The Blood Covenant

[Sam]

This is from pages 6 and 10 of the June 1954 Pentecostal Herald. It is titled “The Blood Covenant” and was written by Howard A. Goss who was General Superintendent of the UPC from the time it was formed in 1945 until 1951. The article shows how even at that time, what we call the “one-step” plan of salvation was published in the official magazine of the UPC. I have used capitals the same places Bro. Goss used capitals but I have not used italics for the Scripture quotes like the original article did.

The Blood Covenant
by Howard A. Goss

For thousands of years the redemption of mankind has been set forth in the Word of God as dependent upon blood. This blood remedy has not been any temporary plan, it universally runs through God's plan for salvation of humanity from Adam to the end of time. For this reason it is sometimes spoken of as the scarlet thread of the Bible.

God has always required that when men approach Him to find His favor they must bring a blood offering. The reason the Lord early accepted Abel’s offering and refused Cain’s was because a blood sacrifice, as God required, had been Abel’s offering, while Cain brought only the vegetables he had raised in his garden. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.”

The first major occurrence setting forth the safety of those under the blood is found in Exodus 12:13 where Moses was commanded to have each family or household apply the blood over the door of their habitation and upon the lintels of the door, “...and the blood shall be to you a token upon the house where you are. AND WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I WILL PASS OVER YOU.”

In Exodus 13:13, God decreed that all mankind was to be redeemed by a lamb. From then on Aaron and his sons and all the other priests, had to be anointed with the blood of a slain lamb on the tip of the right foot after which the blood was to be sprinkled upon the altar of sacrifice (Exodus 29:20). Thus all sins had to be atoned for by blood. Even the sins of ignorance were cleansed only by blood (Lev. 4:2-7)

The Old Covenant was given, confirmed and executed with blood. The beginning of the New Covenant did not depart from the same plan, for John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the SIN of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus said, “For this is my blood of the New Testament (Covenant) which was shed for many for the remission (or forgiveness) of sins” (Matthew 26:28). Paul writes these words, “Our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing through Jesus Christ” (Hebrews 13:20-21). Peter says our redemption comes “...by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (i Peter 1:19).

“Whom God set forth to be a propitiation (how?) through faith in his blood” (Romans 3:25). Some thing offered to appease the wrath of another to satisfy his demands to meet his requirements. In writing to the Ephesians Paul wrote, " in whom we have redemption
THROUGH HIS BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins." This was a main principle with Paul, for he restates it when he writes to the Colossians (1:14) “in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

Speaking of Christ’s work for us as our high priest, he said to the Hebrews (9:12) “By his own blood he entered in once (no second offering was needed) into the Holy Place, having obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION for us.” “When he had by himself purged our sins...” (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus suffered the reproach reserved for criminals of being crucified outside the city of Jerusalem. Why did He submit to such indignities? “That he might sanctify the people with his own blood...” (Hebrews 13:12). In Hebrews 2:17 we find these words, “Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren.” The high priest was selected from among men. So Jesus was selected from among His brethren. “...that he might be a merciful (that is, be able to have compassion on humanity) and faithful high priest... to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”

Only when He had by Himself purged our sins, did He consider His earthly work finished (Hebrews 1:3) for He had “...purchased the church of God with is own blood” (Acts 20:28). Because of his we now have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus and by no other means. For “...it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Lev. 16:11). “And without the shedding of blood is no remission...” (Hebrews 9:22). The only way we have boldness to enter into the holiest at all is by the blood of Jesus. Our equivalent today of “the holiest” corresponds to the baptism of the Holy Ghost. We are “...made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2;13).

The Lord’s plan of salvation is as follows: first, conviction for sin which should lead to repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He purchased on the cross of Calvary dominion over sin for the whole human race.

Although repentance brings the blood of Jesus to a sinner’s heart to wipe out and cleanse him from all sin, he should then be baptized in water as a confession of his faith in the atonement for “as many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ Jesus and...arise to walk in newness of life.” This then, is the second step so far as man is concerned.

Our next step brings us to God’s great gift to mankind, the gift of the Holy Spirit where we receive the Lord’s witness --speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. This is how Peter and the Jews who came with him to the household of Cornelius knew when the Gentiles had received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, for (because) they heard them speak in tongues and magnify God (Acts 10:48).

These are they that bear witness in the earth, the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood and these three agree in one. We should have the witness of all three. When a sinner fully repents and confesses before God, the blood of Jesus atones for his sins, cleanses his heart from all sin, and when he is clean then only is he a fit subject for water baptism. After that comes the promise “...you shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost...”(Acts 2:38).

The blood and power of the Lord Jesus is the only source of regeneration or the New Birth. Water baptism alone has no power to remit sins, else we could baptize infants as do the Catholics. The Roman Catholic teaches regeneration by water baptism, but it is not according to the Word of God. A candidate for baptism in water should be baptized BECAUSE THE BLOOD HAS cleansed, remitted, forgiven his sins and not in order to get them remitted, as WATER ALONE CANNOT WASH AWAY MY SINS. The old hymn goes:
What can wash away my sins,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Jesus’ blood is constantly needed to keep THE CHILDREN OF GOD clean and holy, and to make them “perfect in every good work.” New Testament saints overcome the devil “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.” We see from all this that the only remedy for sin is Jesus’ blood. Revelation 1:5 says, “Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Peter corroborating this fact says: “For as much as you were not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold, but with the precious BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-9. Thus we see by the Word of God that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses, washes, remits, forgives, and purges, and that nothing more and nothing less is the only cure for sin.

For Christians also the blood of Jesus is the only cure and remedy for his subsequent transgressions. “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:37). “These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). There is great virtue and power in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, for “by His own BLOOD he entered into the Holy Place having obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION for us” (Hebrews 9:12). This eternal redemption covers all of time. How much more “shall the BLOOD OF CHRIST, who through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge our conscience from dead works to serve the Living God” (Hebrews 9:14).

The only way children of God have victory over Satan is through Jesus’ blood, for they “overcame by the blood.”

In the partaking of the sacrament the blood is for our sins and His broken body for our healing for “by His stripes we are healed.” Our Lord Jesus shed His blood on Calvary’s hill, and it atones for sins, and there is NO OTHER PROPITIATION OR PROVISION MADE FOR SIN. How we ought to thank our God for the blood and by His grace ever keep under its protection as the children of Israel did in Egypt. We had better abide in His house and forsake not our “Bethel,” for “...when I see the BLOOD I will pass over you.”