And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Hebrews 9:22
So is Paul right about about this?
Well, if you look at one verse in the old testament, without too much contemplation and reading, it might seem as if one would need blood to atone for sin.
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. [Leviticus 17:11]
In context, these are temple sacrifices and this particular verse was made when speaking about not consuming any of the blood. But again blood is only good for atonement if the sacrifice is performed in the temple and the blood is spilled on the altar. These activities described in Leviticus surround what happens in the temple. But did the Jews always have access to the temple? No. So I wonder, if we can find examples of where God does not need sacrifices for atonement?
With what shall I come before the Etrnl and bow down before the exalted Gd? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Etrnl be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Etrnl require of you? Only to do Justice, and to love Mercy and to walk humbly with your Gd. [Micah 6:6-8]
Psalm 40:6: “In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.”
Psalm 51:16-17: “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Hosea 6:6: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Hosea 14:2: “Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, ‘Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips.'”
6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
He prays to Gd and finds favor with him, he sees Gd’s face and shouts for joy; he is restored by Gd to his righteous state. [Job 33:26]
Time and time again God is merciful and people atone for sin outside of bloodshed.
Questions.
If blood shed is not necessary, would Christ still be needed?
Is God really merciful if the punishment you deserve is placed on Christ?
Is this a contradiction in the old testament or are Christians extrapolating too much when they believe that blood shed is needed for atonement?
Are there verses where bloodshed particularly atones anyone in the old testament outside of a temple setting?
ectopic73
Article URL : https://biblehub.com/hosea/14-2.htm