Justification (Part 4)

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 5:6-9).

What an extremely precious thing Jesus has done for man! Man was separated from God because of his sin, without hope, for man could not reconcile himself back to God. The greatest question for each person is: How can I be reconciled to God? Let’s look first at Jesus’ death on the cross, for at that time, the New Testament was dedicated. Notice Hebrews 9:15: “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” What did God require for a testament to be in force? Look at what was required for the first testament: “Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined upon you” (Hebrews 9:18-20). “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:11-14). “Much more then, being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 5:9). From God’s Word, we learn that Jesus’ blood is essential for our reconciliation and justification.

So, the logical next question is: how do I appropriate Jesus’ blood so that I might be reconciled to God and justified in His sight? Let’s notice first that Jesus’ blood was shed after His death: “But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:33,34). Peter explains the moment in which the believing, penitent sinner contacts Jesus' blood: "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” (1 Peter 3:21). Saul of Tarsus, after praying for 3 days and 3 nights, still had his sins. Ananias told him how they could be removed: “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Paul describes the death, burial, and resurrection by which the sinner contacts Jesus’ blood: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3,4). After this brief study, it isn’t difficult to pinpoint the time and place in which the sinner contacts Jesus’ blood. Have you been baptized into Christ, for the remission of sins, so you may be raised a new creature, reconciled, justified?