The Blood of Jesus Christ

“… and the blood of Jesus, His Son, is cleansing us from every sin.”
(1 John 1:7)

How is it that the blood of Jesus Christ is able to cleanse us from every sin? The usual answer to this question amounts to this: Jesus died as our substitute, so that we no longer have to pay the penalty for our sins. Orthodox as that sounds, we do not find this idea in Scripture. Nowhere do we read that Jesus Christ died as our substitute. It is also illogical. Such language would apply if we no longer had to die. But since a believer still dies, Jesus Christ evidently did not die as our substitute.

Certainly, Scripture teaches that Christ died “for us” (1). Yet not to keep us from death, but to save us out of death! Christ died in order to conquer death “on the third day”! It is in this way that He brings an end to death and thereby also to sin (2). Christ did indeed die for our sins, but if He had not been roused, then according to Paul we would still be in our sins (3).

The blood of Jesus Christ naturally refers to His sacrifice, that is, to “a Lambkin standing, as though slain.” But how can a lambkin that has been slain cleanse from sin? The answer is: because the slain Lambkin was roused and therefore lives! (4) That is why He is able to cleanse! The blood of the Lambkin speaks of the Sacrifice… that LIVES!

Walking in the light of this Conqueror will unfailingly give direction to our lives. As light drives out darkness, so the great Prince of Life cleanses us from every sin!

Footnotes

(1) 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:15
(2) 1 Corinthians 15:56–57
(3) 1 Corinthians 15:3, 17
(4) Revelation 5:6

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