“It’s the scarlet thread that ties the beginning to the end…”

This is the first line that we are going to take from our theme song, It’s All About The Blood.  I promised in our last post that we would look at what would happen if we took the blood out of the Bible.  Our phrase, it’s the scarlet thread that ties the beginning to the end, will help us because it explains two things: 1, that there is a beginning and an end, and 2, the blood ties it all together.  So first of all, lets track down the blood in the Word of God and see, what is it doing?…

Interestingly enough, the first time that we see blood shed in Scripture was as a result of sin.  Genesis chapter three is where we find the story:  Adam and Eve sinned, they saw their nakedness for the first time, tried to make their own cloths and hid from God.  In Genesis 3:21, it says, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”  ~ Blood was shed that day…because of sin.

In Genesis chapter four we see blood again, only this time, we see an important principle attached to it… “the only way to approach a holy God is by a blood sacrifice.”  The story is of Cain and Able.  Cain brought an offering to God of the fruit of the ground and his brother Able brought of the flocks (probably a lamb).  Able’s sacrifice was accepted by God but Cain’s was rejected.  Why?  Fruits and veggies don’t shed blood.

Turn over a couple of chapters to Genesis 8:20-21, and we will find Noah coming off the Ark, what was Noah doing?  It says, “And Noah built an altar unto the LORD, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savor.”  Blood was shed – and God accepted it.

Genesis 22 – we know the story well, Abraham and Isaac were on Mt. Moriah and the Lord provided a ram to take the place of Isaac for a sacrifice.  What happened to the ram?  His blood was shed…and accepted by God.  (Gen 22:16-17)

In Exodus we read of the Passover the Jews held before leaving Egypt.  What was the safety requirement from judgment?  Exodus 12:7 and 13 “And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses…and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.”  Blood protected Israel from death.

Then we come to Leviticus.  If you’ve ever read Leviticus before, you know that it is filled with directions to Israel on how to perform the sacrifices.  If you haven’t read it in a while, I encourage you to read the first 14 chapters and note how many times the word “blood” is used.  I’m not going to talk about all the sacrifices, but I am going to quote one verse for you that will explain why we just covered 1500 years of Old Testament history.  It will explain why God demands a blood sacrifice, it says…

“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: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”
Leviticus 17:11

So what would happen if we took the blood out of all of those stories?  Well, Adam and Eve wouldn’t have a covering.  Able wouldn’t have a sacrifice.  Noah’s offering would not have been a sweet savor to the Lord,.  Abraham and Isaac? – who knows what would have happened there!  In Egypt, there would have been no way to escape God’s judgment, and without the sacrifices…well, the sacrifices point to the cross, so I guess that would mean there would be no cross?  Think about what that would mean – without the blood there would be no way to cover sin, no way to approach God, no acceptable offering and no way to avoid judgment.  So, that’s life without the blood.  I don’t know about you, but I need that blood!  I want that blood.  I need that which makes an atonement for the soul…for that is what the blood does.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:14

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0RBxwYBWkk[/youtube]