No Blood – No Remission
Hebrews 9:18-28
God almighty will not and cannot forgive sin without blood atonement. He cannot do so because he is holy, just and true. He has sworn, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” His justice must be satisfied; and the only way God’s holy, infinite justice could ever be satisfied is by the righteous obedience and sin-atoning death of his own dear Son, the God-man, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Remission Pictured
Under the Mosaic law virtually everything relating to the worship of God was ceremonially sanctified and purged of corruption by blood. The reason for this is clearly stated in Hebrews 9:22-23. – “Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these.”
Verses 18-23 -- "Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these."
When Moses gave the pattern for the tabernacle and its services, he took the blood and water[1] and sprinkled the book, people, the tabernacle and all the vessels used in the worship of God. Almost all things were purified by means of blood (Lev. 17:11). Other things were ceremonially purified by water and fire; but without the shedding of blood there was no forgiveness of sin! There is no example of pardon and forgiveness without blood. The Old Testament sacrifices and ceremonies as well as the very fact that Christ’s blood has been shed makes it foolish to suppose that pardon might be had without it (1 Cor. 5:7; Gal. 2:19-21).
Fulfilling the type and patterns of heavenly things given in those Old Testament symbols (Heb. 8:5; 9:23), the Lord Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, entered into heaven before the holy Lord God as the Representative and Mediator of God’s elect, the true, spiritual Israel, “the Israel of God.” Having fully satisfied the law; he atoned for our sins with his blood. He makes intercession for us in the holy place, in heaven itself, presenting the infinite merits of his blood and righteousness perpetually (1 John 2:1-2).
Remission Performed
Remission was only pictured in those Old Testament ceremonies. It was actually, once and forever performed and accomplished by the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary.
Verses 24-28 -- "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
The Lord Jesus Christ, our great God-man Mediator and High Priest, did not enter into an earthly, material holy place, but into heaven itself. Yonder, seated upon the throne of God is a Man, the God-man, Christ Jesus. He perpetually appears in the presence of God on our behalf, -- interceding for us, -- representing us, -- possessing all things as our Forerunner.
His one great, infinitely meritorious sacrifice for our sins was and is enough (Heb. 10:11-14). Because his blood is of infinite merit, it is infinitely effectual. By his one sacrifice for all the sins of all his people, he put them away forever (Isa. 53:4-6; Heb. 10:17-18).
Be sure you understand the doctrine of Holy Scripture. The Son of God did not die merely to make it possible for sins to be put away. He did not merely provide a way for sins to be put away. He has, by the sacrifice of himself, put away all the sins of God’s elect which were imputed to him. He has put our sins away fully and forever (Rom. 4:8).
Blessed Hope
As men die just once and face judgment but once, so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, to bear the sins of God’s elect. They are now fully paid for and forever put away. It is not possible for the sins he put away to be imputed to his people again. Justice will not allow it.
Let every ransomed sinner rejoice in this fact: Christ has
put away our sins. We met God in judgment at Calvary in the person of our
Substitute. God punished us in him for all our sins to the full satisfaction of
his holy justice. Now, we have every reason to look forward to Christ’s coming.
Unto all them who believe on him and look for him, he will appear without sin
unto eternal glory (Rom. 8:1-4, 33-39). This is blessed hope, indeed!
August 26, 2001
Either God rules, or
he is ruled. -- Either he is in control, or he is controlled. -- Either he is
absolutely and universally over all things and at all times, or there is
something, somewhere that is sovereign over him.
[1] The blood and water typified the blood and water which flowed from our Lord’s pierced side, and our justification and sanctification by his blood.