The Power of the Blood
ICS Daily Devotions
Leviticus 17:11 (NKJV) 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.’
We learnt from Chapter 6 of the Book of Ephesians that the sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the entire armoury of God that He has given us, but if we want the sword to be effective against the fiery darts of the evil one, we must take time to build up the truth.
One foundational truth is the power of the blood that has made atonement for our sins. Atonement is derived from the Hebrew word “kaphar”, which means to ransom, to cover, to forgive, to make amends, to appease or to reconcile—to atone by offering a substitute.
Salvation is a “done deal” that is offered to us purely by the grace of God. However, it cost the Heavenly Father dearly, because the second Person of the Godhead, Jesus, had to take our place on the cross. In fact, everything that is written in the Old Testament points towards the ultimate work of the Messiah on the cross.
However, to understand why blood is necessary for the atonement of our sin, we must first consider the attributes of God. For instance, God is good, holy, just, eternal, faithful, impartial, merciful, righteous, loving, and wise. Nonetheless, human beings often struggle to comprehend the requirements of God when it comes to holiness, justice, mercy, and righteousness especially towards sin. Because of our fallen nature, we tend to be more relaxed, tolerant, and indifferent towards sin, especially non-believers or believers who are carnal in their ways. In contrast, God in His holiness cannot allow or tolerate sin unless the penalty of sin has been meted out. In other words, the wrath of God towards sin must be appeased.
The opening Scripture reveals to us that sin can only be atoned for by blood. Therefore, we will see a bloodline from the Old Testament to the New Testament, all the way until the final atonement by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Nobody can use their own works to attain God’s love because the atonement for sin must be made by blood. There is life in the blood. Therefore, an innocent party must always take the place of the sinner through the shedding of blood whether it is an animal or the work of the Messiah.
When we truly understand the extent that God has gone through to establish peace with us, we will be secure in His love, assured of our salvation, and able to enter a place of rest in His love.
Sermon Series: The Power of the Blood
