The mercy seat protected man from the judgment of God represented by the judgment angels, the Cherubim. Because of the blood that was sprinkled on the mercy seat, man's sin and guilt were washed away and the curse of the law has no effect. The mercy seat foreshadows the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our mercy seat. He forever stands between a holy God and sinful man. Just as the sins of the whole nation were atoned for by the sprinkling of the blood on the mercy seat, so also Christ, by the shedding of His own blood atoned for the sins of the entire world.
One of the most important subjects biblically is also, unfortunately, one of the least mentioned and that is the blood of Christ. There are so many scriptures that reference His blood as being the ONLY means for remission of sins yet most churches avoid talking about the blood. I can only guess it is because they are afraid they will offend their congregation or gross them out talking about blood. Here are some of the verses that mention Christ's blood.
Leviticus 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."
Matthew 26:28 "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
John 6:53-56 "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whosoever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him.
Romans 3:25 "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God."
Romans 5:9 "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."
Ephesians 2:13 "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."
Hebrews 9:12 "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."
1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin."
Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
I remember growing up and watching one of the original Dracula movies and it really scaring me. It seems that over the last several years the whole fascination with vampires has increased at an alarming rate. I can think of the "Blade" movies, the "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" TV show and finally the "Twilight" book series written by Stephanie Meyers, a Mormon (no surprise there). While some may argue that the Twilight books portray a "so-called good" vampire, it is still a disturbing trend that our culture is so fascinated by vampires.
The premise of vampires is in order for them to live eternally, they must drink the blood of their victims. In contrast, in order for us to live eternally, Christ has freely given us His blood as a means of immortality. It is an ironic twist that Satan has used to capture the world's attention.
So, while society has no problem with "grossing us out" with vampires and blood, the modern church is afraid to "gross us out" with the message of Christ shedding His blood. For one thing, there is nothing "gross" about Christ's pure blood. It is our only hope of salvation. It is why we drink the juice on Sunday morning.. it symbolizes Christ blood as the atonement for our sins. The hymn writer was dead on when he wrote this hymn:
1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain:
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
2. For my pardon this I see:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this my plea:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Refrain)
3. Nothing can for sin atone:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Refrain)
4. This is all my hope and peace:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Refrain)
I don't know if the "Twilight" movie had a theme song, but this one is so much better.
I'll leave you with some facts about the precious blood of Jesus
FACTS ABOUT THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST
1. The Blood of Christ provides a suitable covering for man's sin, guilt and shame. Genesis 3:21.
2. The Blood of Christ makes the one who offers it both acceptable to and accepted by God. Genesis 4:1-6.
3. Through the offering of the Blood of Christ, (we believers) have safety from the coming Judgment. Exodus 12:13.
4. The Blood of Christ was shed for the remission of our sins. Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7.
5. Through the Blood of Christ, we have cleansing from sin. Revelation 1:5; 7:14.
6. Through the Blood of Christ we have redemption; this is, we are bought back out of the slave market. Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; I Peter 1:18-19.
7. Through the Blood of Christ we have peace with God. Colossians 1:20; Ephesians 2:14.
8. Through the Blood of Christ we who are "afar off" are "made near". Ephesians 2:13
9. Through the Blood of Christ, the guilt and condemnation we incurred, through the breaking of God's laws, is "blotted out". Colossians 2:13.
10. The Blood of Christ, called the Blood of God, bought us for God and Christ, and made us His own peculiar possession. Acts 20:28; I Corinthians 6:19; and I Peter 2:9-10.
11. The Blood of Christ purges our conscience so that our service to the Living God might be acceptable. Hebrews 9:14.
12. The Blood of Christ gives us an exalted standing, and makes us "kings and priests unto God". Rev. 1:5-6; 5:9-10.
13. Through the Blood of Christ we are justified before God. Romans 5:9.
14. Through the Blood of Christ we are sanctified. I Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:14; 13:12.
15. Through the Blood of Christ we have eternal security and the assurance of salvation. Hebrews 10:10-14; 13:20; 9:12.
16. Through the Blood of Christ we are made "one" with all others believers-both Jews and Gentiles-in the new body of Christ. Ephesians 2:13-14.
17. Through the Blood of Christ we are reconciled-made right or righteous with God. II Corinthians 17-21.
18. Through the Blood of Christ we can enter into "the Holy of Holies", that is, into God's presence in heaven. Hebrews 10:19-22.
19. Through the Blood of Christ we have fellowship with God, and with His Son Jesus Christ, and with other believers. I John 1:7; 1:1-3.
20. Through the Blood of Christ He purchased for us "an eternal inheritance". Hebrews 9:14-15.
21. Through the Blood of Christ we have overcome the Devil. Revelation 12:11.
The word "blood" occurs 447 times in 357 verses in the Bible. The "Blood" (when it refers either directly or symbolically to the blood of Christ) is the very heart and core of the Bible, the true foundation of the Christian faith. Any departure from the Biblical message on the "Blood of Christ" is heresy or apostasy. It is plain that the message of the "Blood of Christ" is of basic importance in the Bible. If you would take the blood out of a human body, you would have nothing left but a lump of clay. If you take the blood out of the Bible, you have Bible that has no life-giving properties. It is a dead book rather than the "living book" that it claims to be. See Hebrews 4:12.
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