Many people ridicule the concept of salvation by the blood of Christ. Robert Ingersoll launched numerous tirades against Christianity about what he ignorantly called “blood religion,” even referring to the Christian faith as a “slaughterhouse religion.” A favorite pastime of intellectuals today is ridiculing the idea of “blood atonement.” They tell us: “Your blood sacrifice theology is horrific. I could never believe in a God who would accomplish salvation through a cross!” But the Bible still says: “without shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Heb. 9:22). This is the focal point of the gospel story of redemption. The crimson thread of blood runs throughout God’s entire revelation to man. We understand that Christ’s blood makes justification from sin possible (Rom. 5:9).

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Robert Lowry’s hymn: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus,” asks and answers the question of the title of this article. “What can wash away my sin?” Answer: “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” How true it is, for Jesus said: “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt. 26:28). Revelation 1:5 says: “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” The question is: “WHEN are we washed from our sins?” “WHEN do we receive the remission of our sins?” Acts 22:16 gives us the clear answer. Ananias told Saul of Tarsus to “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins.” Acts 9:18 says: “And he arose and was baptized.”

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While many correctly tell us that Christ’s blood washes away our sins, they fail to correctly tell us WHEN this occurs. Question: Would it be permissible to tell a person: “Arise and be baptized because your sins are already washed away?” Such would nullify Christ’s blood “which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt. 26:28). Think on these things.

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Dennis Abernathy