The Principle

 

Acts 17:2-3 (NCB) Following his usual practice, Paul went in, and for three Sabbaths he argued with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead. “And the Christ,” he said, “is this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.”

Taking my cue from Paul's sermon in Acts 17, "it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead" I am doing The Scarlet Thread of Redemption for Advent. This thread runs throughout the Old Testament and I've chosen four which highlight why it was necessary for the Christ to suffer. Today I am considering Leviticus 17:11 which sets forth The Principle Of Atonement By The Blood.

Leviticus 17 presents many instructions and prohibitions concerning blood, including these:

17:6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD.

17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

17:14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.

They were forbidden to eat (drink) the blood because (1) the life of all flesh is in the blood and (2) I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls.

People offered sacrifices throughout the Old Testament, and the Law sets forth many and various sacrifices: the burnt offering, the grain offering, the peace offering, the sin offering, the trespass offering, morning and evening sacrifice. What is the significance of a sacrifice?

An animal is slain, and the blood is poured out on the altar. An innocent life is offered in the place of the one who sinned. Why? The wages of sin is death. Sin is a serious thing. God in his grace and mercy offered a way of redemption - the blood of the sacrifice, a life in the stead of mine. 

BUT, it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (Heb 10:4) Why?

“The blood of beasts could not cleanse souls from sin. It is no wonder that the ancient sacrifices were insufficient, so that they were to be offered continually, for they had nothing in them but the blood of beasts, which could not reach the conscience; but far otherwise is the power of Christ’s blood.” (John Calvin)

Paul then goes on to explain, quoting the Spirit of Christ speaking in Psalm 40:6-8:

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come -- In the volume of the book it is written of Me -- To do Your will, O God.' "

Burnt offerings and sacrifices of animals were not sufficient to atone for our souls, so the Son of God became a man, that he might offer himself as the sacrifice for our sins. This was the will of God, the plan and purpose of God.

10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

He is the perfect sacrifice. All the sacrifices of the Old Testament were types of the sacrifice God himself would prepare, his only begotten Son, the lamb of God. They are all fulfilled in his suffering on the cross.

Hebrews 7:25-27
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Hebrews 9:11-14
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

It was indeed necessary for Christ to suffer. The Son of God became a man, that he might offer his blood as a sacrifice for us, to make atonement for our sin. Salvation is through Jesus Christ, through the blood of the cross.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, 

from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood 

of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18-19)