"...and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Hebrews 9:22b). To understand this scripture and its impact upon humanity, "without the shedding of blood," you must have an understanding of the Old Testament sacrificial system.
Animals were killed repeatedly, day after day, and year after year. The sacrificial system served as a way for the people to atone for their transgressions. There were exceptions in the sacrificial system. "For if the blood of bulls and of goat and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctified to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ. Who through the external spirit offered himself without spot to God" (Hebrews 9:13-14a).
It was clear that man needed forgiveness of sins, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." The epistle of John gives further support, "If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (John 1:10).
Sin, is that one thing that God detests. It is true that Christians occasionally sin, its our nature to veer away. But it is not the Christian nature to continue in sin, though the flesh is weak. Sin breaks our fellowship with God. "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption" (1 Corinthians 15:50).
So let me emphasize again, rituals through the blood of sacrificial animals, cannot save us. Jesus was the perfect offering for sin. He came as High Priest and went into the perfect tabernacle in heaven. A tabernacle not made by man's hands, and once and for all took blood into that inner room, the Holy of Holies, and sprinkled it on the mercy seat. It was not the blood of goat and calves. Jesus took his own blood, and by Himself made sure we have eternal salvation. Jesus seats in heaven, on the throne, at God's righteous right hand side, and appears right now, before God as our Friend.
"Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." Why? The shedding of Jesus' blood was a positive finality. This offering would never be repeated again. The sacrificial system of killing of animals has now become null and void.
The shedding of Jesus' blood was a perfect finality. It brought about eternal forgiveness. The shedding of Jesus' blood was a personal finality. In His own body, He bored the punishment that we deserved. The shedding of Jesus' blood was a glorious finality. There is no greater symbol of life than blood. Blood keeps us alive. Jesus shed His blood, by giving His life for our sins so that we would not have to experience death, eternal separation from God. Jesus offered His own life so that we could live.
Adam placed the whole creation under the curse. But the second Adam, Christ, brought us life. Thus every person needs forgiveness of sins. God uniform method for the forgiveness of sins have been the shedding of blood. But for the Christian it has special quality and uniqueness. Perfect forgiveness is only possible based on the substitutionary sacrificial blood of Jesus.
Nothing can cleanse us but the blood of Jesus. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11). "...And without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Hebrews 9:22b).
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