Beech Tree News Network

            Our Lord shed His blood on the cross almost 2000 years ago. This blood has cleansing power, the likes of which have not been equaled by man. In fact, there is nothing man can do to cleanse himself from sin, but Christ’s blood can cleanse man from sin!

             It does us good to remember that Christ’s blood remits sin. Jesus said His blood would be shed “for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28). The word “remission” means, “freedom, deliverance, forgiveness” (Strong’s). Can we think of anything more wonderful than freedom? More important than political freedom, we can have freedom from sin because of the shed blood of Christ! This is truly a gift from God. Without the blood of Christ, there is no salvation (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14)!

             The apostle Peter wrote the “strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” and told them that they “were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Pet. 1:18-19). This applies today. Our redemption did not come through our physical power; nor can we “earn” our way into Heaven. Rather, Christ’s shed blood makes it possible for us to see Heaven one day (Rev. 1:4-5)!

             In addition to the salvation promised, we also know that Christ promised to build His church in Matthew 16:18. As a result, we see that Christ paid the purchase price for the church! The apostle Paul declares that Christ’s church was purchased when He shed His blood on the cross. This is recorded in Acts 20:28. Paul told the Ephesian elders, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). He also told the Ephesians that Christ “loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Eph. 5:25).

             After learning this, how can anyone belittle the importance of the Lord’s church? Christ thought the church was so important He died and shed His blood to purchase it (Jn. 19:33-34)! If it was that important to Christ, it must be that important to me! If the Lord saw the church as a prized possession, then do not belittle her! Let us make sure that we hold the Lord’s church in high regard. Something that is this precious, this valuable, deserves our honor and our respect!

             Since we are 2000 years removed from the crucifixion, how can folks today have access to Christ’s blood? This occurs when one is baptized. Please notice that everything the Bible says Christ’s blood does is the same thing that baptism does! Christ’s blood remits our sin, justifies us, and washes us (Matt. 26:28; Rom. 5:9; Rev. 1:5), and so does baptism (Acts 2:38; I Cor. 6:11; Acts 22:16)! In simple terms, the blood of Christ is the “where” of salvation, and baptism is the “when”!

             Seeing that these things are true, we know that when one is baptized and becomes a Christian (Mk. 16:16), he is washed in the blood of the Lamb, and added to the Lord’s church (Rev. 1:5; Acts 2:38, 47)! How wonderful the blood of Christ is!

 -- You are invited to visit with the Caneyville church of Christ. Times of services: Sun.: 10:00 am, 10:45 am, 5:00 pm; Wed.: 7:00 pm. Website: http://caneyvillechurchofchrist.com Tune in to our radio program 101.5 FM at 5:30 am, Mon-Fri. Questions? Call: (270) 589-4167