Blood

What do you think of when someone says the word “blood?” Especially around this time of year, we usually associate blood with scary movies, gory movies, spooky costumes, etc. When we think of blood we usually think of fear and death. But what does God say about blood? Have we drained the blood from the Gospel? (0:00 - 4:22) In an attempt to “clean up” the stories, have we removed the very life of the stories we read and tell? Perhaps if we had a better understanding of blood and death, we could give better honor to sharing the Gospel. What does the Bible say about Blood and Death? (4:22 - 8:17) Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.” Genesis 2:16-17 “The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death…” Sin is Death (8:17 - 14:40) Genesis 3:21 - First animal sacrifice Genesis 4:6-7 - First mention of the word sin Genesis 4:8 - First murder Genesis 4:10-11 - First mention of blood Blood is Life (14:40 - 19:16) 1. Adam and Eve stepped into death by sinning against God. God, in His mercy, covered them with life. 2. When death visited God’s people before their exodus from Egypt they were protected by the life of the lamb. 3. Jesus covered our sin with His blood. He covered our death with His life. Reviewing Hebrews 9:22 (19:16 - 21:48) Hebrews 9:22 ESV Indeed, under the law, almost everything is purified with BLOOD, and without the shedding of BLOOD there is no forgiveness of SINS. (revised so that Blood = Life and Sins = Death) Hebrews 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with LIFE, and without the shedding of LIFE, there is no forgiveness of DEATH. The Blood in the Gospel (21:48 - 25:36) Jesus traded our death for his life. We will end up in eternity either carrying our death with us or carrying his life with us. There is no in between. To remove the blood from the Gospel is to remove the life from the Gospel. Communion (25:36 - 29:42)