The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross on Golgotha hill was the price of redemption (Eph. 1:7) paid for the souls of mankind. Salvation today is impossible without reaching the cleansing power of that shed blood-". . .apart from shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb. 9:22).

Jesus "loosed us from our sins by his blood" (Rev. 1:5). Since we "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23), and since "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23), we can fully appreciate and say with Peter that the blood of the Savior is "precious blood" (1 Pet. 1:19). This "precious blood", necessary for man to have forgiveness from sin, also purchased the church of Christ (". . .to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood"-Acts 20:28). This was not a second benefit of the blood being shed but is, in fact, identical to sins being forgiven. Those redeemed from sin, by the blood of Christ, constitute the one church "which he purchased with his own blood."

Salvation outside the church is equal to salvation without the blood of Christ. Such is, according to God's word, impossible. Those saved by Christ's blood (when they obey Jesus-Acts 2:38) are, by the Lord, added to His church (Acts 2:41-KJV). The blood of Christ was "poured out. . .unto remission of sins" (Matt. 26:28). Baptism, in obedience to the commandment of Jesus, is also "unto remission of sin" (Acts 2:38). The shedding of the blood of Christ and baptism occupy a similar relation to remission of sins. Both were and are necessary!

Truth Magazine XXII: 32, p. 519
August 17, 1978