Lesson Theme: This lesson will introduce us to the sacrificial system at a high level and explain the essence of blood atonement and its relationship to Jesus.
References:
Edersheim, Alfred, The Temple
Gambill, Chuck, “The Sacrificial System: A study from notes taken in Gerald Paden’s class at the Sunset School of Preaching from 3/22/78 through 4/10/78”
Jackson, Wayne, “A Study of Biblical Typology” from www.christiancourier.com archives, 11/3/99
Russell, Rusty, "Blood Atonement" from www.bible-history.com
Russell, Rusty, "The Five Levitical Offerings" from www.bible-history.com
· This series of lessons will seek to understand the concept of blood atonement, uncover the history of the sacrificial system and survey the study of types (typology) in order to answer the ultimate question: "Why did Jesus have to die?"
· One of the hardest truths for us to ever try to comprehend is that the life of an innocent victim would have to be slaughtered on behalf of the guilty.
· Definitions:
1. "Atonement" - Making amends, reconciliation, satisfaction for an injury or wrong
2. "Death" - a separation.
· We begin with a similar beginning of our last series - The Curse. But this time, we evaluate the consequences of and the solution to the curse not through the lives of man in history (who, when and where), but through the sacrificial system, the idea of atonement through blood, and the relationships of these things to Jesus (the why and how).
The Curse:
· In Gen 3:14-19, we read of the curse God gives. Mankind (Adam & Eve) had the perfect lives in the perfect setting communing with our perfect God, however they let sin separate them from God. From this time on, man would be separated from God as long as sin existed in man.
· Read in Gen 1:28-30 and see that God gave Adam authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, over every living creature, every seed-bearing plant and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. (Question: Did the trees of life and knowledge of good and evil not have fruit with seeds in them?)
· In submitting to Satan and bringing sin upon himself, Adam handed to Satan the crown of spiritual power and dominion that he formerly possessed. At that moment, Satan legally became the ruler of this world. 2 Cor 4:4 identifies Satan as the "god of this age" (NIV) or "god of this world" (KJV). We can also see that Satan was given control over the world from Luke 4:5-8.
· What now? Man has ruined the perfect thing he had. He has separated himself from God, which is a spiritual death. Recall what does death mean? (Separation) Physical death is a separation from this world, and spiritual death is a separation from God. But God has a plan for man's spiritual death. We first see that plan in Gen 3:15. From this, we have a foreshadowing of Jesus' victorious reign over Satan.
Concept - The Blood:
· After the Lord finds Adam and confronts him, we see the first mention of the shedding of blood from an innocent animal in Gen 3:21 "The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them." Up until now, we aren't shown that they had ever seen anything die, yet they saw the giver of life take a life because when God clothed them He had slaughtered an innocent animal to do it.
· From this point on, one could only approach God through the blood. Regardless of how good man may be, there was no other way for man to be saved. Lev 17:11 "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life."
· What is blood? Blood is life. Life is blood. When blood is shed, a life is shed. Jesus came for one reason, to shed His blood. He came to restore what Adam and Eve had forfeited. I Cor 15:21-22 "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."
· How was blood treated? In Gen 8:20-9:3, we see by the last sentences that God for the first time allows man to eat animal flesh, however, he begins to give restrictions concerning the blood in 9:4 "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it." and in verse 6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." Now, blood could not be eaten, nor could it be shed. See Lev 17:10 & Lev 7:26-27 for more examples of strict commands concerning the eating of blood.
· Why such strict commands concerning blood? Blood was holy, set apart. Blood could not be handled in any other context except sacrifice. He made it off limits so that everyone would treat it with reverence. Even during a woman's menstrual cycle, she was considered unclean and could not even be touched by her husband until after her purification. Even after giving birth there were restrictions because of contact with the blood.
· How does blood atone for our sins? Blood (innocent life) is the bridge that rejoins where sin has separated us from God. Recall that "atonement" is when something reconciles or makes satisfaction for a wrong or injury. It is the blood (innocent life) that takes the place of, or covers over the sin. Under the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, the blood of innocent life would cover over specific and individual sins that had been committed. At that point, man would be united again with God, but every time man would sin, he would again need to be made pure with another innocent sacrifice to take the place of his sin.
Conclusion:
· After submitting to Satan and giving him control of this world, mankind was separated from God and had to have a way to somehow be reunited with Him. The fundamental way to do that is for something (innocent life) to take the place of (atone for) that which keeps man from being united with God (sin). This is also known as blood atonement. The problem up to this point was that the blood atonement in the Old Testament had to be done over and over as mankind continued to sin over and over in order to keep coming back into communion with God. We will go into detail of how Jesus' perfect blood will eventually be the final and continual atonement for mankind.
Application:
· Most of the applications from this series will not be the normal applications that we are accustomed to making in that they may not directly apply to us in our lives. Rather, the applications we will see are how the lessons apply to Jesus specifically in his fulfillment of the scriptures.