Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: December 14, 2008
BAPTISM & THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
Ben Justice
The apostle John described Jesus as having “washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Rev. 1:5). The
tense that John used was past tense. Hence, those to whom he wrote had already been “washed” from
their sins. Note how John included himself in this declaration. He said “us” and “our.” Those to whom
John wrote were already Christians. He specifically wrote to the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 1:4).
The term “washed” comes from a word that is used literally in the New Testament meaning “to bathe or to
wash the body” (cf. John 13:10; Acts 9:37; 2 Pet. 2:22). However, it is used in Rev. 1:5 in a metaphorical
sense. It denotes a spiritual washing or cleansing.
“Sins” comes from a word meaning “a missing of the mark.” It is a picture of what a person does when they
sin against God. They miss the mark or the target — that target being God. When one sins, they miss God.
We might ask the question, “When did the actual washing (or cleansing) of sins take place and how was it
accomplished?” It’s interesting to read what the commentators have to say about this. Some commentators
believe that the washing took place when Jesus shed his blood on the cross. But, this is not correct. Our
Lord’s death and the shedding of his blood on the cross was the means whereby we could have our sins
washed away. A person’s sins are washed away when they obey God’s plan of salvation, culminating in the
act of baptism.
Ananias instructed Saul of Tarsus to “arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16). It was
in the act of baptism that Saul would have his sins washed away. However, from Rev. 1:5, a person’s sins
are washed away in the blood of Christ. Putting these two passages of scripture together, it is obvious that
it is in the act of baptism that one appropriates the blessings and benefits of the blood of Jesus. Even
though Jesus shed his blood for the whole world (cf. John 1:29; I John 2:2), his blood does a person no good
until they appropriate that blood in obedience to the gospel, culminating in the action of baptism. Paul
spoke of the “washing of regeneration” in Titus 3:5, which everyone I have consulted believes is a reference
to water baptism. That’s exactly what the reference is to.
Later on in Revelation, John wrote, “. . . These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have
washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb” (Rev. 7:14).
There is an Old Testament example that will help bring out the force of baptism’s connection to the blood of
Christ. Naaman was a leper (2 Kings 5:1). He wanted to be cured of his leprosy. Thus, he sought to do just
that. Elisha the Prophet instructed Naaman to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River and he would
be clean (2 Kings 5:10). At first, Naaman didn’t take well to those instructions. He was looking for Elisha
to perform some great miracle (2 Kings 5:11). He also speculated that the cleaner rivers of Abana and
Pharpar would be better. In fact, the Bible tells us that Naaman “went away in rage” (2 Kings 5:12). Finally,
however, he came to his senses. 2 Kings 5:14 tells us, “Then went he down, and dipped himself seven
times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a
little child, and he was clean.” Now, everyone understands that it wasn't the water that cleansed Naaman
of his leprosy, but the power of God. However, in order for Naaman to have appropriated the blessings God
offered, he had to comply with the conditions — dipping seven times in the Jordan River. Now, here is the
New Testament application relative to baptism and blood of Christ: There is no magic power in the waters of
baptism. It is not the water that washes away sins. However, God has chosen water whereby one
appropriates the blessings of the blood of Christ in washing away a person’s sins.
The Bible equally teaches that one is baptized “into Christ” (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27). It is in Christ where all
spiritual blessings are located (Eph. 1:3).
When John declared that the seven churches of Asia had their sins washed away in the blood of Christ,
they had obviously complied with the conditions God had given, one of which was their submission to a
burial in water in order to have their sins washed away, just as Saul of Tarsus did (Acts 22:16).
WORDS OF A TRUE LEADER
You cannot help the poor. . . by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak. . . by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity. . . by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wager earner up. . . by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man. . . by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage. . . by taking away initiative.
You cannot help people permanently. . . by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.
-- Abraham Lincoln
QUOTES
“Opportunity” is spelled “HARD WORK!”
“A fool’s tongue is long enough to cut his own throat.”
“The man who speaks evil of your brother in his absence would speak evil of you in your absence.”
“Sin may come upon you as a surprise, but do not let it dwell with thee as a guest.”
“It may be true that the willing horse gets the heaviest load, but he also develops the strongest muscles
and generally gets the most oats.”