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"Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews
9:22
Someone asked me, "What kind of God would require the blood of
His Son to solve the sin problem? I don't understand why any
blood was required."
First of all, I believe that the question is based on a wrong premise
-- the premise that Christ is not God -- that He was somehow
"required" to die by the Father God. (Christ stated clearly,
"I and the Father are One"1 and
"Before Abraham was born, I AM,"2
thus identifying with Yahweh, the Creator God. Further, Paul explained
that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself."3)
I believe that it is not possible to wrap our minds completely around
all the facets of the plan of salvation. Perhaps it is possible to address
this question by looking at alternatives. What other way could God have
used to restore harmony to the universe?
While I don't claim to have final answers, I would like to share some
thoughts regarding the "blood" requirement.
First of all, the Old Testament as well as the New Testament make clear
that "blood" always stands for life -- both in the
sacrificial system and in civil/criminal law. It is given as the reason
why blood is not to be eaten:
17.10, 11 And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of
the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I
will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut
him off from among his people. 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 maketh an atonement for the
soul.
Then there are the laws of the "avenger of the blood" which
were laws dealing with murder and manslaughter, where "blood"
equals "life."
Thus blood standing for life, the principle
remains that sin kills. In one sense, rebellion separates
from the Life-Giver, and thus death is the natural result of sin. In
another sense, sin is a violation of divine Law, and the penalty, as
enunciated in Eden, is death. I believe we need to consider both aspects
simultaneously, even though they present a paradox.
In the Bible, we find the plan of salvation presented through several
metaphors. One is reconciliation -- that man, estranged from
the Life-Giver is again brought into relationship with Him. Thus "God
was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself."
Another metaphor is substitution. This is clear in the Old
Testament sacrifices, in which the lamb (a type of Christ) died instead
of the sinner. And Romans 5:8, seems to imply substitution:
"But God demonstrates His own live towards us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us." Yet in the same
passage, reconciliation is specifically included: "For
if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His
Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His
life." Romans 5: 10.
Other frequently used metaphors used are adoption, marriage, new and
old "covenant," and a new ancestry -- being in the lineage of
the "second Adam." (Jack Sequeira concentrates on the latter
metaphor in his book Beyond
Belief which I have found to be very enlightening -- though it
is regarded as controversial.)
There is not just "another perspective" on the Good News.
There are many perspectives. Each just gives us a glimpse of the
whole. The more we understand, the more God's infinite love is revealed. I
believe that we will continue to discover new facets of His love
throughout the ages of eternity.
My favorite Christian author expressed it this way:
In stooping to take upon Himself humanity, Christ revealed a
character the opposite of the character of Satan. But He stepped still
lower in the path of humiliation. "Being found in fashion as a man,
He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of
the cross." Phil. 2:8. As the high priest laid aside his gorgeous
pontifical robes, and officiated in the white linen dress of the common
priest, so Christ took the form of a servant, and offered sacrifice,
Himself the priest, Himself the victim. "He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was upon Him." Isa. 53:5.
Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He
deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that
we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He
suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which
was His. "With His stripes we are healed."
By His life and His death, Christ has achieved even more than
recovery from the ruin wrought through sin. It was Satan's purpose to
bring about an eternal separation between God and man; but in Christ we
become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen. In taking
our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is
never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us.
"God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son."
John 3:16. He gave Him not only to bear our sins, and to die as our
sacrifice; He gave Him to the fallen race. . . God gave His
only-begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever to retain
His human nature. . . God has adopted human nature in the person of His
Son, and has carried the same into the highest heaven. It is the
"Son of man" who shares the throne of the universe. . .
. In Christ the family of earth and the family of heaven are bound
together. Christ glorified is our brother. Heaven is enshrined in
humanity, and humanity is enfolded in the bosom of Infinite Love.
. . .
Through Christ's redeeming work the government of God stands
justified. The Omnipotent One is made known as the God of love. Satan's
charges are refuted, and his character unveiled. Rebellion can never
again arise. Sin can never again enter the universe. Through eternal
ages all are secure from apostasy. By love's self-sacrifice, the
inhabitants of earth and heaven are bound to their Creator in bonds of
indissoluble union.
The work of redemption will be complete. In the place where sin
abounded, God's grace much more abounds. The earth itself, the very
field that Satan claims as his, is to be not only ransomed but exalted.
Our little world, under the curse of sin the one dark blot in His
glorious creation, will be honored above all other worlds in the
universe of God. Here, where the Son of God tabernacled in humanity;
where the King of glory lived and suffered and died, -- here, when He
shall make all things new, the tabernacle of God shall be with men,
"and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God
Himself shall be with them, and be their God." And through endless
ages as the redeemed walk in the light of the Lord, they will praise Him
for His unspeakable Gift, -- Immanuel, "God with us."
-- From Ellen White, Desire
of Ages, pp. 25, 26 (the last part of the chapter entitled,
"God With Us.".
Notes:
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John 10:30
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John 8:58
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2 Corinthians 5:19
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