TG
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Posts: 5
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Post by TG on Mar 5, 2019 12:48:50 GMT -5
Why did God choose blood sacrifice as the method of payment for sins?
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Post by Mike Miller on Mar 6, 2019 14:48:07 GMT -5
Well, your question is of a somewhat tricky nature. The truth is that unless God specifically tells us his motivation for something, we don't always know exactly "why" He has done something. My most common answer as to "why" God does anything is, "Because it pleased Him to do so." However, I think we can see some rationale for God's requirement of blood to atone for sins.
To begin with, God told Adam and Eve that the price for their sin would be death--their death. However (and though they died spiritually that day), God allowed them to live. Nevertheless, an animal had to die in order for God to cover their shame (he covered them with animal skin). Also, Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death. Death is the cost of sin. Blood must be shed. Hebrews 9:22 says that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." The good news is that God instituted a means for blood to be shed vicariously for our sins. We see this in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16, where annually a sacrificial goat was slaughtered for the sins of the people (after a bull was slaughtered for the high priest and his household). The goat died in their place. Of course, as Hebrews 10:4 says, "It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." That is why all those Old Testament sacrifices were actually pointing forward to the day when Jesus would come and provide the only sacrifice that could take away sins. He alone could be our forever substitute in the atonement.
So, blood had to be shed because someone had to die. But that only pushes the question back further. Why does someone have to die? Well, because God said so. But in addition to that simple answer, I think we can see that death is the most costly sacrifice we can bring to God. It is the highest payment we can make. Nothing else will demonstrate the serious nature of our crimes against God--no money or property or act of service. Our sin is so bad, that it is only appropriate that someone has to die. And again we see that the only one sufficient for the steep price for our sin is Jesus Himself.
So, I don't know if this answers your question satisfactorily, but I'm not sure the Bible gives us more insight than this. The truth is that our sin is not a small thing. Even the smallest transgression is an act of cosmic treason. And blood is the costliest penalty that could ever be paid. Moreover, Jesus is the most precious sacrifice to place on the altar. So this infinitely holy God displayed His remarkable love in giving His own Son to pay the price we could not pay. He shed His very own blood so that we can live.
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TG
New Member
Posts: 5
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Post by TG on Mar 13, 2019 22:47:02 GMT -5
Thank you. This answers my question perfectly. I appreciate your time and answer.
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