From Martin Luther, in The Gospel of God’s Love, page 238 – 9.
“I want to tell you that I was with you this afternoon when you were reading comments on the origins and different versions of the Bible. Among them was a reference to my version, and I want to say that my version was a pretty correct translation, yet the manuscript and other versions 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 texts of the originals than you or any other mortal are aware of.
“The Bible as now written 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, or that his blood washes away 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 requirement necessary to salvation – that is the new-birth. This and this only saves mortals from their sins, and fits them to enter the Kingdom of God, which is the Kingdom where Jesus is prince, and the ruler thereof.
(Mr. Padgett asked a question) “Jesus never said such a thing, for he has told me so. This saying – that his blood was shed for many – is not true, and he never said it. Neither did he say “drink the wine” 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 this saying is made to represent something he said, when he did not say it.
“In order to understand the real truths of God and human’s relationship to Him, you must believe what the Master and the apostles shall write to you, for they now understand what his true mission was, and what he taught.” Amen