Pastor Ryan Black

Cedar Springs Christian Church

340 West Pine Street, Cedar Springs

Jesus came to this world as the only acceptable payment for our sins. He did this by dying on the cross and shedding His blood. People read and hear this but don’t always comprehend the importance and significance of the blood.
The Bible tells us that the blood forgives and cleanses for our sins. So where did the first sin occur? In the Garden of Eden, right? No, in the heavens, by one known as Lucifer (this was Satan, an anointed Cherubim before he rebelled against God because of his pride). As a result, the heavenly temple (not God himself or His angels) needed to be cleansed. Because there is no blood in heaven (1 Cor. 15:50 & Luke 24:39) God had to create this special and unique substance here on earth, in which He has put inside of every animal and human being on the planet. Therefore, let the pattern of the blood begin.
The things of this earth are patterned after the heavens. When the first sin did occur on earth with Adam and Eve in the garden, they attempted to cover themselves with fig leaves. This was not good enough; therefore, God sacrificed two animal skins for their atonement, which is the first clue of how the sacrificing of blood atones for sin. According to Lev:17:11, “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 makes an atonement for the soul.”  Also, Hebrews 9:22-23 tells us: “almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”  It was therefore necessary that the (earthly) patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these (animal sacrifices); but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. The pattern is now set that the shedding of animal blood would be a temporary atonement. However, who or what would be “better sacrifices than these”?
Human sacrifice was most definitely forbidden, as we find out in the story of Cain killing his brother Abel. No human can be sacrificed because we are all descendents of Adam and Eve, therefore, we are all born with sin (Romans 3:23).  If we are all born with sin and animal sacrifices are not sufficient for the long term, where is the sacrifice?  This is where our Lord and Savior, Lamb of God, fits in. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, but the seed was planted by the Holy Spirit. Therefore Jesus was not born of the lineage of Adam, therefore, he was not born with sin nor did He sin when he was on this earth.
The whole idea of blood sacrifice in the Old Testament was a picture for the great sacrifice that was to come. There was no other option for us on this earth to be saved and have access into heaven. When Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood, not only did He die for our sins, but He also cleansed the Heavenly Temple and was presented to God as the First Fruits so that we may live and dwell with God in Heaven.
Satan was caught off guard with the crucifixion of Jesus. He was not familiar with the power of the blood and did not realize that the blood of Jesus ultimately defeated he and his angels. Because of this Satan will do anything in his power to make sure you do not understand or see the significance of the blood. Just because Satan was misled about the weapon that would defeat him, don’t let him deceive you into the blood having no importance today. The Blood of Jesus is what has saved us!