The Mystery And The Blood

Blood is mentioned hundreds of times in the OT. The Jewish religion is often called a bloody religion, and rightly so. As soon as sin entered the earth, blood must needs be shed in order to provide a covering (atonement). At Sinai the atonement was set up for a redeemed people to cover their sins till such a time that they would be taken away. Contrary to an almost universal belief, there was no atonement on Calvary. It was there that the Lamb of God took away the sin of the world, rather than covering it, as atonement means.

But the real purpose of all this blood and the bloody sacrifices was to teach God's people the exceeding sinfulness of sin. All this was to lead up to the great and final sacrifice for sin, the shedding of the blood of the Son of God. And this was in a way typical. Shed blood typified death. For the life or the soul was in the blood. So the taking of the blood into the holy of holies each year by the high priest was to show forth the coming death of Christ. And He in turn ascended to the highest heavens and there showed the wounds in the hands and feet and side which also signified death. These things were a lesson to Israel.

But Adam was not an Israelite nor did he have any part in the administration of promise. Yet he had the example of shed blood. And that brings to us the question as to what part shed blood has to do with us Believers today. We are not told to offer sacrifices on altars which require the blood of an animal sacrifice. We Believers have no part in the blood of the new covenant or new testament, for the covenants of promise pertain to Israel, not to us.

But nevertheless we do have in the post-Acts epistles of Paul 4 mentions of the blood of Christ. Two of these have to do with redemption, one with access or being made nigh and the other making peace. And all these occur in Ephesians and Colossians. We cannot do away with the blood.

The backbone of all the plan and purpose of the ages for all peoples and all times is in this word redemption. The promise made in Christ before age times that there should be eternal life requires this redemption. Sin first entered the universe and plunged it into ruin and desolation. Then ages and ages later it came into the human race by Adam. And by sin came death. So there was need of life to take the place of this death. Without redemption, all would die and that would be the end of it. So there had to be a substitute who was not subject to sin and death, who would die and thereby remove the curse. That one was our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In Whom we have redemption through His blood ( Eph 1:7; Col 1:14). In each reference the forgiveness of sins is added. Adam's sins were covered, but ours forgiven. Note the difference.

We are made nigh by the blood of Christ (Eph 2: 13). This is our access. We see in Col 1:20 that peace was made through the blood of His cross. And this brings reconciliation. Compare this with 2 Cor 5:19 for its meaning and scope.

Add comment