The central theme of the Bible is salvation from sins through the blood of Christ. There are none who are totally righteous. Thus, one cannot claim heaven by virtue of his own merit. Each needs one to save or redeem him.

One is " . . .justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. . ." (Rom. 3:24-25). Jesus Christ is the world's only Savior. The blood of Jesus is the only redemption price. God's supreme love is clearly manifested in that one great sacrifice for lost mankind! Oh, how He loved me!

Now, by the blood, one understands the following premises:

(1) The New Testament is dedicated by the blood of Christ. The Hebrew writer speaks of the "blood of the everlasting covenant" (Heb. 13:20). It is only after one is dead that the testament (will) becomes effective (Heb. 9:17). Therefore, Christ had to die on the cross before His will, the New Testament, would become operative over the lives of men and women. We do not live under the Old Testament laws, but under the blood-dedicated law of Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1: 16). The law made no one perfect (Heb. 7:19).

(2) Sins are cleansed by the blood of Christ. "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. . ." (Rev. 1:5). "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. . ." (1 Cor. 15:3). The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Christ loved mankind so much that He died in our stead. He is the propitiation for our sins; i.e., He perfectly satisfies God's demands and atones for our sins. Now, through His blood, God is both just and the justifier.

(3) The church is purchased by the blood of Christ. Jesus' people are called " . . .the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts. 20:28). The importance of Christ's church is evidenced in the price that Christ paid. It does make a difference to which church one belongs! Christ's blood was paid only for His church. Churches with human heads, human origin, and human laws are not the Lord's church. The church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23); therefore, since Christ is the head of the church, and the church is the body, He thusly has only one body governed by the one head (cf. Eph. 4:4).

(4) Inner peace comes through the blood of the cross! "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross. . ." (Col. 1:20). The world searches for inner peace. But, one cannot have lasting peace until he accepts the atoning sacrifice of the blood of Christ. In Christ's death, His blood was shed. One who loves God, repents of his sins, is then "buried with him by baptism into death" (Rom 6:3-4). Then the blood cleanses him, and he can have the peace that passes understanding (Phil. 4:7).

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 23, p. 716
December 6, 1984