The Blood or The Life?

 I've been having an off-on conversation with a friend about the subject of Salvation. The question is this:

Does Salvation come by the Blood of Christ?

I think there's a lot to that question, and if it's not explored it can be a major theological bump in the road.

Here are my current thoughts on the subject and I do not claim to have the final, or even a complete answer, but I have AN answer.

As the few of you weirdos who read my blog know I believe we're under a NEW covenant, not a renewed covenant. I also don't keep the Holy Days as such, because of their being a part of a previous covenant. Hebrews 9:15 (I only start with that to save those of you who don't know from curiosity about my perspective)

So, does salvation come by the blood of Jesus?

First, let's consider the Sinai covenant. The Temple and all the laws associated with it, regarding cleanness, sacrifices, offerings, alters, washings, dates and times, proper attire, etc... These things, the entire system was representational of Jesus paying an unavoidable debt incurred by mankind. Hebrews 9:23 It is explicit that they cannot save. There is however an aspect of justification. Hebrews 9:13-15.

Now, lots of incorrect conflation happens when people think of Justification and Salvation and that can muddy the situation.

The laws associated with the old covenant show the necessity of sacrifice as well as the requirements to be/offer it. They are a working representation of what Jesus fulfilled. Hebrews 9:26

Salvation, is not possible BY the Law, that is explicit. Ephesians 2:8-9 [Though Paul does make the case that law cannot justify either, that is in the context of after the new covenant had been made and therefore having made the old covent obsolete (Galatians 3)]

So, back to the blood, is it the DEATH of Christ that Saves us?? I think the answer, in spite of the existence of this discussion, is obvious, the Blood doesn't save us, the blood can't save us. The Blood is for the Remission of Sins Matthew 26:28. The Blood doesn't offer eternal life or salvation of any kind, it only Pays the Price, that's Justification. That leaves the modern believer, and the theoretical righteous Jew of the previous covenant on curiously equal ground. If you repent and believe the Gospel, or if you Follow the Law of God perfectly, theoretically you can only MAX out at 0/0; That is zero out of zero, no losses, no gains, empty slate. Very few, however have ever reached 0/0, in fact it was Paul's opinion that it was impossible. Nonetheless, 0/0 is the max, Jesus Blood is for Justification. The Lord's Supper and Baptism both point in some ways to the acceptance of that Death on our own personal accounts. The acceptance of the payment for our sins. 1 Corinthians 10:16

Salvation on the other hand, as EXPLICITLY stated, is a product of Grace, possible BECAUSE HE LIVES. 1 Peter 1, and Ephesians 2:8 

1 Corinthians 15, Paul goes through great length to explain that it's BECAUSE He lives that we have hope, otherwise faith is in vain.

Our HOPE, the Hope of our salvation IS the resurrection... specifically HIS resurrection.

2 Corinthians 4.

Blood = Justification / Grace Because He Lives = Salvation

Romans 5:9-10 sews up any debate in my mind, "since we have been justified by His blood...shall be saved by His life."



Please feel free to chime in.




Comments

  1. Ashley MolufJune 8, 2022 at 11:02 PM

    Nice! Looks like you stole my pastor’s sermon notes from April

    ReplyDelete
  2. BlakeJune 9, 2022 at 12:37 PM

    I follow the logic and I feel like it's supported well scripturally, but I don't like separating these elements into their individual parts. I feel like they are woven together and any attempt to single them out is to place more importance on one over the other. I don't think that is what you are trying to do here and you say that the reason for your exploration of this topic is to avoid a "theological bump"—fair enough. I think others parse this out to avoid being responsible for what comes after the gift of salvation by grace. I believe the term is "cheap grace" .

    Your debt has been paid...what now?

    ReplyDelete

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