Without the Shedding of Blood There is No Forgiveness of Sins (Hebrews 9:22)

Why does blood have to be shed for our sins to be forgiven? Could not God just forgive the sinner since he is a God of love?

In the garden of Eden God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or they would surely die. They did eat from it and they died, spiritually, a broken relationship with their creator, and then later on physically.

We may think that their sin was not that big a deal, yes according to our standard, but God does not judge according to our standard, but His.

Satan must have thought he won a great victory because all who would be born would be after his own nature instead of God’s. He knew what it was to be cast out from the presence of a holy God, and he really wanted to spoil God’s new creation. BUT GOD had a plan that would frustrate Satan’s.

To cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness, God made garments of skins, which means that animals had to die and blood had to be shed because of their sins. At that time God made a promise that he would send a Saviour that would deal with sin once for all, Genesis 3:14-15.

When people play a board game, they play according to the rules set by the creator and they do not have any issue with that. However when it comes to God's rules, people are quick to disagree with him. Why?

We have no idea how sinful we are. We may not have killed anyone or robbed a bank, okay, but when we compare ourselves with someone else, we always do so with someone worse than us in order to make us look pretty good.

We read in Hebrews 10:1-7, For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” 

At the celebration of the Passover, Jesus introduced something new to his disciples, a memorial for his followers to be practiced until his return, bread and wine, bread for his body that would be broken for us, and wine for his precious blood.

God is perfect and we are not. Nevertheless he chose to love us and forgive us. If a judge would let a thief go free without asking him to return what he stole, would he be a just judge? No, but if someone would step in and pay for the thief, then he would be free to let him go.

This is what Jesus did on our behalf. He is the only human who lived a perfect life. He paid our debt on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven. All those who refuse to believe in the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins, will be punished as we read in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9.

If God did not punish sin, he would not be a righteous God and we could not trust him. It would be utter chaos here on earth..

Let's prepare ourselves for communion Sunday and not forget the benevolent fund.

Eric Gerber