Seattle, September 12, 2005. (81)
THE LIFE OF THE FLESH. That which activates and motivates the body, is the blood. Our blood warms and cools the body. It feeds and carries oxygen to every cell of the body. On its return it carries off the waste and carbon dioxide. It fights disease and coagulates to prevent its own loss. It has been called a river of life to the bodies of all animals, including man. Lev. 17:11 Associated with it is the organ which pumps so faithfully this stream of blood through the body day and night. That is why a sound heart also gives life to the body. Prov. 14:30 Man can live without some organs of the body but not the heart and blood. They are vital to our well being. A heart of rejoicing, a merry heart does good like a medicine. Prov. 17:22.
BLOOD IS AN ESSENTIAL TO NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL LIFE. The very first blood that was shed was an act of atonement. The Lord Himself, slew animals for their skins that He might cover the sin of Adam and Eve. Gen. 3: 21 We are not told which of the animals was slain would the conjecture of a lamb be to far off? They understood the principle of blood atonement for when their sons prepared altars to worship the Lord. Able offered of his flock and was accepted. Cain offered of the fruit of the ground, of his own labors. His offering was rejected. No doubt an act of pride on his behalf. Gen. 4:3-5 They were not in ignorance of that which was necessary for atonement. The only acceptable atonement is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Without the shedding of blood there it no remission, no forgiveness, no atonement. Heb. 9:22.
“HE POURED OUT HIS SOUL UNTO DEATH. Isa. 53:12 Most generally something that is “poured out” is in liquid form. The fact that it was prophesied of Him that “He poured out His soul an OFFERING FOR SIN,” verifies that His soul, His life’s blood is the only atonement possible. Isa. 53:10 All other sacrifices were but symbolic of that which was to come. The word of the Lord has the ability to differentiate between soul and spirit and so it does. Heb. 4:12 They are close, intertwined yet different entities. The soul life is for this world. The Spirit is for that which is to come. The word soul is used by the scriptures in a manner which can not only be defined as being resident in the blood, but is used to describe the whole nature of man. At times, in describing the nature of a person, we may refer to them as being “hot blooded,” or “cold blooded,” showing a relationship between the blood and the evidenced character of a person.