First Blood
Hebrews 9:11-12 (NLT)
11 So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 12 WITH HIS own blood —not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
The Blood is the heart of the Gospel. It is not primitive, archaic, or barbaric. The Blood of Jesus is precious, powerful, and beautiful! His blood, and His blood alone, has the power to cleanse us from all sin, free us from the curse of sin and restore us to our pre-fallen state.
Genesis 3:21 (NLT)
21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
Genesis 2:25 (NLT)
25 Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.
Genesis 3:7 (NLT)
7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Leviticus 17:11 (ESV)
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.
Genesis 22:12 (NLT)
12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”
Exodus 12:13 (NLT)
13 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 12:23 (NLT)
23 But never consume the blood, for the blood is the life, and you must not consume the lifeblood with the meat.
Definition of lifeblood
1.the blood, as being necessary to life.
the indispensable factor or influence that gives something its strength and vitality.
· Blood is a VITAL and LIFE-GIVING FORCE!
· Without blood – one cannot live!
Leviticus 17:10-11 (NLT)
10 “And if any native Israelite or foreigner living among you eats or drinks blood in any form, I will turn against that person and cut him off from the community of your people, 11 for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.
Genesis 3:22 New Living Translation (NLT)
22 Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!”
John 6:53-55 (NLT)
53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
Matthew 26:28 (NLT)
28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.
The first blood also represents human effort.
Galatians 3:2-3 (NLT)
2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?