A. Jesus shed his blood to forgive sins and save our souls.

Matthew 26:28 (NLT)
for this is my blood…as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

B. Due to its power to cover sin, the blood purifies our consciences.

Hebrews 9:14 (NLT)
the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds

C. When is the blood applied? In faith, baptism saves us and gives us clean consciences. Peter preached that we are baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins.

1 Peter 3:21 (NLT)
And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience.

Acts 2:38 (NLT)
Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

D. The old covenant was established by blood for the forgiveness of sins. The blood was mixed with water and applied to the people.

Hebrews 9:19, 22 (NLT)
he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people… In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

E. Under the new covenant, our consciences are sprinkled with Christ’s blood and our bodies are washed with water.

Hebrews 10:22 (NLT)
For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

F. This is not salvation by works. It is simply obedient faith. By faith, we enter the waters of baptism trusting God’s promise to wash what we could never clean. According to His mercy, He cleanses us from sin and the deeds of our old lives.

Mark 16:16 (NLT)
Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved.

Titus 3:5 (NIV)
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit

G. What are you waiting for? Apply the blood today. Wash away your sins by calling on the name of Jesus in baptism.

Acts 22:16 (NIV)
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’