Life is in the Blood

By Dale J. Babinsky     In December 1799 George Washington passed from this life. He had been out taking care of his property in foul weather and had come down with what would appear to be a cold (sore throat, congestion, etc.). In an eƫort to save the former president, his doctors took to opening veins and “bleeding” him, which was believed at the time to be the way to get the illness out of his system. What the doctors of the time failed to realize is that life is in the blood.     Man cannot sustain his physical life without blood. This was well known to the Israelites, or should have been, since God forbade the eating of blood because “life is in the blood. . .” (Leviticus 17:11a NKJV). Human medicine has come to realize the importance of blood in sustaining life in the years following Washington’s death. Now, much can be done with transfusions to help stabilize patients who have suƫered a loss of blood.     In looking at man’s spiritual life, it can be seen that our spiritual life is also in the blood. The Scriptures tell us that we have all sinned (Romans 3:23), and that the wages, the anticipated payment, of sin is spiritual death (Romans 6:23). We know that this is not in reference to physical death, for we must all be subject to that unless the Lord returns first (Hebrews 9:27). In order to have spiritual life, an eternity in heaven, we must have our sins covered by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5).     We make contact with the blood of Christ when we are buried with Him in the act of baptism (Romans 6:3-4). In obeying the command of Christ to be baptized (Mark 16:16), we can have our sins washed away (Acts 2:38; 22:16). It is in our obedience to the words of Scripture, that the blood of Christ is applied to us and we are cleansed from our sins. Thus, we are able to have spiritual life. Thus, both our physical life and our spiritual life are in the blood!

- Dale J. Babinsky preaches for the Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://gsmchurchofchrist.com/