Skip to main content

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOKLET "BLOOD AS LIFE IN SCRIPTURES AND HISTORY" BY NYRON MEDINA

Introduction
When an Evangelical now speaks about the word “blood” referring to the “blood of Christ”, he means the “death of Christ” not the “life of Christ.” This was not always so. He once believed that the blood of Jesus meant the Life of Jesus, until the advent of a little book by A. M. Stibbs by the name of The Meaning of the Word ‘Blood’ in Scripture which was released in 1948. This little book has been the most important influence in leveling the broad spectrum of Evangelical theology across the globe in changing from the blood-Life concept to the blood-death theory. According to this theory, wherever the blood of Jesus is referred to in Scripture, either in the types or anti-types, it always means the death of Jesus Christ, thus the objective-substitutionary death of Christ for all. So that scriptures that tells us “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7), should be interpreted as “the death of Christ delivered us from all sin on the cross”, so that man’s salvation is based upon the objective substitutionary death of Jesus for all, and has no reference to the subjective gift of life to change the moral experience of the believer. This has consequentially led most Evangelical religions to base salvation on an objective historical deed of Jesus and not anyway on a subjective transformative regenerating deed of Jesus in the believer. Salvation is now expected to the believer even if he has sin in him, once he believes the objective death of Christ for his sins. This point is simply illustrated by this short statement from this booklet.
“Rather, salvation is only by substitution—trusting Jesus Christ as Savior because He is the One who died in the place of every person. People are saved not because of any righteousness they have in themselves but because of trusting in Jesus Christ, who then becomes their righteousness.” Theodore H. Epp, Forgiveness Through the Blood, p. 10. The conclusion is clear, salvation is entirely objective.This is the topic of our study today. The blood-death theory is examined today and exposed to be totally erroneous. It shows that the only sensible position to believe concerning the blood of Christ, is that it means Life. Blood itself is life-giving fluid, and the Scriptures that speak about blood, i.e. “the shedding of blood”, can only mean “the releasing of Life” or “gift of life”.
The very fact that Jesus presented His mission as one of coming to give Life, which is symbolized by blood, can never be construed to mean that He came to make us have death and have it more abundantly. The gift of God is eternal life (symbolized by blood) not the gift of eternal death; and eternal life is supposed to be in the person, so one cannot interpret this to mean that the believer has eternal death (if as it is claimed the blood means death). So may all be blessed as they understand the teaching of this booklet in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.
Texts showing life from Christ in the believer which comes by blood (the life of Christ) spiritually. (John 6:47-63; Romans 8:6; 2 Corinthians 4:10,11; 1 John 3:15; 1 John 5:11-13,16,20).
e. Christ came to give Life (blood) not death. John 10:10,11,17,28; John 15:13; John 17:2,3; John 20:31; John 3:14-16; 2 Timothy 1:10; 1 John 1:1,2; 1 John 2:24,25; Romans 6:23.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

WHAT OUR INQUIRY ABOUT OURSELVES SHOULD BE?

WHAT OUR INQUIRY ABOUT OURSELVES  SHOULD BE? We are in the very last days, we are told that the last controversy will be very short. “We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Prophecies are fulfilling. The last great conflict will be short, but terrible. Old controversies will be revived. New controversies will arise. We have a great work to do. Our ministerial work must not cease. The last warning must be given to the world. There is a special power in the presentation of the truth at the present time. How long will it last? Only a little while.” Ellen G. White, Selected Messages bk. 3, pg. 419. And in view of the lateness of time, what should be the inquiry of everyone? We are told: “The inquiry of everyone should be ‘whose am I? To whom do I owe allegiance? Is my heart renewed? Is my soul reformed? Are my sins forgiven? Will they be blotted out when the time of refreshing shall come?” Ibid, pg. 419. We must needs examine ourselves to see if we...

MRS WHITE QUOTES ON THE 1888 MESSAGE REJECTION

1. “The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones.” — TM p. 91. 2. “God gave to His servants a testimony that presented the truth as it is in Jesus, which is the third angel’s message, in clear distinct lines” — TM p. 93. 3. “The message of the gospel of His grace was to be given to the church in clear and distinct lines, that the world should no longer say that Seventh-Day Adventists talk the law, the law, but do not teach or believe Christ. The efficacy of the blood of Christ was to be presented to the people with freshness and power.” — TM p. 92. 4. “This is the very work which the Lord designs that the message He has given His servants, shall perform in the heart and mind of every human agent….God gave to His messengers just what the people needed.” — TM p. 95. 5. “The Lord would have these grand themes studied in our churches, and if every church member shall give entrance to the word of God it will give light and...

EGW QUOTE ON SINFUL NATURE

We are told that Jesus had our “sinful nature.” “He took upon Him our sinful nature.” Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, 7/30/02. “In him was no guile nor sinfulness,….yet He took upon Him our sinful nature.” Ibid. From what we have just read, we see that the term “sinful nature” for Mrs. White does not mean that the person has sin for she says that Jesus was sinfree. But what does sinful nature mean that the person? A. It means human nature affected by sin not infected with  sin. B. It means human nature weakened by sin, but not resided by sin. C. This is the Mind, Emotions/Passions, Flesh and Experience weakened by sin, but not necessarily indwelt by sin. D. It is quite true that man’s sinful nature, a nature weakened by sin, in the average sinner may have sin in it. So sinful nature for the sinner in sin is a nature weakened by sin, but the man has sin in this nature. E. This means the man has sin in his Mind, Passions/Emotions, Experience, and sin in his flesh is sin in his Mi...