What is the significance of blood in the
Scriptures?
God’s dealings with His ancient people
Israel provides us with answers. It is in the animal offerings sacrificed to God
that we begin to see the importance God places on the shed blood of those
sacrifices.
Leviticus 17:11, 14 tell us, “(11) For the life
of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make
atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the
soul. (14)...You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all
flesh is in its blood...”
Let’s consider what is in these verses.
1.
The life of the bodies of all
living creatures is in their blood.
2.
Atonement, or the covering over
of sins, can only be effective with the shed blood of innocent victims slain as
sacrifices to God upon the brazen altar.
3.
Atonement for the sinner means
that God has accepted the animal sacrifice on behalf of the offerer.
4.
It is the blood from the dead
sacrifice that makes the atonement.
It seems strange that big burley men have
been known to faint at the sight of their own blood. Why is this so? Maybe it’s
because they instinctively know that if they lose all their blood they will
die!
In Exodus chapter 12 we read of the
story of the first Passover. A lamb was taken, was killed and its blood
collected in a basin. That blood was sprinkled on the doorposts and lintel of
the Hebrews’ house. When the destroying angel passed through Egypt that same
night he passed over all the houses that had the blood sprinkled on them. In
every other house in the land, the firstborn of man and beast was slain.
The lamb became the substitutionary victim
instead of the firstborn of the Hebrews. The death of the victim and the shed
blood of the victim were necessary to effect reconciliation and atonement by
God. Exodus 12:13, “...when I see
the blood, I will pass over you...”
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of
Eden “...they knew they were naked...” (Genesis
3:7). They tried to cover
themselves up with fig leaves. We read in Genesis 3:21 that the “...Lord God made coats of skins and clothed
them.” Innocent animals had to die to clothe Adam and Eve appropriately in
God’s sight.
When we come to the New Testament it is not
animal sacrifices before us but the sacrifice made by the Lord Jesus Christ at
Calvary that captures our attention.
Hebrews 9:12, 14 states, “(12) Not with the
blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy
Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption... (14) How much more
shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself
without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the
living God?”
Let’s have a look at some of the blessings
accruing to us through the blood of Christ.
Justification in God’s sight through Christ’s blood. Romans 5:9, “...having now been justified by His
blood...”
Forgiveness of sins. Ephesians 1:7, “In
Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins...”
Peace with God. Colossians 1:20, “...having made peace through the blood of His cross.”
Access to God. Hebrews 10:19, “...having
boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.”
Sanctification. Hebrews 13:12, “Therefore
Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered
outside the gate.”
Redemption through the blood. 1 Peter 1:18, 19, “(18)...you were not redeemed with...silver or gold...(19)...but with
the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
Cleansing by the blood. 1 John 1:7, “...the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Washed us from sins. Revelation 1:5, “...washed us from our sins in His own blood.”
Glory everlasting through the blood. Revelation 7:14, 15, “(14) ...These are the ones...and washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (15) therefore they
are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And he
who sits on the throne will dwell among them.”
Victory through the blood. Revelation 12:11, “and they overcame him [Satan] by
the blood of the Lamb...”
I hope by now a deeper understanding of the
significance of the blood of Christ is yours. Meditate on the various verses,
look at them in their context in the Scriptures and try to grasp why it is in 1
Peter 1:19 the Holy Spirit calls it the precious blood of Christ.
Jon Peasey
[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James
version; unless otherwise noted]
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