The amazing blood

I usually have some idea of what my post is going to develop into when I start.  Tonight I’m not sure.  We had a discussion in our Sunday School class about the blood of Christ and that got me thinking about the topic quite a bit.

Blood = life

We can’t live without blood.  physically or spiritually

The blood cleanses, nourishes, and allows for growth.  (both physically and spiritually)

Blood is what makes the Scriptures come alive.  “For the word of God is living and active.”  (Hebrews 4:12)

It was the blood of the sacrifice that made the atonement in the Old Testament.

“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.”  (Leviticus 17:11)

The animals which they killed as offerings for sin had to be spotless - without blemish (Ex. 12:5; Lev. 1:3,10 ). These pointed forward to Christ, "a lamb without blemish" (1 Peter 1:19).

The blood of those animals therefore represented that of Christ. They were accepted as sacrifices for sin insofar as they pointed forward to Christ's perfect sacrifice, which God knew he would make.

Adam sinned and that tainted his blood.  He was now going to die.  He passed that tainted blood on to his offspring.  It has been passed on to all people through all generations.

“Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.”  (Romans 5:18)

The virgin birth was a necessity because otherwise sin would have been passed on to Jesus.  He had to have pure blood, be free from sin, in order to sacrifice his life for us.  Without the virgin birth, there is no forgiveness of sin.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”  (Hebrews 4:15)

The thing that continually amazes me is how God had it all planned from the beginning of time.  He created Adam knowing he would have to send Jesus to save us.  He knew from the beginning of time that Jesus would have to shed His blood and it was that blood that would save us and provide eternal life.  The fact that God loves me that much that he would allow me to be created knowing what it would cost.  How do you comprehend that love?

 

“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!”  (Romans 5:9)

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace”  (Ephesians 1:7)

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”  (Ephesians 2:13)

“and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”  (Colossians 1:20)

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”  (1 John 1:7)

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus”  (Hebrews 10:19)

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