From Martin Luther, in The Gospel of God’s Love, page 238.
“I come because I want to tell you I was with you when you were reading about the origins and different versions of the Bible. Among them was a reference to my version, and I want to say that while my version was a pretty correct translation, yet the manuscripts upon which I based my translation were not the real writings of those who profess to have written them. I mean that those manuscripts were not true copies of the original epistles and books written by those whose names they bear. Many more interpretations and constructions were given to the original texts, than you or any other mortal is aware of.
“The Bible as now written (and as I translated it) is full of contradictions and errors, and makes the truth hard to ascertain. Take, for instance, that one subject of the blood redemption, No greater error was ever written than that the blood of Jesus saves from sin. It seems to me now so absurd, that I wonder how I could ever have believed in such a thing. I know now that there is no efficacy in Jesus’ blood to accomplish any such results; and the pity is that many mortals now believe this, and as a consequence, neglect the one vital and important requriement necessary to attain salvation – that is the new birth. This, and this only saves humans from their sins, and fits them to enter the Kingdom of God, which is the kingdom of Jesus, for he is the prince and ruler of that kingdom.
(Mr. Padgett askes a question) “Jesus never said any such thing, for he has told me so. This saying – that his blood was shed for many — is not true. Neither did he say “drink the wine” (being his blood) in remembrance of him, for the wine is not his blood, and neither does it represent anything that has to do with him or his mission on earth, or his present work in the spirit world. How unfortunate that this saying is made to represent something he said, when he did not say it!
“So, in order to understand the real truths of God and humans relationship to Him and His plan of salvation, you must believe what the Master shall write you, for it represents what he taught on earth, is teaching now, and is the truth.” Amen