Atoning Blood

[0:00] A Pastor's Reflections, Atoning Blood.! Exodus 22.3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him, for he should make full restitution.

[0:13] ! If he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. Leviticus 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.

[0:28] For it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul. Hebrews 9.22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission of sin.

[0:44] Under the law, blood played a very important role. Israel's new identity would very much be tied with their relationship to blood. Their treatment of blood was to set them apart from other nations.

[0:58] For it was a common pagan practice to drink the blood of a sacrificial victim, in hopes of attaining in some part the life of that victim. Under God's law, blood was not something that belonged to man, but God.

[1:15] Israel was not to treat blood as the pagan nations did, but as a people set apart unto God. Blood belonged to God, but was given to man.

[1:27] Blood was for atonement. Whenever the life of a man was taken, the blood of atonement was required for that life. Genesis 9.5 God expected man to respect life and to respect blood.

[1:55] In Exodus 22, God is giving various instructions regarding theft and restitution. Verse 3 has an interesting phrase regarding a situation where a thief is found after sunrise and killed.

[2:10] In that instance, this response to theft would be considered murder. The presence of the Son required there to be blood for the life of the thief. If the Son be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him.

[2:26] You and I have found ourselves in an even worse predicament than either the thief or the one who has murdered him. We are found guilty before God as both thieves and murderers.

[2:39] We have stolen from God our lives, which are rightfully his. And by our sin, we have murdered the only Son of God. Blood is required for those offenses.

[2:52] However, the atonement of blood that is owed for our offenses has been satisfied by the freely given sacrifice of the Son of God. For you and I, we now come under his atonement and his sacrifice.

[3:08] And that sacrifice did not end in blood, but in resurrection. If the Son, S-O-N, be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him.

[3:22] Have you experienced the risen life of the one and only Son of God? If so, then the blood debt has been paid and the atonement made. Blood has been shed for you.

[3:35] Father, thank you for making a way for the blood debt of our sins to be atoned for in the sacrifice of your Son. Help us to live lives worthy of the blood of the risen Son of God.

[3:48] Amen. Amen.