The Blood of Atonement

From the very beginning of Israel's deliverance the blood applied to the doorposts shielded the firstborn from judgment, revealing how the life poured out could stand in the place of another. This principle finds clear expression in the truth that the life of the flesh resides in the blood, which God appointed as the means of making atonement for the soul upon the altar. All these shadows find their substance in the precious blood of Christ, which not only covers but thoroughly cleanses the believer from every stain of sin, accomplishing what the repeated offerings could never fully achieve.

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Key Passages

Passover Blood on the Doorposts

Exodus 12:7-13

The lamb's blood marks households for protection from death - establishing the principle that life is preserved through substitutionary sacrifice.

The blood of the lamb applied to doorposts protects Israel from judgment-a type of Christ's protective blood.

A⁷nd they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

⁸ And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. ⁹ Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. ¹⁰ And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. ¹¹ And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’s passover. ¹² For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. ¹³ And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

The Life Is in the Blood

Leviticus 17:11

Leviticus explains why blood atones - it represents life itself, and God has given it specifically for the purpose of making atonement on the altar.

God declares that the life of the flesh is in the blood, and He has given it for atonement on the altar.

F¹¹or 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.

Christ's Blood Cleanses

Hebrews 9:11-14

John declares that Jesus' blood cleanses from all sin - the final and complete fulfillment of every blood sacrifice in Israel's history.

Christ enters the heavenly tabernacle with His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption once for all.

B¹¹ut Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

¹² Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. ¹³ For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: ¹⁴ How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Did You Know?

Blood has always been central to atonement in Scripture. 'without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.'

The Passover lamb, the Day of Atonement, and the sacrifices all pointed forward to Jesus' blood.

The New Covenant is established in Jesus' blood, fulfilling and replacing the old system.