The subject is too vast so we'll break this up into several parts.
We start off with 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 atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
The very first indication that blood atoned for sin was in the Garden of Eden.
After Adam and Eve sinned, they hid themselves and sewed leaves to cover their nakedness. Well, as novel as weaving leaves together to cover their nakedness was, the shame of their sin needed more than covering their naked bodies with leaves.
Cain used fruit from the ground to bring an offering to the Lord and it was rejected. Fruit from the ground is a man's way to atone for sin.
The shame of sin needed atonement and leaves is a very poor method to atone for sin.
Genesis 3:21 (NKJV) "Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them."
So what's a tunic?
"TUNIC" h3801. כְּתֹנֶת ḵeṯôneṯ; or כֻּתֹּנֶת kuttoneth; from an unused root meaning to cover (compare 3802); a shirt: — coat, garment, robe.
AV (29) - coat 23, garment 5, robe 1;
tunic, under-garment, a long shirt-like garment usually of linen.
But remember. Tunics of skin.
"SKIN" h5785. עוֹר ‘ôr; from 5783; skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather: — hide, leather, skin.
AV (99) - skin 96, hide 2, leather 1;
skin, hide skin (of men)hide (of animals).
Here, we could plainly see that the Lord slaughtered an animal. A sacrifice was made to atone for the sin that Adam and Eve committed. The word atone means to cover.
We don't know what animal that the Lord used, and to speculate would be folly. We'll know later what animal was used but what's important is that blood was shed to atone for their sin and the skin of the animal covered their physical nakedness, thus, covering their shame.
The inference (a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning:), therefore, is very clear.
It would take the blood of an animal to temporarily atone or cover the sin of man until the Lamb of God comes along and atone for the sin of the whole world.
The next instance that we see blood shed for sin would be with Abel. Abel brought to the Lord what the Lord required. But Cain, for whatever reason, wanted to bring to the Lord something that God never required.
Genesis 4:2-5 (NKJV) "Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.
Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell."
How did Abel know to bring a firstborn of his flock and their fat?
Evidently, the Lord told Abel.
Could you see the symbology here?
Firstborn.
In the book of Isaiah, the prophesy established that the Lord would be the firstborn, born of a virgin.
Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."
This clearly sets the type and shadow that's now to be fulfilled in Christ. The Lord Jesus is the Firstborn.
Luke 2:4-7 (NKJV) "Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
You couldn't make this up if you've tried.
Colossians 1:13-15 (NKJV) "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."
The blood of the Lord Jesus is the life that every man needs.
John 6:52-56 (NKJV) “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him."
We now see that the type and shadow that Abel provided, is now fulfilled in Christ.
John 1:29 (NKJV) "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
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