Understanding Christ’s Sacrifice

The Bible frequently describes Christ’s sacrifice using figurative and metaphorical language rather than strictly literal terms. To accurately understand these figures and metaphors, it is essential first to understand what Scripture teaches in plain literal language. Establishing this literal understanding allows us to interpret Biblical figures of speech and metaphor correctly and avoid misunderstanding their intended meaning.

For example, 1 John 1:7 states that “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” This statement uses metaphorical language. Christ’s blood does not literally wash away our sins. Instead, the verse symbolically represents the means by which forgiveness is made available. The literal meaning behind this metaphor is explained in 1 John 1:9 as God forgiving our sins when we confess them to Him. The metaphor of “cleansing by blood” therefore illustrates God’s gracious act of forgiveness, rather than describing a literal process.

God Sent Jesus as a Mortal Man to Save Sinners

God sent Jesus into the world both as His Son and as a mortal man, with the specific purpose of saving sinners. This salvation involves God forgiving sins and delivering believers from mortal human nature, with its impulses and tendencies toward sin, ultimately restoring them from sin and all its effects.

God deliberately prepared Jesus and brought him into existence as a mortal man so that he could act as a true representative of humanity. As our representative, he shared fully in our mortal condition with a purpose to be personally faithful and obedient to God. A such, Jesus himself had to be saved through the very sacrifice he offered, in order to open the way of salvation for others who believe in him and identify with him in faith (Hebrews 10:5; Hebrews 2:16–18; Acts 2:23–24).

God’s purpose in Christ required that Jesus fully share in human mortality and live under the dominion of death. He experienced life under the same conditions as all other humans, facing genuine temptation to sin, yet without ever sinning (Hebrews 4:15). He inherited this mortal human nature from his mother, Mary, having been “born of a woman” (Galatians 4:4). Scripture repeatedly emphasises that Jesus truly shared in our nature and condition (Hebrews 2:6–18; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 10:5), but God later raised him from the dead to immortality (Romans 6:9).

Jesus was tempted from within, like every other mortal human being. James 1:14–15 explains that temptation arises from a person’s own desires, which originate internally. Temptation itself is not sin, but it is the process through which sin develops if those desires are acted upon. These inward desires are a natural part of human nature, referred to in Scripture as “the flesh.”

Mortal human nature possesses impulses and tendencies that conflict with God’s will (1 John 2:16–17; Galatians 5:17). Jesus taught that sinful actions arise from within the human heart (Mark 7:20–21), and Paul explains that sin operates through human nature itself (Romans 7:17–18, 20, 23; Romans 8:7). Scripture consistently presents mortal human nature as having no inherent goodness and as being inclined toward sin (Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:17–18). Because it is the source from which sinful actions arise and which defiles a person (Mark 7:21–23), human nature is described in Scripture as “unclean” (Job 15:14; Job 25:4).

Romans 8:2–4 explains that Jesus came in “sinful flesh,” or “the flesh of sin.” This expression refers not to sinful actions, but to mortal human nature, which is the source and cause of sin. The phrase “likeness of sinful flesh” does not imply a mere resemblance. In the original Greek, it carries the sense of being the same as or identical. This means that Jesus possessed the same mortal human nature as all other human beings. Hebrews 2:14 confirms this, stating that since humanity shares in flesh and blood, Jesus likewise partook of the same. A similar use of the word “likeness” appears in Philippians 2:7, which says that Jesus was made in the likeness of men.

In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul states that Jesus was “made to be sin.” This is a figure of speech indicating that Jesus shared in mortal human nature, which is the source and cause of sin. Mortal human nature is not literally sin, but it is called “sin” by a figure of speech because it is where sinful impulses reside and operate. Although Jesus was born of God and possessed mortal human nature with its tendencies toward sin, he never committed sin. Throughout his life, he remained completely obedient and righteous before God.

To properly understand Jesus’ sacrifice, it is essential not to consider him as an individual in isolation from the work for which God sent him. God sent Jesus specifically to be our representative in need of deliverance from death in order to deliver us from sin and death. Apart from that saving purpose, there would have been no reason for his mission. It is only by understanding both his nature and his work together as our representative that we can fully appreciate the significance of his sacrifice.

God Sent Jesus as His Son to Save Sinners

In addition to sending Jesus as a mortal man, God also made Jesus His Son, equipping him with the spiritual and mental capacity necessary to overcome sin. This was essential for the fulfilment of God’s saving purpose, since it is impossible for mortal human nature, by itself, to achieve complete victory over sin. Throughout Jesus’ life, God worked through him, guided him, and strengthened him so that he might accomplish what humanity could never do alone (2 Corinthians 5:19; Acts 2:22; Acts 10:38).

Jesus’ sonship was the result of God’s direct involvement in his conception and mission. Scripture emphasizes that Jesus was conceived by the power of God, not by a human father (Matthew 1:20–21; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14; Galatians 4:4). This divine origin identifies Jesus uniquely as the Son of God, while still fully sharing human nature. Genesis 3:15 refers to him as the “seed of the woman,” highlighting both his humanity and the absence of a human father, further confirming his unique sonship.

As a mortal man, Jesus could not overcome sin by his own strength alone. He consistently acknowledged his dependence on God, stating that he could do nothing independently of the Father (John 5:30; John 8:28). Victory over sin was achieved through God’s power working in him. God empowered Jesus with His Spirit, enabling him to remain obedient and faithful in every aspect of his life (Luke 4:18; John 3:34–35; Psalm 80:17; Isaiah 59:16).

Jesus’ entire mission was carried out in complete submission to God’s will. He taught that his words, works, and authority came from God, not from himself (John 4:34; John 5:19, 30; John 7:16; John 12:49–50; John 14:9–10). This relationship demonstrated that God was actively working in and through Jesus to achieve reconciliation between Himself and humanity.

This truth is summarized in the statement that “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). Jesus lived a life entirely emptied of self-interest and fully aligned with God’s purpose. Though mortal, he was filled with the fullness of God’s mind and power, enabling him to conquer sin and faithfully accomplish the work he was sent to do.

Christ’s Sacrifice Demonstrates God’s Righteousness and Grace

When Jesus was crucified, he was publicly lifted up on the cross as a clear and open demonstration of God’s righteousness. Jesus’ crucifixion publicly demonstrated that death was due to sin, which stands in opposition to His will. It demonstrated that mortal humans are rightly related to death, even for a righteous man. Jesus had never sinned but it was just and right that he should die as he shared the same mortal flesh and blood nature as us with its bias to sin. It was in this way that he was our representative and had our sins laid on him to bare.

The cross was not a hidden or symbolic event alone, but a public demonstration intended for people to see, understand, and believe in. Jesus himself explained that his lifting up would draw people to this saving truth (John 3:14–17; John 12:32–33). The apostle Paul likewise teaches that God set Christ forth as a public demonstration of His righteousness, to be responded to in faith (Romans 3:25).

Christ’s sacrificial death is therefore efficacious for saving people from sin and death when they have faith in the principles of God’s righteousness that the sacrifice demonstrates. Scripture consistently connects forgiveness and deliverance from mortality with faith in the meaning of Christ’s shed blood (Romans 3:25 KJV; Hebrews 9:22; Leviticus 17:11, 14; 1 John 1:7–10; Romans 5:9; Colossians 1:14 KJV; Matthew 26:28; Revelation 1:5). The blood of Christ does not work legalistically or mechanically, but symbolically and morally, pointing to the righteous basis upon which God forgives sin and delivers from mortality.

The Gospel itself bears witness to this public lifting up of Christ. It’s message openly proclaims the righteousness of God as revealed in Jesus’ life and death, inviting people to believe and place their trust in what God has done through him (Romans 1:16–17). The Scriptures repeatedly emphasise that Christ’s death was neither accidental nor forced, but carried out in obedience to God’s will and purpose (John 10:18; Philippians 2:8; Romans 8:32; Acts 2:23; Acts 4:27–28). Through Jesus’ life and his death, God decisively dealt with sin and its power (Colossians 2:11–15), fulfilling the suffering servant prophecy of Isaiah 53.

Through Christ’s sacrifice, God is able to forgive sinners and make them righteous on the basis of faith without compromising His justice. God does not ignore sin or set aside His righteous standards. Instead, He shows grace and mercy in a way that upholds His own righteousness. Those who believe and have faith in the principles demonstrated in Christ’s sacrifice are forgiven and will be saved from mortality, while God’s just sentence of mortality and death as the consequence of sin is maintained (Romans 4:3–8). As 1 John 1:7–10 explains, God is both faithful and just to forgive sins when they are confessed, because such confession acknowledges God’s righteousness and the sinners own unrighteousness and need for God’s mercy.

In this way, God’s righteousness and justice was upheld in Christ’s sacrifice, and sin was condemned at its source—within mortal human nature itself, where the impulses and tendencies to sin reside and operate (Romans 3:25; Romans 8:3; Galatians 3:1; Colossians 2:11–15).

Jesus was able to demonstrate God’s righteousness in his sacrificial death only because he had lived a perfectly righteous and sinless life. His faithfulness under temptation qualified him to be the means through which God’s righteousness could be revealed and believed (Hebrews 4:15; Luke 4:1–13; Matthew 3:13–17; Acts 2:24). For this reason, faith in what Christ’s sacrifice demonstrated is efficacious to save from sin and death.

The shedding of Christ’s blood was essential to this saving work. In Scripture, blood represents life and the shedding of blood signifies the cessation of life. When Jesus’ blood was shed, resulting in his death, it demonstrated that God’s sentence of mortality upon the human race was just and right (Romans 5:12). Christ’s death demonstrated that sin leads to death and that God’s judgment on sin is righteous.

The expressions “shedding of Christ’s blood,” “his death,” and “the offering of his body” are closely related and are synonymous expressions that describe the same sacrifice. The shedding of Christ’s blood led to the death of his body, which was offered in obedience to God. Although Jesus was personally sinless, he shared mortal human nature, and God was just and right in requiring his death as part of His purpose.

Romans 3:21–26 is a key passage that explains these principles clearly. It is helpfully expressed in The New Testament in Modern Speech by Weymouth:

21 But now a righteousness coming from God has been brought to light apart from any Law, both Law and Prophets bearing witness to it—
22 a righteousness coming from God, which depends on faith in Jesus Christ and extends to all who believe. No distinction is made;
23 for all alike have sinned, and all consciously come short of the glory of God,
24 gaining acquittal from guilt by His free unpurchased grace through the deliverance which is found in Christ Jesus.
25 He it is whom God put forward as a Mercy‑Seat, rendered efficacious through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness—because of the passing over, in God’s forbearance, of the sins previously committed—
26 with a view to demonstrating, at the present time, His righteousness, that He may be shown to be righteous Himself, and the giver of righteousness to those who believe in Jesus.

These verses can be summarised as follows:

• Romans 3:21 — True righteousness originates with God, not with human effort or law‑keeping.

• Romans 3:22 — This righteousness is available to all who have faith in Jesus Christ.

• Romans 3:23 — All people have sinned and are undeserving of salvation; no one possesses righteousness of their own (Romans 3:10).

• Romans 3:24 — God justifies sinners freely by His grace through the deliverance found in Christ Jesus. “Redemption” means being set free after a ransom is paid, and here refers figuratively to being set free from sin and death through faith.

• Romans 3:25 — God presented Jesus as a “Mercy Seat,” the meeting place between God and humanity under the Law of Moses (Exodus 25:22; 30:6, 36). Jesus is now the mediator between God and humankind (1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1–2). The shedding of Jesus’ blood is efficacious to deliver from sin and death on the basis of faith in the principles of God’s righteousness publicly demonstrated in the sacrificial shedding of Christ’s blood.

• Romans 3:26 — Because of faith in what Christ’s sacrifice demonstrated, God can be completely right and just in showing grace and mercy to forgive sinners who have no righteousness of their own. Repentance and confession acknowledge that God is right and that we are wrong.

Christ’s Sacrifice Condemned Sin in the Flesh

Romans 8:2–4 explains that God sent Jesus in the same “sinful flesh” as all other human beings so that, through him, God could condemn sin at its very source—within the flesh of mortal human nature itself. The expression “sinful flesh” (or “flesh of sin”) does not refer to sinful acts, but to mortal human nature, from which the impulses and tendencies to sin arise and operate.

In Scripture, the word “sin” is often used as a figure of speech to describe the inward impulses and desires that give rise to sinful acts. It is this principle of sin operating within human nature that God condemned in Christ’s flesh. Galatians 5:24 describes this condemnation of sin in Jesus’ flesh in literal terms as “crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires.” In Christ’s sacrificial death, God condemned the very impulses and tendencies to sin that reside in mortal human nature—the same nature that Jesus shared with us.

Throughout his life, Jesus was strengthened by God to overcome the sinful tendencies inherent in mortal human nature. He consistently resisted temptation and remained obedient to God in every respect. Because Jesus conquered sin in his life, his death was able to bring about a decisive condemnation of sin at its root. In his sacrificial death, God destroyed those sinful impulses by putting them to death in the flesh of Christ (Hebrews 2:14).

Romans 6:6–7 uses the expression “the body of sin” to describe mortal human nature as the sphere in which sinful impulses operate. The apostle Paul draws a practical moral lesson from this truth: because Christ has dealt with sin in the flesh, believers are likewise called to put sin to death in their own lives. This same principle is repeated in Romans 8:13, where believers are instructed to mortify, or put to death, the sinful deeds that arise from the flesh.

Similarly, 1 Peter 2:24 states that Jesus “bore our sins in his body.” This does not mean that our sins were transferred onto him. Rather, it means that he shared the same mortal human nature as we do—with its tendencies to sin—and faithfully overcame them. The moral principle of this for those who follow Christ is that they should “die to sins and live to righteousness,” adopting the same attitude toward sin that was demonstrated by Jesus.

Hebrews 2:14–15 explains that through his death, Jesus destroyed “the devil,” who had the power of death. In Scripture, the “devil” is a personification of sin as a power that brings about death, rather than a separate supernatural being. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and therefore sin is portrayed as a hostile power opposing God’s will. The widely held idea of a personal, immortal devil arises from misunderstanding the Bible’s figurative language and symbols.

The Greek term diabolos (translated “devil”) represents sin as an active principle of disobedience that operates within human nature. This principle is described as a “spirit” influencing human behaviour in disobedience to God (Ephesians 2:2). It is hostile to God’s law and resides within mortal “flesh and blood,” the very nature that Jesus fully shared (Hebrews 2:14).

By living a sinless life and dying a sacrificial death, Jesus destroyed the power of sin within mortal human nature. In doing so, he broke sin’s hold over humanity—specifically, its power to bring about death—and opened the way for others to be delivered from its influence. Christ’s sacrifice therefore stands as God’s decisive condemnation of sin in the flesh and the foundation for both forgiveness and moral transformation.

The Resurrection is the Saving Power of Christ’s Sacrifice

The death of Jesus was essential to demonstrate both God’s righteousness and God’s love through a sacrifice for sin. That sacrifice was to annul the fundamental problem introduced by Adam’s transgression—the establishment of the “law of sin and death,” that is, the condition of mortality imposed upon the human race. In order to annul this law, Jesus willingly submitted to death, temporarily accepting its claims upon mortal human nature (1 Corinthians 15:17–23; Romans 4:24–25; Romans 5:10; John 3:14–17).

However, Christ’s death alone did not have had a saving effect. The saving power of Christ’s sacrifice lies in his resurrection. By raising Jesus from the dead, God publicly demonstrated that sin and death had been decisively dealt with. The resurrection confirms that God’s righteousness was upheld in Christ’s death and that God’s purpose had been fully achieved (Acts 13:32–38; Acts 10:43).

God raised Jesus to a new, immortal life, fundamentally different from mortal existence. What distinguished Jesus from every other human being was that he never sinned. He lived a perfectly righteous life of obedience, fully pleasing to God. Had Jesus sinned, death would have retained rightful power over him, just as it does over all sinful humanity. But because he was completely sinless, death had no legitimate claim upon him. For this reason, God was righteous and just both in requiring Jesus’ sacrificial death and in raising him from the dead, exalting him to immortality (Romans 6:9; John 8:46; 1 John 3:5).

The resurrection therefore proves that the power of sin had been broken and that the law of mortality had been annulled in Christ. As Paul explains, Jesus was “delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25). Without the resurrection, Christ’s sacrifice would have had no saving effect. As the apostle states plainly, if Christ is not raised, faith is empty and sins remain unforgiven (1 Corinthians 15:17).

Now exalted by God, Jesus serves as a priestly mediator, representing believers before God. Having passed through death and been raised to immortal life, he is able to intercede effectively for those who come to God through him (Hebrews 4:14–15; Hebrews 7:23–28; Hebrews 8:1). His resurrection and exaltation confirm that God has appointed him as the means through which forgiveness, reconciliation, and future resurrection to life are made possible (Ephesians 1:20–21; Romans 1:3–4).

Without the resurrection of Jesus, there would be no forgiveness of sins and no hope of deliverance from mortality. It is by raising Jesus from the dead after his sacrificial death that God established the foundation for salvation. Through faith in the risen Christ, believers are assured that death has been defeated and that eternal life will ultimately replace mortality, in fulfilment of God’s purpose (Acts 2:24; Acts 5:30; Acts 17:31; Titus 2:14).

Christ’s Sacrifice is Efficacious To Save Through Faith

Salvation accomplished through Jesus Christ is received through faith. Christ’s sacrifice is efficacious to save people from sin and death only when they believe in, and identify with, the principles of God’s righteousness and the condemnation of sin in the flesh that his sacrifice demonstrates. It is faith in what God has demonstrated through Christ’s sacrifice—not the sacrifice itself—that connects believers to salvation.

Through Christ’s sacrifice, God offers His grace to sinful people. On the basis of faith, God counts believers righteous without compromising His justice. In this way, God remains completely just while showing mercy to those who believe, and at the same time upholds His righteous judgment that death and mortality are the consequences of sin (Romans 3:25–26; Romans 4:3–8).

God’s gift of grace is entirely undeserved. Even though all people sin and fall short, God credits righteousness to those who have faith. This righteousness is not earned, but given freely as a gift by God’s grace (2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 4:3–6; Romans 10:3; James 2:23).

As Romans 3:22 states in Weymouth’s translation, God’s righteousness is available to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, without distinction. Likewise, Romans 3:25 explains that God presented Jesus as a “Mercy‑Seat,” by which forgiveness is made possible through faith in his blood, demonstrating God’s righteousness in passing over sins previously committed.

It is important to understand that Christ’s sacrifice does not save by its own inherent power. His sacrifice does not fulfil a legal transaction, meet a technical requirement, or perform any automatic function. There is no intrinsic property or power in the physical shedding of Christ’s blood, the offering of his body, or his death that, by itself, saves anyone.

The shedding of Christ’s blood does not literally atone, justify, cleanse, redeem, or reconcile people by its own action. These expressions are the Bible’s figurative and metaphorical language, which describes what God does literally to save believers on the basis of their “faith in his blood”—that is, faith in the principles of God’s righteousness and the condemnation of sin in the flesh that Christ’s sacrifice demonstrates (Romans 3:25 KJV; Romans 4:3–5, 24; Romans 5:1; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:1–14; Galatians 2:20; 1 John 1:7–10).

Christ’s sacrifice therefore serves as a demonstration of foundational principles, rather than operating as a saving mechanism in itself. Literally, it is God who saves people when they respond in faith to what the sacrifice of Christ demonstrates:

• It is God who forgives sins when people confess and repent, and express their faith through identification with Christ in baptism (Romans 4:1–8; Romans 6:3–14).

• It is God who purifies and transforms believers through the power of His Word and the example of Christ, changing their thinking from fleshly to spiritual (Hebrews 9:14; Romans 12:1–2; Ephesians 4:22–24; Colossians 3:9–10).

• It is God who grants immortality when Christ returns, to believers who have lived by faith “in Christ,” embodying the principles of his sacrifice by following his example (John 6:39–40; Romans 8:9–11; Galatians 2:20; 2 Timothy 2:11–13; 1 Peter 1:9).

It is God’s will that salvation from sin and death is only possible through faith and identification with the principles demonstrated in Christ’s sacrifice—specifically, God’s righteousness and His condemnation of sin in the flesh.

These principles are not merely doctrinal facts but moral principles that must be lived out by faith. Scripture teaches that believers must be dead to sin and alive to righteousness, modelling their lives on the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice (1 Peter 2:24; Romans 6:2–14; James 2:14–26).

Among the principles that believers are called to believe and live by are these:

• God is completely just and right in sentencing humanity to mortality as the consequence of sin. No one possesses an inherent right to eternal life and everyone is rightly related to death as mortals.

• God’s ways are righteous and just, whereas human ways are sinful and unjust.

• Mortal human nature is weak and contains no inherent goodness. Because of the natural impulses and tendencies of mortal human nature to sin, all people inevitably sin and cannot make themselves righteous.

• Humanity is entirely dependent on God’s grace and mercy for deliverance from sin and death. No person can save themselves.

• Sin must be confessed and repented of; it cannot be excused or justified. People have no righteousness of their own. God grants righteousness freely by His grace to those who have faith in Him and acknowledge His righteousness.

• Believers must be transformed by the renewal of their minds to be like God in righteousness and holiness. They must live by faith following the principles of Christ’s sacrifice.

God forgives for Christ’s sake, and through Christ’s teaching and example turns people from sin toward righteousness. Through faith, the power of Christ’s sacrifice cleanses the conscience from dead works and enables believers to serve God in righteousness.

All of Scripture’s teaching concerning Christ’s sacrifice carries moral instruction for faithful living. The message of forgiveness, reconciliation, and redemption is inseparably linked to a call to live transformed lives—dead to sin and alive to God—through faith (Romans 1:1–11; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:21–23; Acts 3:26; Acts 13:38; Hebrews 10:14–18; Isaiah 53:12).

Christ Obtained Salvation for Us by Obtaining it for Himself

God’s plan of salvation involved sending His Son, Jesus, as our representative as a mortal man. God specifically and intentionally sent Jesus as a mortal man, sharing the same human nature as us, and therefore subject to death. God sent him as a mortal man in need of personal deliverance from mortality. God’s purpose in Jesus was to provide a way out of sin and death, both for Jesus himself and for those he represented, by means of his sacrificial death followed by resurrection to immortal life.

As our representative, Jesus was himself saved from mortality and raised to immortality through his sacrifice by God because of his “faith in his blood”. By being delivered from death himself, he opened the way for others to be saved from sin and death in and through him, by faith. Hebrews 9:12 states that Jesus obtained “eternal redemption through his own blood.” The term redemption means being set free after a ransom is paid and is used figuratively here and means deliverance or salvation, rather than a literal price being paid.

It is important to note that in Hebrews 9:12 (KJV), the words “for us” are not present in the original Greek text. The Greek verb translated “having obtained” is in the middle voice, which conveys the sense of an action performed by someone upon themselves. The meaning is that Jesus, by means of his sacrifice, obtained eternal redemption, or deliverance, in and for himself. He did this as our representative, so that the deliverance he obtained for himself could subsequently be extended to others through faith. In this way, Jesus obtained redemption for us by first obtaining it in and for himself.

The “holy place” referred to in Hebrews 9:12 represents heaven itself. Hebrews 9:24 explains that Jesus entered heaven only after God raised him from the dead and made him immortal. It was “by means of his own blood”—that is, through his sacrificial death—that Jesus was able to obtain eternal redemption for himself, and thereby become the means of redemption for those who have faith in him.

As our representative, Jesus opened a new and living way to salvation from sin and death, leading to immortality, for all who have “faith in his blood”. Symbolically, believers also enter the “holy place”—that is, eternal life—“by the blood of Jesus,” meaning through faith in what his sacrifice demonstrated (Romans 3:25).

Hebrews 10:19–23 explains that Jesus opened this new way by passing through the veil, which is identified as his flesh, or mortal human nature. The veil represents the barrier of mortality that stood between humanity and eternal life. When Jesus offered his life and was raised from the dead, that barrier was removed. The tearing of the temple veil at Jesus’ death visually symbolised this reality (Matthew 27:50–52; Mark 15:37–38).

By overcoming sin in his life and passing through death to immortality, Jesus opened the way for others to follow. Those who identify with him in faith may now share in the salvation he obtained—first in himself, and then for all who belong to him.

This representative work of Christ is supported by many Scriptures, including Hebrews 9:12, 24; 13:20; Hebrews 2:9; 5:7–9; 4:14–15; 12:2; Romans 1:1–4; 5:17–19; 6:9; 8:17; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15; Philippians 2:5–9; and 1 Peter 2:24.

Christ Obtained Redemption for Us and Himself By His Own Blood Through Faith

Although Jesus was personally sinless and did not require forgiveness or reconciliation with God in the way that sinful humanity does, he nevertheless needed deliverance from mortal human nature, with its impulses and tendencies to sin, and from the death that inevitably results from that nature. Hebrews 9:12 explains that Jesus obtained redemption “by means of his own blood,” and Hebrews 13:20 states that God brought Jesus back from the dead “by the blood of the eternal covenant,” which was his own blood. These passages show that Jesus’ own redemption and salvation were accomplished through his sacrificial death and resurrection.

In Hebrews 9:12 (KJV), the Greek verb translated “having obtained” is in the middle voice, indicating an action performed by and for oneself. The sense of the passage is that Jesus, through his sacrifice, obtained eternal redemption in and for himself. As humanity’s representative, the redemption Jesus obtained for himself became the basis upon which redemption could be made available to others. In this way, the purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice was to obtain deliverance for us by first obtaining it in himself.

The shedding of Jesus’ blood is therefore directly associated with his own redemption and salvation from mortal human nature. The shedding of blood is only efficacious through faith in what it represents, and Jesus’ shed blood was efficacious to redeem and save him from mortality because he had complete faith in the principles that his sacrifice demonstrated—namely, God’s righteousness and God’s condemnation of sin in the flesh— that he exhibited in a life of perfect righteousness and obedience. Literally, was God who redeemed and saved Jesus from mortality “by means of his own blood” (Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 13:20), by raising him from the dead and granting him immortality, because of his complete “faith in his blood” (Romans 3:25 KJV).

Throughout his life, Jesus consistently demonstrated this “faith in his blood” by living in perfect righteousness and complete obedience to God. His sacrificial death was the ultimate expression of that faith—a voluntary submission to God’s righteous judgment on sin. Because Jesus had full faith in God’s righteousness and upheld it in every aspect of his life and death, God was both right and just in raising him from the dead and exalting him to immortal life (Romans 1:1–6; Romans 5:19; Acts 2:24; Philippians 2:8).

Jesus’ baptism was an early and significant symbolic expression of this same faith. By submitting to baptism, Jesus publicly committed himself to fulfilling God’s purpose in him. In doing so, he identified himself by faith, with the sacrificial work he would later complete, declaring his intention to “fulfil all righteousness” in himself (Matthew 3:15; Luke 12:50; Romans 3:25–26).

Jesus continually exhibited his “faith in his blood” by living out the principles of God’s righteousness in real life—overcoming sin completely—and ultimately by dying in a public sacrificial death to demonstrate those principles openly. Believers follow his example symbolically through baptism, expressing their faith in the same truths and identifying themselves with the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice.

Jesus’ obedience of faith, even to death on the cross, was a willing acceptance of God’s will that redemption—for himself and for all humanity—can only come through faith and identification with the principles of God’s righteousness and the condemnation of sin demonstrated in his sacrifice. As our representative and forerunner, Jesus experienced this redemptive process literally and completely in himself. Those who believe in him now participate in it symbolically through baptism and continued faithful living (Hebrews 9:12, 24; Hebrews 13:20; Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 5:7–9; Hebrews 4:14–15; Hebrews 12:2; Romans 5:17–19; Romans 6:9; Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15; Philippians 2:5–9; 1 Peter 2:24).

Christ Was Included in His Sacrifice as Our Representative

As our representative, Jesus could only obtain redemption for us by first obtaining it for himself. He was not external to the sacrifice he offered, but was included within it. Hebrews 9:12 expresses this precisely by using a Greek verb in the middle voice, which conveys an action performed by someone upon themselves. The sense is that Jesus, through his sacrificial death, “obtained in and for himself eternal redemption.” Only because redemption was first obtained in him could it then be available to others through him as their representative. It was for himself that it might be for us.

Jesus was therefore not disconnected from his own sacrifice. It was operative upon himself first. In order to truly be our representative, Jesus had to personally undergo the process of redemption and be the first to benefit from his sacrifice. He needed to pass through death and be saved from mortality, just as those he represented require salvation. The way God achieved this was through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. That sacrificial death was for himself first, not for sins that he had personally committed—since he was sinless—but for deliverance from the mortal human nature which he suffered in common with us.

By experiencing this deliverance first, Jesus became the foundation of God’s saving work. As our representative, he is described in Scripture as the beginning of God’s new creation. He is the firstfruits of those raised from the dead, the forerunner who has gone ahead on our behalf, and the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:23; Hebrews 6:19–20; Romans 8:29). In him, the pathway from mortality to immortality was opened for the first time. He thus became the starting point of eternal life for all who, by faith, are baptised into him and belong to him.

Jesus’ own salvation was therefore essential to our salvation. Had he not first been saved from death (Hebrews 5:7), had he not first obtained eternal redemption for himself through his own sacrificial death (Hebrews 9:12), there would be no salvation possible for us. Our salvation depends on what Jesus achieved in himself. He conquered sin and death personally, and it is only because he did so that others can share in that victory.

Believers share in Christ’s victory by being united with him in faith. This union is expressed symbolically through baptism, in which they identify in faith with his death and resurrection and commit themselves to living by the same principles he embodied (Romans 6:3–14; Hebrews 9:12, 24; Hebrews 13:20).

This representative principle is reflected even in Old Testament prophecy. In Zechariah 9:9 (KJV), the marginal reading describes the coming king as “saving himself,” highlighting the truth that Christ’s redemption was first achieved personally before it could be extended to others. As the forerunner and representative of humanity, Jesus was included in his own sacrifice, obtained redemption in himself, and thereby opened the way for all who follow him in faith.

Baptism is Our Identification with Christ in Faith

Baptism is an act of faith and obedience through which a believer responds personally to the Gospel. In baptism, a person accepts God’s saving message, puts on Christ, and receives forgiveness of sins. Scripture consistently presents baptism as the appointed means by which a believer expresses faith in God’s saving work through Christ (Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:27; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:48; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:18–21).

Through baptism, believers identify themselves with Christ as their representative. It is a conscious and faithful acknowledgment of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and a declaration that his saving work is the basis of their hope. In being baptised, believers are united “with him” in what he accomplished, showing that they accept God’s righteousness and His condemnation of sin as demonstrated in Christ’s sacrifice.

Baptism symbolises the death of the old way of life dominated by sin and the beginning of a new life dedicated to righteousness. By entering the water, a believer shows their willingness to die to sin; by rising from the water, they express their commitment to walk in newness of life. Because Christ’s sacrifice is efficacious to save through faith in the principles it demonstrates, baptism teaches powerful moral principles that believers are called to live out daily.

Romans 6:1–11 provides the clearest explanation of the meaning of baptism. In this passage, the apostle Paul explains that through baptism believers are:

• baptised into Christ,

• baptised into his death,

• buried with him in baptism,

• united with him in death,

• united with him in resurrection,

• crucified with him,

• dead with Christ, and

• raised to live with him.

This language shows that baptism is fundamentally about union with Christ. It is the means by which believers identify with his death and resurrection. The result is not merely a forgiven past, but a transformed present and future, rooted in a new relationship with God.

Through baptism, believers commit to leaving behind a life governed by sinful desires and to living according to the Spirit. The moral implications of baptism are emphasised throughout Scripture: believers are called to put to death sinful deeds, to live by faith, and to follow Christ’s example of obedience and righteousness (Romans 8:13–14; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:24–25; Ephesians 4:22–24; Philippians 3:8–11; Colossians 2:11–13; Colossians 3:9–10; 1 Peter 2:21–25).

Baptism, therefore, is not an end in itself, nor a mere ritual. It is a faithful identification with Christ and his saving work—a declaration that the believer accepts God’s judgment on sin and God’s offer of life through Christ. It marks the beginning of a life lived in faith, shaped by the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice, and directed toward righteousness and eternal life.

Continued Remembrance of Christ’s Sacrifice in Faith

When believers partake of the bread and the wine, they continue to express their faith in the principles that are demonstrated in Christ’s sacrifice. The bread represents Christ’s body, and the wine represents his blood. Together, these emblems remind believers of Christ’s sacrificial death and affirm their faith in what that sacrifice demonstrated about God’s righteousness and His condemnation of sin (Romans 3:25 KJV).

By eating the bread and drinking the wine, believers openly proclaim Christ’s death and acknowledge its meaning. This act is not a repetition of the sacrifice, but a remembrance of it, carried out in faith and obedience. Paul explains that this memorial proclamation continues “until he comes,” linking the present act of remembrance with the future hope of salvation (1 Corinthians 11:24–26).

The apostle Paul also describes this memorial act as a sharing or participation in Christ’s body and blood (1 Corinthians 10:16). This does not mean a literal sharing in Christ’s physical body or blood, but a spiritual identification with the principles his sacrifice embodied. Through this shared remembrance, believers reaffirm their unity with Christ and with one another, recognising that their hope rests entirely upon what God accomplished through him.

Jesus himself taught that those who partake of the bread and wine in faith abide in him, and he abides in them. This abiding relationship is the basis of the believer’s hope of eternal life (John 6:51–58). By continuing steadfastly in this act of remembrance, believers maintain an active and ongoing identification with Christ’s sacrifice, renewing their commitment to live by its meaning—to be dead to sin, and alive to God in righteousness.

Thus, the memorial of bread and wine serves as a continual reminder of Christ’s sacrifice, a reaffirmation of faith in God’s righteousness, and an expression of hope in the eternal life God has promised through His Son.

Adapted from extracts from various sources including “Redemption in Christ Jesus” by WF Barling, “A Declaration of the Truth Revealed in the Bible”, “The Christadelphian Instructor”, “The Nature of Man and the Sacrifice of Christ”, “The Blood of Christ”, “The Law of Moses”, and various articles from “The Christadelphian” magazine” by Robert Roberts.