Why did God need Blood Sacrifice to Forgive Sins? | Sam Shamoun

Summary

This video explores the theological concept of why God requires a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins, drawing from biblical passages such as Hebrews 9:22 and Leviticus 17:11. The speaker explains that the shedding of blood represents the forfeiting of life, which is necessary for atonement. Through the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament, God allowed for a substitute to die in place of the sinner, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The video emphasizes the idea of substitutionary atonement, where the innocent dies for the guilty, ensuring forgiveness and mercy.

Takeaways

• 😀 The blood sacrifice is central to Christian theology and is rooted in God's mercy and justice.
• 😀 Leviticus 17:11 explains that the life of the flesh is in the blood, and that blood is used to make atonement for souls.
• 😀 In Hebrew, the word for 'life' in Leviticus 17:11 is the same as the word for 'soul,' signifying the deep connection between blood and life.
• 😀 The act of shedding blood symbolizes the forfeiture of life, which is required for the remission of sin.
• 😀 Ezekiel 18:4 and Ezekiel 18:20 reinforce the idea that sin results in death, and the penalty for sin is death.
• 😀 Sin is defined as lawlessness (1 John 3:4), which involves breaking God's commandments, leading to spiritual death.
• 😀 Because of God's mercy, during the Old Covenant, an animal could be sacrificed in place of the sinner to fulfill the penalty of sin, sparing the individual from death.
• 😀 The blood of the animal acts as a symbol of the animal's death in place of the sinner, showing God's compassion and fulfilling the law.
• 😀 The principle of substitutionary atonement is illustrated by Jesus' sacrifice, where His blood was shed to take the penalty of sin upon Himself, sparing humanity.
• 😀 The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:21 shows the first instance of blood sacrifice, where God took the life of an animal in their place to provide atonement after their sin.
• 😀 Animals used for sacrifices had to be innocent, symbolizing Jesus as the innocent one who bore the sin of the guilty, fulfilling God's plan of salvation.

Q & A

Why does God require the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins?

God requires the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins because blood represents life. According to Leviticus 17:11, the life of the flesh is in the blood, and the blood is used for atonement to symbolize that a life has been forfeited, fulfilling the requirement of death for sin.

What does Leviticus 17:11 teach about the relationship between blood and life?

Leviticus 17:11 teaches that the life of the flesh is in the blood. It further explains that blood is used for atonement because when the blood is shed, the soul leaves the body, representing that death has occurred as a result of sin.

How does the shedding of blood signify death in the context of sin and atonement?

The shedding of blood signifies death because when blood is drained from the body, the soul departs, and the body dies. This act symbolizes that a life has been given up as payment for sin, fulfilling the law that the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:4).

What is the connection between sin and death as described in Ezekiel 18:4 and Ezekiel 18:20?

Ezekiel 18:4 and Ezekiel 18:20 both emphasize that the soul that sins must die. Sin is the breaking of God's law, and the penalty for sin is death. However, God, in His mercy, allows for a substitutionary death (such as an animal sacrifice) to temporarily spare the sinner.

How does God show mercy in the Old Covenant system regarding sin?

In the Old Covenant system, God shows mercy by allowing an animal to die in place of the sinner. The blood of the sacrificed animal symbolized that a life had been forfeited to satisfy the penalty of sin, allowing the sinner to be spared from death.

What is the significance of animal sacrifices in the Old Covenant?

Animal sacrifices in the Old Covenant served as a symbol of atonement. They pointed to the reality that a life must be given for sin, and the blood of the animal symbolized that death occurred in place of the sinner, fulfilling the requirement of death for sin.

What role does the concept of substitutionary atonement play in understanding the sacrifice of Jesus?

Substitutionary atonement plays a central role in understanding Jesus' sacrifice. Just as animals were sacrificed in the Old Covenant to take the place of sinners, Jesus, who was innocent and sinless, died in place of humanity, offering His blood to atone for our sins.

What is the connection between the blood sacrifice in Genesis 3:21 and the later sacrificial system?

Genesis 3:21 demonstrates the first instance of a blood sacrifice when God clothed Adam and Eve with garments of animal skins. This act symbolized atonement for their sin, and it foreshadowed the later sacrificial system, where the death of an innocent animal was required to cover sin.

Why must the animal sacrificed be innocent in the context of substitutionary atonement?

The animal must be innocent because if it were guilty, it could not die for the sins of another. If the animal were guilty, it would have to die for its own sins. The innocence of the animal represents the innocence of Jesus, who, though sinless, died for the sins of humanity.

How does the concept of blood as a sign of death connect to Jesus' sacrifice?

In the context of Jesus' sacrifice, His blood represents the death He experienced in place of sinners. Just as the blood of animals in the Old Covenant symbolized a death for sin, Jesus' blood, shed on the cross, signifies His voluntary death to atone for the sins of humanity, offering forgiveness and life to those who believe in Him.