Articles
The Blood of Jesus and Baptism
Jesus said, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission (forgiveness, NASB) of sins" (Matthew 26:28). Jesus makes it plain that his BLOOD is "for the remission of sins". Now notice what the apostle Peter said on the day of Pentecost, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). The apostle Peter makes it plain that BAPTISM is "for the remission of sins". Is it the blood of Jesus Christ or baptism that is "for the remission of sins"?
A careful study of the Word of God shows that the blood of Jesus Christ, in obedience to the command to be baptized in water, forgives sins. The little word "for" in the Greek means, "unto; in order to". Now let's look at our two passages again. Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). Peter said baptism is "for the remission of sins". Some folks say that Peter meant that "because our sins have already been forgiven" you are baptized. Let's see if that sort of logic holds true with the other passage when Jesus said, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28). That same logic would have Jesus saying that he would shed his blood "because our sins have already been forgiven". Jesus shed his blood so the world COULD HAVE forgiveness of sins, NOT because the world's sins HAD ALREADY BEEN forgiven.
John said concerning Jesus Christ, "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood" (Revelation 1:5). John makes it clear that the blood of Jesus Christ washes away our sins. Ananias said, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Ananias says that baptism washes away sins. When we put the two together, we see that one has his sins washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ when one is baptized into Christ. This is why Jesus Christ himself said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16).
My friend, the blood of Jesus Christ, through obedience to the Word of God, forgives our sins. The apostle Peter said, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:21).
Have you been baptized "for the remission of sins"? Why not TODAY believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (John 8:24); repent of your sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38); confess Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10); and be baptized "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16) and the BLOOD of Jesus Christ will "wash away thy sins".
