The Relationship of The Blood of Jesus and Baptism

All who claim to be Christians believe we are saved by the blood of Jesus.  All believe that for the Bible clearly states it, "We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Eph 1:7 NKJV)  There are very few, however, who realize where God has placed that blood spiritually speaking. 

Christianity is a religion of the spirit.  No man is saved by coming into physical contact with the blood of Christ.  This is simply a truism accepted by all.  We do not each get a microscopic drop of literal blood placed on our souls.  So the question then becomes where has God placed the blood in a spiritual sense?  It does matter; it is a matter of salvation. 

In the Bible, blood stands for life.  God speaking to Noah and his sons after the flood said unto them, "You shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood." (Gen 9:4 NKJV)  Again, God speaking to Moses in Lev. 17:11 says to Moses, "The life of the flesh is in the blood." (NKJV)  And, then again, in Lev. 17:14, "The life of all flesh is its blood." (NKJV) 

In the New Testament Judas when he had betrayed the Lord, felt remorse, and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders saying to them, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." (Matt. 27:4 NKJV)  What did he mean by using the phrase "innocent blood?"  He meant he had betrayed innocent life.  Blood stood for life. 

When Pilate washed his hands before the multitude who wanted Jesus put to death and made the statement, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person" (Matt. 27:24 NKJV) what did he mean?  Was it not I am innocent of putting to death this innocent man?  Blood stood for life. 

Jesus was God's sacrificial lamb who, as John the Baptist said, takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)  This required the shedding of his blood, the taking of his life.  Jesus said, in instituting the Lord's Supper, "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matt. 26:28 NKJV)  We are justified by his blood (Rom. 5:9) and "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Eph. 1:7 NKJV) 

When Jesus died on the cross his blood was shed in that his life was taken.  Jesus had shed some blood prior to his death.  There was the scourging he endured, the crown of thorns on his head, the nails driven through his hands yet, all of that being true, he had not yet shed his blood in the Bible sense of the giving up of life itself.  Surely no one believes we were saved by the literal blood of the scourging, thorns, or nails. 

When Jesus uttered his last words on the cross and gave up the ghost his blood was then shed in Bible parlance.  John, in John 19:33-34, in speaking of what happened while Jesus was on the cross after his death said, "But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out." (John 19:33-34 NKJV) 

This event, the piercing of his side, had symbolic importance for the sacrifice of himself had already taken place, his life already given for ours.  Remember Lev. 17:11?  "The life of the flesh is in the blood."  With his side being pierced the life of Jesus was now gone for the whole world to see.  His blood was shed in every sense of the word.  Where was the soul-cleansing blood of Jesus shed?  In his death, when he died on the cross, but now it was evident to all he was dead.  

So, we know where Jesus shed his blood--in his death, at the moment he died.  This then tells us all that if we are to come into contact with that blood we must enter into his death.  For me to come into contact with that saving blood, spiritually speaking, I must get into Christ's death.  Paul was very clear on where and how you and I do this.  He says in Rom. 6:3, "Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (NKJV) 

He goes on, "Therefore we were 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." (Rom 6:4 NKJV)  When is a person to walk in the newness of life?  After baptism.  Can one walk in newness of life unless the blood of Jesus has cleansed him?  Newness of life comes to a man upon being raised from the waters of baptism.  God placed the cleansing blood in the waters of baptism.  In that act, when done from a heart of faith having repented of one’s sins, the blood of Jesus cleanses a man or woman from all sin. 

But, objection is made by man and it is said baptism is a little thing.  Is the blood of Jesus a little thing?  If one can be saved without baptism into the death of Christ then one can be saved without the blood of Jesus.  

Paul in 2 Cor. 5:17 makes this statement, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Co 5:17 NKJV)  Bearing that in mind what did Paul say to us in the passages just under consideration?  Did he not say, "Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus … ?" (Rom. 6:3 NKJV)  Yes, he said we were baptized into Christ. 

In Christ how?  By being baptized into him.  Where is one a "new creation?"  In Christ.  How can a man be a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) unless the blood of Christ has cleansed him?  In Christ, I am cleansed, a new creation, but I am baptized into Christ.  I get into Christ by baptism.  The blood of cleansing then spiritually speaking is found in baptism. 

In talking to Timothy, Paul says this is a faithful saying, "For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him." (2 Tim. 2:11 NKJV)  We died with him by being baptized into his death. (Rom. 6:3)  Paul says if we did that we shall live with him thus the blood of Jesus must be contacted in the waters of baptism.  It is only through his blood that we have life.  But, what if we did not die with Him in baptism?  I will let the reader answer. 

Then Paul says in Eph. 5:25-26, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word." (Eph. 5:25-26 NKJV)  Does anyone believe the church Jesus loved and gave himself for has not been cleansed by his blood?  But, the text says he cleansed the church with the "washing of water by the word."  Thus the blood was in the waters of baptism. 

There is an interesting passage in Heb. 10:22 where the writer is admonishing those to whom he wrote.  He says, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (NKJV)  Let us couple that with what Peter spoke of concerning baptism in 1 Peter 3:21, "There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (NKJV) 

To have one's heart sprinkled from an evil conscience (Heb. 10:22) is the same as to have a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21).  Peter says this is accomplished in baptism while the Hebrew writer speaks of our bodies being washed with pure water.  They are one and the same.  The clean conscience is acquired through being baptized.  Peter goes so far as to say baptism saves us.  The blood of Christ must then be found in the waters of baptism.  That is where the conscience is cleansed.  The conscience cannot be cleansed from God's standpoint without the blood of Jesus.  It is cleansed in baptism.  This is the only logical deduction one can make. 

I realize an article like this is going to be very, very unpopular.  People want no part of baptism being a salvation issue.  Passage after passage teaches that it is (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21) plainly and clearly.  In fact, when God's word says "repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Act 2:38 NKJV) one wonders how such a passage can be misunderstood by rational men.  

A question that arises in my mind is this.  Let us suppose for the sake of argument that God wanted to tell men that they must be baptized to have their sins forgiven and to be saved.  Since the language he used is not adequate to satisfy the mass of mankind how would you, if you were him, phrase it to make it clear to all readers?  What words would you use to convey the idea?  Remember what he said as stated was not adequate to convince men.  You would have to use other words.  What words would you use? 

People are not rational when it comes to religion.  In religion, emotions generally rule.  Men and women often cannot see the truth because as plain as it might be they are not willing to face up to it, because they do not want to see and know the truth.  Perhaps truth condemns them or their family and maybe some of the family has already passed on while living in error.  In other cases, truth may prohibit them from living the kind of life they would prefer to live.  Add to those things change can be very uncomfortable.  It may be much easier to continue as you are versus changing with the unpleasantness that can bring in relationships.  Whatever the cause a refusal to accept truth gives them a comfort, temporary though it may be, that they cannot find in the truth itself. 

I want to close with this.  You and I might wish it was some other way.  Some cannot bear the thought that they have family now gone who if what I have written today is the truth never accepted the truth and died in error.  We worry about them and we are not willing to accept the truth because of where we think that would place them.  My advice is to leave those matters with God for he will do what is right.  If they end up in the wrong place in the life to come do you think you will bring them joy by meeting up with them there?  You would only add sorrow to sorrow, guilt to guilt. 

But, I have to ask you one other question, a momentous question.  Are you going to pass error on to your children and grandchildren after you?  If Mom and Dad died in error they are now in God's hands.  Let him deal with the matter.  As for you, you likely have children, grandchildren, a spouse to be concerned about, some or all of these.  Will you lead them down the road of error because of the past?  If so you will likely get what you deserve.  How could it be otherwise? 

Did Jesus command baptism?  If he did (you know he did) you know your duty.

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Redemption in Christ

One frequently comes across the words redeem, redeemed, and redemption in reading through the New Testament.  I found twenty instances using a concordance for the New King James version of the Bible.  What do these words mean?  If you were to look into a modern-day dictionary you would likely find a number of responses.  My Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, 2000 edition, lists nine meanings for the word redeem.  Most have the general idea of paying off or buying back or releasing.

According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, a dictionary based on the words found in the King James Version of the Bible, there are four Greek words behind the English words translated as redeem and redemption, two verbs, and two nouns.  For the purpose of this article I will only be dealing with three of them, those most relevant to the purpose of this article, and I will be quoting from Vine.

The Greek verb “lutroo” signifies “to release on receipt of ransom … signifying to release by paying a ransom price.”  Vine lists Titus 2:14 and 1 Peter 1:18-19 as examples.  The Titus passage, speaking of Christ, reads, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for himself his own special people.” (NKJV)  Peter says we were redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV).  We were thus released from sin and its penalty by the ransom price of the blood of Jesus shed on the cross.  Christ delivered us from sin.

The noun form of “lutroo” is “lutrosis.”  Lutrosis is “a redemption.”  “With his own blood he entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Heb. 9:12 NKJV)  Hebrews 9:12 is a statement of fact as to what has been done and how, redemption by the blood of Jesus.

The final Greek word to be dealt with here is “apolutrosis,” which is “a strengthened form of” lutrosis.  It is “a releasing, for … a ransom.”  I am here interested in the third example of lutrosis given by Vine.  He says, “forgiveness and justification, redemption as the result of expiation, deliverance from the guilt of sins.”  Scriptures listed under this Greek term are Rom. 3:24, Eph. 1:7, and Col. 1:14.

Each passage speaks of redemption by the blood of Christ.  “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation by his blood.” (Rom. 3:24-25)  “We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Eph. 1:7 NKJV)  The Colossian passage is identical to the Ephesian passage, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:14 NKJV)

Having done the word study one can see that redemption is a release, a deliverance from sin and its consequences by means of a ransom, the ransom being Christ’s shed blood, his death on the cross.  Its end result is thus salvation of one’s soul, the soul of the one who takes advantage of the ransom Jesus made.  The ransom made was “a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:6 NKJV) but while this redemption is universal in its scope, that is it is available to all, it is only effective for those who come into Christ.

This redemption, this salvation, is “in Christ Jesus.” “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood.” (Rom.:3:23-25a NKJV)

One enters into Christ by believing and obeying the gospel; the final step in obeying the gospel and thereby being placed into Christ is baptism.  Baptism is preceded by faith in Christ, repentance of sins, and confession of one’s faith in Jesus.

We are then to be “baptized into Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 6:3 NKJV)  “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal 3:26-27 NKJV)  Faith led to baptism.  The corollary of Gal. 3:26-27 would be “as many of you as were not baptized into Christ have not put on Christ.”  If not, why not?

I do not know of a single scripture that speaks of entering into Christ some way other than through baptism.  There was no other way on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) when Peter preached the first gospel sermon.  Peter required baptism in that sermon.  “Repent, and be baptized everyone of you.” (Acts 2:38 KJV)  Everyone means everyone.  There is no other way today.  Mankind has no power to override the spirit-filled preaching of an apostle.

One fact people often overlook who desire to be redeemed by the blood of Jesus is that Jesus shed his blood in his death.  He was dead when the soldier came around and pierced his side and the blood and water then flowed from his side. (John 19:33-34)  Paul says in Rom. 6:3 that we “were baptized into his death.”  His blood was shed in his death; we enter into his death by baptism where we contact the blood that redeems us.  This is a spiritual contact but whoever thought it would be otherwise?

“We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14 NKJV)  It is an “eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12) for those who remain faithful to the end of life.  To be delivered from one’s sins and released from the burden, guilt, and punishment due us for our sins is like the weight of the world off one’s shoulders.  What a joy, what a relief.

Anyone who so desires can be redeemed by the blood of Jesus.  God has offered us all his special invitation.  “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’  And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’  And let him who thirsts come.  And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17 NKJV) 

If someone was to offer you in this material world a gift of great value, very costly, whether in terms of monetary value or of great personal sacrifice and you rejected it that would come across on your part as cold and unfeeling, ungrateful, unloving, and unkind.  What if we reject Christ’s great sacrificial gift of his life?

“Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold … but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV)  We “were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Cor. 6:20 NKJV)

Anyone who is willing and so desires can even this day be redeemed by the blood of Christ.

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