LEARNING DAILY

Leviticus 17:11, 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 your souls.

“There is power, power, wonder working power in the blood…!” in the past week I have given blood because of my yearly physical. A few days later, I was called back to give more blood so some additional tests could be made. I was sitting in the waiting room thinking about all the things the technician was able to discover about me from a small vial of blood. Of course, my mind began to wander as I considered the importance of the blood. The blood tests help doctors to check for certain diseases and various conditions a person might have. It also helps check the function of our organs and check how well any treatments might be working.

“Oxygen, the body’s most critical nutrient, is carried through the blood. The human body can live on when all other parts of the body fail, but when the heart stops, death is inevitable” (David Jeremiah Study Bible notes). In the book of Leviticus, God gave clear instructions regarding blood sacrifices for the atonement of sin. God is the One who made man and breathed life into him. When Adam sinned, God required a blood sacrifice for Adam’s sin to be forgiven. Adam and Eve tried to cover their nakedness (sin) with fig leaves; that was not sufficient to make atonement for their sin.

When Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt, God made clear that the forgiveness of sin was only through the blood sacrifice of animals. During their exodus, God gave clear instructions regarding what needed to be sacrificed, where and how the sacrifice was to be done, as well as who was to do it. All life is given by God and belongs to Him. Chapter 16 of the book of Leviticus is very significant in explaining this. Chapter 17 continues in explaining the sanctity of the blood and the laws regarding the sacrifice of the blood. “The laws were intended to ensure that the Israelites would not offer their sacrifices to demons. Failure to bring all sacrifices to the door of the tabernacle merited death or banishment, apparently because stopping short in this regard might lead to heretical acts” (David Jeremiah Study Bible). It is pretty obvious that any offering made that was not in line with God’s instructions was a serious offense causing severe punishment to follow.

All this was leading to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Atonement is the way one is made right with God. It is the forgiveness of sins through the death of Jesus on the cross “for it is the blood that makes atonement for your souls”. Atonement comes only through the blood shed by the proper sacrifice; it does not come through the blood plus anything else! For the people of Israel, the shedding of blood was a continual process. For Believers today Believing on the shed blood of Jesus Christ is a onetime event; one’s sins are immediately transferred to Him. Once saved, the Believer does not have to accept Jesus every time an altar call is given.

Without the shedding of blood there is no atonement. At the time of accepting Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to guide and keep Believers on the narrow way. The forgiveness of our sins gives the Believer access to the throne of God because peace has been made with Him through His Son!

I know this is basic Christianity. I could not help but think upon this with all the blood being drawn out of me.  I have been amazed at all the things the results are telling about me. I thank the Lord for the reminder about the importance of the blood He shed that I (and you) can have eternal life with Him in His kingdom.

Just got a notice from the South Texas Blood and Tissue. They say they need more blood to help someone else in need!