The Blood of Christ and Salvation

I want to lift up the blood of Jesus Christ, and show you what that blood actually does for a sinner. Not water, not works, not a ceremony: the blood. And the Lord Jesus said it plainly the night before He died:

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28, KJV)

Shed for the remission of sins

His blood, shed, for the remission (the release, the pardon) of sins. Now here is the question that forces a decision: if forgiveness really comes through baptismal water, then what did Jesus mean here? Was He mistaken? Was He misleading His disciples? Was He taking credit His blood did not earn? Child of God, I reject every one of those. Jesus is not a liar, He is not a deceiver, He is not a manipulator. He meant exactly what He said, and I believe Him.

Without shedding of blood is no remission

And He is not alone in it. John the Baptist pointed and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29): the Lamb, not the water. Paul: “redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). And the great principle stands like iron:

“…and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22, KJV)

Not without water, without blood. Baptism is a beautiful picture of that gospel (death, burial, and resurrection), and Peter is careful to say it saves “not the putting away of the filth of the flesh” (1 Peter 3:21). It points to the blood; it does not replace it. Now walk with me through what His blood accomplishes, and count the riches.

It forgives, it redeems, it cleanses

It forgives: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). It redeems: it bought you back at a price: “ye were not redeemed with corruptible things… but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18–19). It cleanses: “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). There is no sin so deep the blood of the Lamb cannot reach it.

It justifies, and it defeats the accuser

It justifies: it sets you right with God: “being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 5:9). It gives you bold access to God: “having therefore… boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). And it wins the victory over the devil’s accusations: “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11). When Satan points his finger at you, you point him to the blood.

Heaven rejoices over His blood

Now come with me somewhere that settles arguments: into heaven itself, into the throne room, and listen to what heaven sings. Because whatever heaven celebrates is what actually saves. The very first thing John hears said of the Lord Jesus in the Revelation is this:

“Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” (Revelation 1:5, KJV)

Washed us: in His own blood. Not water. His blood. Now walk up the stairs of the Revelation with me and hear the song get louder.

The four beasts and the elders fall down and sing a new song: “thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Revelation 5:9). The great multitude in white: how did their robes get clean? “They… have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14).

Now hear the silence, and let it preach

Here is my question, child of God, and I want you to feel its weight: in all of heaven’s eternal worship (redemption, cleansing, victory), why is baptismal water never once mentioned? If water washed away sin, heaven forgot to sing about it. But heaven did not forget. Heaven is unanimous: the blood of the Lamb, and the blood alone, redeems, cleanses, and overcomes. God “made him to be sin for us… that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). So sing what heaven sings. Not “washed in the water”: “washed in the blood.”

And it is finished

And hear this, child of God: nothing needs to be added to it. On the cross He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), and “by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). Water baptism is commanded and good, obey it gladly, but it does not forgive your sin, apply the blood, or finish a work that is already finished. All the saving power is in the blood of Jesus. So say it with me and mean it: my sins are forgiven because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and nothing else. Rest there, and nowhere else. Glory to God.

Related Teaching

• Study Outline: The Blood of Christ & Salvation
• Jesus Christ, the Fulfillment of the Sacrificial System
• Does Water Baptism Save? The Blood, Not the Water