the way he saw the Lord and the bright light caused him to be blind (v. 6-11) Paul went into the city and for three days he prayed and fasted (see Acts 9:9-11.) A preacher was sent to tell him to “arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (22:16.)

Think about it. During that 3 day period Paul went without food or drink. Given his zeal to serve God do we not see him being very penitent? Do we not see him praying to the Lord? What do we think he was praying for? We know he believed for he had seen the Lord and heard His voice. Certainly he would be saved if these were all that were necessary. But he was still told to be baptized and wash away his sins.

Today folks talk about praying a “sinner’s prayer” to be saved but clearly the Lord did not put the blood in prayer. If so, Paul would have been saved by his prayers. The Lord did not put His blood in fasting, or repentance for again Paul did these things and they were not enough for him to be saved. Notice the list again on page 2 and see what causes remission of sins. The blood of Christ and then notice our 2 examples on this page. What were they told do for the remission or washing away of sins?

THE BLOOD IS IN BAPTISM

The subject of baptism is one of the most controversial in Christianity today but it is clearly taught in the New Testament as the place where the blood is. Do we have the courage to accept what God has revealed to us?

The blood of Jesus washes away sin and that blood was shed on the cross when Jesus died. Now notice what Paul says, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized in Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4.) Simply put, if salvation is in the death of Christ, how do we get into that death? By being baptized. That is where God put the blood of His Son.

The church was bought with the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28) but Paul says we are baptized into that “one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13) and people were added to the church when they were saved by being baptized (Acts 2:41, 47.) That’s because the blood of Jesus bought the church.

“The like figure baptism also now saves us (not the removal of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21.) Jesus died, was buried, and arose from the dead. In a figure we do the same (Romans 6:3-5) as the old person of sin dies (through faith and repentance), and is buried in water by baptism where the blood of Christ washes the sins away, and a new person—a Christian—emerges. Baptism may be a figure but it is a figure that saves. Now once a person knows what to do to be saved, and does it, they can show a good conscience before God. Water has no saving qualities about it but obedience to the will of God does.

Read Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15-16. Just before Jesus went back to the Father, He sent His followers out to make disciples of all nations and this would be done by the preaching of the gospel. Those wanting to be disciples would become so because of their faith and changing their lives to be like Christ. In both passages baptism is mentioned because that is what removes past sins and wipes the slate clean. Faith acts and repenting changes the direction but in baptism the blood of Jesus cleanses us. It is not church of Christ doctrine– Jesus said do it!