What Is the Significance of Jesus' Blood According to Romans 3?

Direct Answer

Jesus' blood in Romans 3 is the divinely appointed basis for redemption, propitiation, remission of sins, and justification for everyone who believes.

Romans 3:25 says God set forth Christ Jesus as a propitiation through faith in His blood, and Romans 3:24 ties this redemption to God's grace. Because all have sinned (Romans 3:23), the blood of Christ is the only God-appointed means by which sins can be remitted and God can remain just while justifying believers. Les Feldick repeatedly stresses that without the shedding of blood there is no remission, and he places faith in His blood at the center of redemption.

Key Scriptures

Romans 3:23-26 — This is the direct answer: since all have sinned, God set forth Christ Jesus as a propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness and justify believers.

Romans 3:25 — This key verse specifically names Jesus' blood as the instrument of propitiation and remission of sins.

What Does the Bible Say About Jesus' Blood in Romans 3?

Romans 3:23-26 is the core passage. It says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and that believers are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God set forth Christ Jesus to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. The purpose is to declare God's righteousness at this time, so that He might be just, and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus. Paul's conclusion in Romans 3:28 is that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. This underscores that the blood of Christ, not human works, is the ground of justification. Hebrews 9:22 adds the foundational principle that without shedding of blood there is no remission.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Jesus' Blood in Romans 3?

Les Feldick makes the blood of Christ central to the Romans 3 passage. He says that even in today's sophisticated world people don't like to talk about sacrificial blood, but God, in His own reasoning, has demanded shed blood for the remission of sin, and that demand cannot be ignored. Les calls 'without the shedding of blood there is no remission' one of the absolutes of Scripture, something you cannot go around, over, or under. The only way to experience the redemption found in Christ Jesus, he says, is to put your faith in His blood (Clip1, Clip2, Clip5). Les also teaches that God sovereignly mandated shed blood for the forgiveness of sins. He points out that because life is in the blood, death must take place before new life can come. He describes Christ's blood as divine and holy, with power to cleanse the whole world's sin problem, and he notes that Christ died for the whole world, not just for believers (Clip4, Clip6). In Romans 3, Les emphasizes that God set forth Christ as a propitiation through faith in His blood, so that God would be just—absolutely fair—while justifying the person who believes (Clip3).

What Does Romans 3:25 Mean by 'Propitiation Through Faith in His Blood'?

In Romans 3:25, God is the One who set forth Christ Jesus as the propitiation. It is received through faith in His blood, and its purpose is to declare God's righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God. Les Feldick explains that God, in His own reasoning, demanded shed blood for the remission of sin, and the only way to experience redemption is to put faith in that blood.

What Did Les Feldick Say About 'Without the Shedding of Blood'?

Les calls 'without the shedding of blood there is no remission' one of the absolutes of Scripture. He says you cannot go around it, over it, or under it—you have to face it head on. He also says God has mandated that there can be no salvation and no forgiveness without the shedding of blood.

How Does the Blood of Christ Relate to Justification and God's Righteousness?

Romans 3:24-26 connects justification with redemption in Christ Jesus and says God set Him forth as a propitiation to declare His righteousness. Les teaches that God can therefore be just, or absolutely fair, while justifying the person who believes. He summarizes this as being declared 'just as if I've never sinned' because of the finished work of the cross.

Why Is Faith in the Blood the Only Way to Experience Redemption?

Les says there is only one way to experience the redemption of Romans 3:24, and that is putting your faith in the blood of Christ. He describes the blood as divine and holy, with the power to cleanse the whole world's sin problem. Christ died for the whole world, not just for believers, and the blood is the only thing God can use to purchase mankind's redemption.

From the Teaching

The Ethiopian Eunuch's Confession

Les notes that the Ethiopian eunuch's confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God did not mention the cross, the shed blood, or the resurrection. This shows what was absent from that earlier confession.

God's Demand for Shed Blood

Les shows that God has demanded shed blood for the remission of sin, and that Christians cannot ignore the sacrificial blood language Scripture uses.

The Absolute of Shed Blood

Les calls 'without the shedding of blood there is no remission' an absolute of Scripture, and he explains that being justified by His blood means being saved from wrath through Him.

Declaring God's Righteousness

Les teaches that faith in His blood declares God's righteousness for the remission of sins, so that God can be just while justifying believers.

The Divine Power of Christ's Blood

Les describes Christ's blood as divine and holy, with power to cleanse the whole world's sin problem, and he says Christ died for the whole world.

Faith in the Blood as the Only Way

Les says the only way to experience the redemption found in Christ is to put your faith in His blood, connecting Romans 3:25 to the Passover picture.

God's Sovereign Choice of Shed Blood

Les explains that God sovereignly chose shed blood as the means of forgiveness, and that redemption and forgiveness come through His grace rather than what we deserve.

Two Mandatory Absolutes

Les pairs the absolute of shed blood with the absolute of faith, saying you can't shortcut either one; redemption is through propitiation by faith in His blood.

Bible Verses

Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

This establishes that every human being, Jew and Gentile, stands in need of the redemption described in Romans 3:24.

Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

This verse shows that justification is free and by grace, and it comes through redemption in Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:25: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

This is the key verse for the significance of Jesus' blood—God set Him forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood.

Romans 3:26: To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

It explains that God remains just while justifying the one who believes in Jesus.

Romans 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

This clarifies that justification is by faith, not by deeds of the law.

Hebrews 9:22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Les Feldick calls this one of the absolutes of Scripture that cannot be bypassed.

Romans 5:9: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

This connects being justified by His blood with being saved from God's wrath through Him.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Romans 3 really make the blood of Jesus necessary for forgiveness?

Yes. Romans 3:25 says God set forth Christ Jesus as a propitiation through faith in His blood, for the remission of sins. Les Feldick also points to the absolute statement that without the shedding of blood there is no remission, so the blood cannot be treated as optional.

How does the blood of Jesus help God remain just while justifying sinners?

Romans 3:26 says the purpose is to declare God's righteousness so that He might be just, and the justifier of the one who believes. Les explains that this justice is based on the finished work of the cross and faith in His blood.

Is justification by faith in His blood different from justification by works?

Romans 3:28 says a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law, and Les confirms that justification is not for anything we have done; it comes by simply believing in the finished work of the cross.

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Source Video

Watch the Teaching: Why the Gospel Changes After the Cross — Romans 3 Explained