Why the blood of Christ? Because God is just and is the justifier for man’s sin. Why the blood? Because it brought atonement for us and freed us from the burden of sin.
Blood itself represents life. Thousands of years before medical science understood the significance of blood, this great truth was spoken in the Law of Moses.
Leviticus 17:14a
For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life.
We cannot live without blood. Blood represents physical life. From antiquity, the sacrifice of blood acted as an agent in a binding agreement – a blood covenant. Shedding blood or “cutting a covenant” goes back to the book of Genesis, with early covenants made to Abraham in cutting animal sacrifices in Genesis 15 and cutting the skin in circumcision in the everlasting covenant in Genesis 17.
Luke 22:20 – Jesus spoke of his blood as a new covenant.
The book of Hebrews compares the old covenant with the new covenant.
Hebrews 9:18-22– The first covenant was inaugurated with blood.
Exodus 24:3-8 – God made promises to bring them to the Promised Land. The people agreed that they would do all the words that Yahweh had spoken. Moses then cut the covenant, shedding blood.
Hebrews 8:6 – Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant, enacted upon better promises!
Hebrews 9:11-12 – Through his blood, we have “eternal redemption!”
Hebrews 9:13-15 – Those who have been called “may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
Hebrews 9:23-28 – “He will appear a second time for salvation…to those who eagerly await him.”
So how should we live in light of the shed blood of Christ and the new covenant?
Hebrews 10:19-25
Hold fast the confession of our hope.
Consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
Don’t forsake our assembling together, but encourage one another.
The day is drawing near. Christ is coming back! A blood covenant was cut!
Hebrews 10:26-29 – Don’t insult the spirit of grace and disregard the blood of the covenant.
Hebrews 10:35-36, 39 – Do not throw away your confidence. Endure, knowing assuredly through the blood of the covenant that God will absolutely bring to pass what has been promised.
Hebrews 12:18-29 – Compares the time of the old covenant on Mt Sinai with the future Kingdom, Mount Zion. This Kingdom cannot be shaken!
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