Shalom dear friends.
We are coming to the end of our theme of the blood in the Old Covenant. In the last chapter of the book of Exodus, the Tabernacle was completed with all the articles in place. God was ready for something. Finally, the Lord moved to remain with His People, meaning that God came very close to having a personal encounter with man. His Glory would stay visible among men. Therefore, every person who approached had to bring a personal sacrifice for his own sin because God was nearer than before. In the first chapter the book of Leviticus, God began to speak to Moses out of the Tabernacle and not from Heaven or Mount of Sinai but out of the Tabernacle which Moses had built. The first sentence that came out of God’s mouth was instructions to Moses and Aaron concerning the various offerings and the details surrounding them. Most importantly, the blood was the main element in all of the sacrifices. Here we come to a place where we can understand and learn the blood’s role in a person’s life.
In Leviticus 17:11, God gives us a formula for the blood. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the alter to make an atonement for your souls." It’s the blood that makes atonement for the soul. Now let us look at this verse thoroughly. We see several points. First, it is the blood that atones for the soul which implies personal forgiveness. Thus, the forgiveness of sins is only through the blood. Secondly, in order to shed the blood, someone must die. As the Bible declares, "…the life of the flesh is in the blood". Life is in the blood and once the blood is shed, life is gone. This tells me that the only reason why God required the blood is because someone had to die in my place for my sin. This is why the Messiah had to come and die, shedding His own blood for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus has done exactly that. Once we encounter God through the blood of the Messiah, our personal sins are forgiven.
Moreover, we should discern the difference between the blood of animals and the blood of the Messiah. The blood of animals could not set a person free of their sin, only cover it. But through the blood of the Messiah, our present, past and future sins are totally forgiven and we are set free. Not only are we forgiven for the sins committed today, but we are set free from the sin that man was born in (Adamic sin) and enslaved by. Thus, the blood of the Messiah is greater and much more powerful than the sacrifices of the Old Testament since God declares that we are free indeed. The power of the blood of the Messiah can set anyone totally free of sin and death and reconcile one to God, bringing them into complete fellowship with Him as if they had never sinned.
Referring back to Leviticus 17:11, we see the clear picture of God’s redemptive work through the blood. In summary, we have observed the procession of God’s revelation of the blood from Adam to the Messiah.
Dear friends, if God had not introduced and revealed the work of the blood, where would we be today? Because of this and much more, God is worthy to be Praised.
For those who have never asked forgiveness through the blood of Jesus, Yeshua the Messiah, the time is now to receive Him as Lord and Savior. I pray that you will make that decision today.
Shalom |
