Life is in the Blood

And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. (Leviticus 17:10)

I will set My face against that person who eats blood.

This was a strict command by the Lord to the children of Israel, but the reasons were simple:

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ (Leviticus 17:11)

1.For the life of the flesh is in the blood.

The idea was that all life belonged to God, and since blood is an emblem of life, it specially belonged to God.

The Bible emphatically says the "Life" is in the blood. When the blood stops moving in your body, you are dead, totally and instantly. Likewise, a theology, a church, a prayer group or a person without the blood of Christ is dead. The life of Christ, with all its power and blessings, is only yours as you are linked to His blood by faith.

2.And I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: Additionally, blood was the means by which atonement was made - therefore, to eat blood was to profane it. Also, the seriousness of sin is revealed by the monumental cost of atonement— death.

3.Of course, many pagan rituals celebrated the drinking of blood, and God also wanted a separation from these pagan practices.

“Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust; for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. (Leviticus 17:13-14)

This respect for the blood of animals in the Old Testament should make us consider how we regard the blood of Jesus. If, under the Old Covenant, the blood of animals was to be respected, what of the precious blood of Jesus which makes the New Covenant?

Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29)

Life is in the Blood

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