For the life of the flesh is in the blood. I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.
–Leviticus 17:11
The Bible makes it clear that to be forgiven, one must accept Jesus as Savior — as the One who sacrificed Himself for their sins.
This is the Biblical truth on which everything else rests. Without accepting Jesus as Savior, you cannot know God. You cannot be saved.
Prior to Jesus’ death, however, God used the Law of Moses and a system of sacrifices to provide an opportunity to seek forgiveness from sin. The sin offering sacrifice required people to bring a sacrificial bull, lamb, or goat to the priest.
When presenting an animal to the priest, the person confessed their sin, then the priest ceremonially (and figuratively) placed the sin on the animal.
The animal was killed and its blood was sprinkled on parts of the altar and tabernacle in a specific manner. The animal was then burned on the altar. No part of it was to be eaten by anyone. It was completely and totally God’s.
When God sent Jesus to die on the cross, His blood was sacrificed for our sins.
The system of sacrifices was no more. No animal would be able to do the job any longer. Nothing we try to do to cover over or erase what we have done will take away our guilt.
Nothing but the blood of Jesus does that.
Prayer
Loving God, Thank You for sending Jesus to shed His innocent blood for my sins. I will praise Him forever for giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Reflection
How often do I think about the fact that Jesus died for me — that He bled and died an agonizing death for my sins?