Justification, Reconciliation, Sanctification, and baptism
There are many teachings on this topic. But let’s look at what the Bible, and the Bible only says regarding justification, reconciliation, and sanctification:
Romans 5:9
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
Q: What does justification have to do with Christ’s blood and baptism?
A: Everything!
Hebrews 10:19-22
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
“…since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by …his body,”
It is through Christ’s body that we gain access to His blood.
What is Christ’s body?
Besides 1Corinthians 12:27 quoted above, there are many other places in Scripture that teach the church is a spiritual illustration of the body of Christ.
1Corinthians 6:15
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?
Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Colossians 1:24
Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
Ephesians 1:22-23
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
How do we become a part of His body (which is the church)?
Through baptism:
1Corinthians 12:13
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Through baptism we become a part of Christ’s body—the church, and we therefore gain access to Christ’s blood. (See also Romans 6:3-4-- take note of the phrases “into Christ“, and “through baptism.”)
We gain access to Christ’s blood
through His body.
We gain access to Christ’s body
through baptism.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom
and understanding. – Ephesians 1:7-8
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus – Romans 8:1
Colossians 1:22
But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation–
1Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
When were we “washed”? When was God’s Spirit given to us? See John 3:5 and Acts 2:38.
The Greek word for “washed” in 1Cor 6:11 is “apolouo” (
)
This is the same exact Greek word used in Acts 22:16. In fact, “apolouo”, (Strong's Number 628) is only used twice in the New Testament; in 1Cor 6:11, and Acts 22:16—where it is directly connected to baptism.
Comments from Thayer's Lexicon on 1Cor 6:11:
“Whoever obtains remission of sins has his sins put, so to speak, out of God’s sight—is cleansed from them in the sight of God. Remission is obtained by undergoing baptism; hence those who have gone down into the baptismal bath are said to have washed themselves, or to have washed away their sins, i.e. to have been cleansed from their sins.”
Here are word tense/stem results of Acts 22:16:
The imperative mood corresponds to the English imperative, and expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one commanding. Thus, Jesus' phrase, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mk.1:15) is not at all an "invitation," but an absolute command requiring full obedience on the part of all hearers. The middle voice indicates the subject performing an action upon himself (reflexive action) or for his own benefit.
See also: Water and Spirit, and baptism
When we are washed, we are sanctified, we are justified. Therefore we are reconciled to God.
If Jesus gave his body over to death and Christ shed His blood for us nearly 2,000 years ago, and it is at the point of baptism we can come into contact with the blood of Jesus, it can truly be said we are saved through faith and grace!