Below are a set of study notes which have been developed to teach how we contact the blood of Christ. I pray it will benefit those who are outside the body of Christ, by teaching the importance of and way to contact Christ's blood, and of equal benefit to those who are in Christ, that they might teach others.

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Colossians 1:14 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Recently I heard a preacher begin at the above Scripture, proceeding to preach salvation by faith alone. Thus, I determined to undertake a study examining the Scriptures regarding the redemption found in the blood of Christ, and how it is that man might obtain such. May this study be received in the same spirit in which it is given, in a desire to know and obey the truth of God’s word.

DEFINITIONS:
Redemption

• The Greek word ‘apolutrosis’ (redemption 9, deliverance 1), meaning "...a releasing effect by payment of ransom...liberation procured by the payment of a ransom..." (Strong’s)

• "...lit. A releasing, for (ie. payment of) a ransom..." (Vine’s)

• From the English, ‘redeem’, derived from the Latin redimere, "...to buy back...to free from what distresses or harms...to free from captivity by payment of ransom...to release from blame or debt...to free from the consequences of sin..." (Webster’s)

Forgiveness

• The Greek word, ‘aphesis’ (remission 9, forgiveness 6, deliverance 1, liberty 1), meaning "...release from bondage or imprisonment, forgiveness or pardon of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty." (Strong’s)

• "Denotes a dismissal, release; it is used of the remission of sins..." (Vine’s)

• From the English, ‘forgive’, "...to give up resentment of or claim to requital for (forgive an insult)...to grant relief from payment of (forgive a debt)...to cease to feel resentment against (an offender)...pardon..." (Webster’s)

WHAT WAS THAT PAUL?
Paul declares of Jesus, "...in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins..." Paul in the Roman letter taught plainly, "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.." (3:23), and further, "...the wages of sin is death..." (6:23) Thus, such a wonderful thing it is to hear the same man proclaim that man can have the "...forgiveness of sins..." But how?

God has made provision to buy back those who transgressed His law by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Thus, it behoves the seeker of truth to search the Scriptures, that he may know how to partake of this demonstration of God’s wonderful grace.

"...THROUGH HIS BLOOD..."

JESUS’ BLOOD WAS SHED:

• "But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out." (John 19:34)

JESUS’ BLOOD WAS SHED FOR REMISSION OF SINS:

• "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:28)

• "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7)

• "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins..." (Colossians 1:14)

• "...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)

JESUS’ BLOOD PURCHASED THE CHURCH:

• "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)

• "...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:18-19)

• "...You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation..." (Revelation 5:9)

JESUS’ BLOOD BRINGS JUSTIFICATION:

• "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Romans 5:9)

JESUS’ BLOOD BRINGS MAN NEAR TO GOD:

• "...at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:12-13)

• "...and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." (Colossians 1:20)

"...THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS..."

FORGIVENESS OF SINS IS PREACHED THROUGH JESUS:

• "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins..." (Acts 13:38)

FORGIVENESS OF SINS REQUIRES HIS BLOOD:

• "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7)

• "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins..." (Colossians 1:14)

• "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which was shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:28)

• "...and according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22)

FORGIVENESS OF SINS REQUIRES FAITH:

• "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)

FORGIVENESS OF SINS REQUIRES BAPTISM:

• "Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

• "...and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem..." (Luke 24:47 — ref. Acts 2:38)

• "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses..." (Colossians 2:11-13)

How Is Christ’s Blood Applied To Sinful Man?

Such a question must be answered by the Scriptures, not the wisdom of men. Though it is commonly taught that the forgiveness of sins is received at the point of faith (and thus the application of Christ’s blood, for it provides remission), the Scriptures do not teach such. Consider God’s word:

• Jesus said, "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:28)

• Peter said, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

NOTE:
In the Greek, Jesus said, '...mou haima...eis aphesis hamartia."
In the Greek, Peter said, '...baptizo....eis aphesis hamartia."

The argument has been made that baptism "...for the remission of sins..." is simply baptism because we have already received the remission of sins. Besides the numerous Scriptures this teaching contradicts, it says then that our Lord’s blood was shed because we have already received the remission of sins! Indeed, Christ’s blood was shed for (unto) the remission of sins, and likewise, we are baptized for (unto) the remission of sins.

• Jesus said, "...and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem..." (Luke 24:47)

• Peter said, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

Jesus said two things should be preached, "...repentence and remission of sins..."
Peter preached two things, "Repent and....be baptized...for the remission of sins..."

The inspired writer Luke penned both the Lord’s commandment at His ascension, and the apostle Peter’s fulfilment of the same at Pentecost. Also noteworthy is that both Matthew’s and Mark’s account of the great commission mention baptism. However, the careful Bible student will know also that Luke’s account mentions baptism, in the phrase, "...remission of sins..."

• Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Romans 5:9-10)

• "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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." (Romans 6:3-4)

The apostle Paul said, "...we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son..."
The apostle also said those "...baptized into Christ were baptized into His death..."

• "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses..." (Colossians 2:11-13)

• "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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." (Romans 6:3-4)

Paul said we are "...buried with Him in baptism..."
Paul said "...we were buried with Him through baptism into death..."
Paul said "...you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God..."
Paul said "...just as Christ was raised...even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Such a wonderful picture is painted by the apostle Paul. In his teaching about the necessity of baptism, he calls it the "...circumcision of Christ..." In times past, circumcision was the covenant between Abraham (and his descendants) and the Lord (Genesis 17:9-14). We have such a covenant today, but it si a "...circumcision made without hands..." Paul plainly teaches, "...by the putting off the body of sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism..."

Some will object, "That gives man a reason to boast!" Certainly not, for it is not of ourselves that we are cleansed of our sins, but rather "...you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God..." God cuts off the sins of the flesh, not us. It is His work, not ours.

Click here for this week's Answering The Atheist
The Bible says that Jesus judges (John 5:22, 27; 9:39; 2 Corinthians 5:10), but also says that He does not judge (John 8:15; 12:47). Is there a contradiction?