What does the Bible say about blood? Well, several things, including the following:
"But flesh with the life thereof, [which is] the blood thereof, shall ye not eat."
Gen. 9:4
"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."
Gen. 9:6
Gen. 9:4
It was the life-giving substance for flesh.
"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."
Gen. 9:6
It had value in God's eyes, and it was not to be treated lightly.
"And he shall put [some] of the blood upon the horns of the altar which [is] before the LORD, that [is] in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which [is at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."
Lev. 4:18
Lev. 4:18
It held a special place in the sacrifices made to God.
"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
Heb. 9:22
Heb. 9:22
It is used to remove the presence of sins.
"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
Matt. 26:28
Matt. 26:28
It was what Jesus would use to pay for the sins of His people.
When Adam and Eve sinned against God by their disobedience in the Garden of Eden, they sort of opened up a "bank account" if you will. Their sin put them in debt with the Almighty. However, when they sinned, they lost access to anything and everything that had value to God. Their flesh was now tainted by sin, so nothing of a physical nature could ever be applied against the debt. Their hearts were emnity against Him, so even their thoughts and desires were vile and base. Spiritually, they were dead, having died as they paid the wages earned by their sins.
They owed a million and didn't have a penny.
When Adam and Eve sinned against God by their disobedience in the Garden of Eden, they sort of opened up a "bank account" if you will. Their sin put them in debt with the Almighty. However, when they sinned, they lost access to anything and everything that had value to God. Their flesh was now tainted by sin, so nothing of a physical nature could ever be applied against the debt. Their hearts were emnity against Him, so even their thoughts and desires were vile and base. Spiritually, they were dead, having died as they paid the wages earned by their sins.
They owed a million and didn't have a penny.
Yet, God in His mercy, showed them that there was a way to at least make the interest payments against the debt. Blood. It carried a value in the eyes of God.
It couldn't be the blood of another human, because we ALL are of a sinful nature in our flesh. Therefore, human blood was of no value. But, the blood of an animal, while not being able to do anything towards the debt, could at least appease God, in a limited, temporary way.
So, God showed man how to sacrifice animals to Him. The correct methods were recorded in much detail in the books of Leviticus and Numbers. And the Jewish people practiced these things for thousands of years.
But, like so many things in the Bible, this ritual pointed to an even bigger event to come.
Remember, the earth and everything that was in the land, sea and air belonged to Adam. And, when Adam turned from God, satan was able to gain control over the earth by gaining control of Adam. So, until and unless a man were to arise with the ability to "buy back" the rights to earth and all therein, earth would remain satan's by proxy.
When Jesus came to earth, He was fully God and yet fully man. He was fathered by God through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, so the line of inherited sin was broken. He was born of a human, virgin woman. This insured that He was genetically in the lineage of David, and Abraham, which both fulfilled prophecy and made him a legal successor of Adam and Eve.
By living a sinless life, Jesus possessed the most incredible substance ever known on earth: perfectly clean blood! Physically and spiritually, it was of infinite value in the eyes of God. This made Jesus the ultimate sacrifice for sinners.
When Jesus was killed upon the cross, satan probably knew the power of Christ's blood, but was probably thinking that by killing the physical body, there would be no way to go the extra step, and take back the title to the earth. It must have come as a terrible shock when Jesus, after being dead three days, resurrected into a glorified body.
So, when we look at the "new Adam", Jesus Christ, we see:
Physically perfect body, made in the likeness of the original body, but without the limitations placed on the human body since the curse at the fall of Adam.
Heart and soul, attuned perfectly to the will of God the Father, able to see the choice between good and evil, and to choose to do the good.
Spiritually, alive, vibrant and in total control of all things that the Father had given Him. He was, is, and will evermore be God and Savior.
Jesus also now had the capital with which to buy back the title to earth and all that is in it. But, instead of doing so immediately, He returned to heaven. He was going to make a new place for the millions of people that would be His very own people. Where God the Father had chosen the nation of Israel to be His people, Jesus was given a Bride, which is the Church--the whole of the body of those that believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Today, we await the return of Jesus, which is but mere moments from taking place. As soon as the last of His people have been harvested and brought into His house, Jesus will come back to take the Church away from the earth. While we are out of harms way, God's wrath will be poured out on those that remain in rebellion on earth.
And Jesus will take possession of what is His:
It couldn't be the blood of another human, because we ALL are of a sinful nature in our flesh. Therefore, human blood was of no value. But, the blood of an animal, while not being able to do anything towards the debt, could at least appease God, in a limited, temporary way.
So, God showed man how to sacrifice animals to Him. The correct methods were recorded in much detail in the books of Leviticus and Numbers. And the Jewish people practiced these things for thousands of years.
But, like so many things in the Bible, this ritual pointed to an even bigger event to come.
Remember, the earth and everything that was in the land, sea and air belonged to Adam. And, when Adam turned from God, satan was able to gain control over the earth by gaining control of Adam. So, until and unless a man were to arise with the ability to "buy back" the rights to earth and all therein, earth would remain satan's by proxy.
When Jesus came to earth, He was fully God and yet fully man. He was fathered by God through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, so the line of inherited sin was broken. He was born of a human, virgin woman. This insured that He was genetically in the lineage of David, and Abraham, which both fulfilled prophecy and made him a legal successor of Adam and Eve.
By living a sinless life, Jesus possessed the most incredible substance ever known on earth: perfectly clean blood! Physically and spiritually, it was of infinite value in the eyes of God. This made Jesus the ultimate sacrifice for sinners.
When Jesus was killed upon the cross, satan probably knew the power of Christ's blood, but was probably thinking that by killing the physical body, there would be no way to go the extra step, and take back the title to the earth. It must have come as a terrible shock when Jesus, after being dead three days, resurrected into a glorified body.
So, when we look at the "new Adam", Jesus Christ, we see:
Physically perfect body, made in the likeness of the original body, but without the limitations placed on the human body since the curse at the fall of Adam.
Heart and soul, attuned perfectly to the will of God the Father, able to see the choice between good and evil, and to choose to do the good.
Spiritually, alive, vibrant and in total control of all things that the Father had given Him. He was, is, and will evermore be God and Savior.
Jesus also now had the capital with which to buy back the title to earth and all that is in it. But, instead of doing so immediately, He returned to heaven. He was going to make a new place for the millions of people that would be His very own people. Where God the Father had chosen the nation of Israel to be His people, Jesus was given a Bride, which is the Church--the whole of the body of those that believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Today, we await the return of Jesus, which is but mere moments from taking place. As soon as the last of His people have been harvested and brought into His house, Jesus will come back to take the Church away from the earth. While we are out of harms way, God's wrath will be poured out on those that remain in rebellion on earth.
And Jesus will take possession of what is His:
"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon."
"And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne."
"And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne."
"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
Rev. 5:1-10
Rev. 5:1-10
From Alpha to Omega, from first to last, the mercy and love of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit remains evident and abiding.
Maranatha!
Grace and Peace....
Maranatha!
Grace and Peace....
