A number of things are accomplished by the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ:

1. Makes peace with God (Col. 1:20). One is an enemy of God because of his sins (Col. 1:21), but the blood of Christ heals and seals the fractured fellowship and makes one at peace with God (cf. Eph. 2:14; 6:15).

2. Washes us from our sins (Rev. 1:5; 7:14). Sin is a stain, a blot and blemish of the soul. The blood of Christ is the cleansing agent, and "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isa. 1:18). See Ephesians 5:26 and Acts 22:16 to learn when this washing away of our sins occurs.

3. Redeems us (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:18,19; Heb. 9:12). To be guilty of sin is to be a slave (Jn. 8:34). The blood of Jesus purchases our pardon and makes us free from sin, free from its bondage. In "obeying the truth" given "through the Spirit," one obtains the redemption (1 Pet. 1:22).

4. Justifies us (Rom. 5:9). The verdict is in. "Guilty as charged," it declares (Rom. 3:9,23). Apart from the blood of Christ, justification is sought in vain (Rom. 5:6-8). See Romans 6:17,18, to find out when one may receive justification from sin by the blood of Christ.

5. Sanctifies us (Heb. 10:29). Things not set apart, consecrated unto God, were seen as profane and perishable, unfit for divine service. The soul in sin will perish, but once set apart, sanctified by the blood of Jesus, it is fit for the Master's use and service (2 Thess. 2:13,14; Jn. 17:17; Eph. 5:26).

6. Remits sin (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:22). Jesus shed his blood "for the remission of sins," and without it there "is no remission," or forgiveness of sins. Luke 24:47; Acts 2:3 8 and 3:19 tell us when the blood of Christ blots out our sins.

If, after hearing the truth, the gospel, which was given by the Spirit, you have not obeyed the truth; in other words, you have not yet believed, repented and been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, then you have not received any of the blessings of the blood of Christ as cited and listed above.

Perhaps you are one who has obeyed the truth in times past; perhaps you have been purged, cleansed from your old or past sins by the blood of Christ, but you have sinned, you have been unfaithful to the blood of the covenant wherewith you were sanctified. What do you do now? Repent, confess, pray and walk in the light "and the blood of Jesus Christ" will cleanse you from all sin (Acts 8:22; 1 Jn. 1:7-9).

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 19, p. 585
October 1, 1992