Without The Shedding Of Blood

There Is No Forgiveness

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:11-22

The conductor stands at the podium. Everyone else adjusts their music so they can see the conductor. Then with a downbeat of the baton, the sounds of Handel’s “Overture to Messiah” fills the cathedral. With the sound swirling around us, we are immersed in Christmas, when God at just the right moment, signaled the downbeat and set in motion an overture started with the birth of the Messiah.

Every Christmas, as we celebrate Christ’s first coming with glorious music, we are reminded that God’s people, like choir and orchestra members, are getting ready for the next downbeat of the conductor when Christ will come again. On that day, we will participate with Him in the final movement of God’s symphony of redemption – making all things new. In anticipation, we need to keep our eyes on the conductor and make sure we are ready.

The advent of Christ celebrates His birth and anticipates His return.

Our Daily Bread – December 21, 2014