By Steven Akin
Have you ever had the opportunity to give blood? While it is an uncomfortable experience due to the large needle, it is also extremely rewarding. Knowing that 4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion every year and that a single pint of blood has the potential to save three lives makes the needle seem a little less painful.  
There is no substitute for blood. Think about that for just a moment. In all of the technological advances that we have made throughout the history of the world, there is still nothing in existence that can take the place of the red fluid flowing through your veins even as you read this sentence. 
Made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma, your blood fills numerous roles. Your red blood cells, with the help of hemoglobin, transport the oxygen your cells need. The structures known as platelets bind together to form clots or scabs when you cut yourself. Plasma is the liquid portion of your blood that assists platelets with clotting. Finally, your white blood cells help your body fight disease, kill bacteria, eradicate old or damaged cells, and kill invalid organisms. God said it best in Leviticus 17:11 when He said, “The life of the flesh is in the blood.” Truly, there is no substitute for blood, nor will there ever be. 
Now, let us turn our minds on to spiritual matters and realize that the exact same statement rings true: When it comes to my salvation, there is no substitute for blood, nor will there ever be.  
Blood in the Old Testament 
Ever since the dawn of creation, blood has been required in order for God to forgive man of his sins. In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve sinned, we are reminded that God made coats for them (vs. 21) in order to clothe them and cover their nakedness. It is in this author’s humble opinion that God did not simply produce these coats from nothing, but that an unknown number of animals had to die in order to construct them. If this is the case, then the first example of the blood/death of one creature cleansing the fault of another is seen in the third chapter of the Holy Writ. At the very least, we know that less than a chapter later, Abel “brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering” (Genesis 4:4). 
Now, go forward in your mind’s eye to the land of Egypt during the time of Moses. As a Jew, you’ve seen the effects of nine different plagues that have swept through the land of your enemies, yet you and your family were never impacted by the chaos. Now, you’ve heard rumors that another plague is coming and that Moses has called for the elders. Eventually, you are told that God has commanded His people to “Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning.” (Exodus 12:21-22). You’re more than willing to put something on your doorposts if it means protecting your family, but blood? Why couldn’t you just use water? You could even crush some grapes and use wine instead! 
But, if I know anything about God, it’s that God means what He says and says what He means. If any of the Jews were to have put some other liquid on their doorpost, the firstborn in their family would not have been spared. There was no substitute for blood. It was the only agent that could save their family. 
Something else of note is that God not only required a sacrifice, but He demanded a quality sacrifice. The lamb used was to be a male, a year old, and without blemish (Exodus 12:5). Even today, God will not accept a sacrifice that is anything less than perfect. 
As we continue on through the history of the Jewish nation, blood continued to play a significant role in their everyday lives. In fact, if anyone sinned or even touched something unclean, there had to be a sacrifice (Leviticus 4:35). Leviticus 5:9-10 says something very similar:  
And he [the priest– SA] shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. And he shall offer the second as a burnt offering, according to the prescribed manner. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin which he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him (emp. added).  
Blood in the New Testament 
While the eras that we live in are vastly different, the principles remain the same. 
First of all, blood is still required for the remission of sins. Hebrews 9:22 very plainly states, “And according to the law, almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” Another passage that simplifies this for us is Romans 5:9. “Having now been justified by His blood (emp. added), we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” We know that it is through His blood that we have the forgiveness of our trespasses (Ephesians 1:7) and through it He has loosed us from our sins (Revelation 1:5). 
Secondly, we must have a sacrifice. One of my favorite statements in all the Bible is made by John the Baptist in John 1:29. As soon as he sees Jesus coming to Him, he proclaims, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Another passage worth mentioning is 1 Corinthians 5:7 where it says, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (emp. added). Jesus was, and is, our Passover Lamb! Other passages such as Isaiah 53 prophesy that Christ would be “He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” 
Thirdly, that sacrifice must be spotless. Another of my favorite passages is 1 Peter 1:19. In verse 18, we are told that we weren’t redeemed with silver, gold, or anything corruptible, but, according to verse 19, “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” Just as that Passover lamb had to be without blemish, Christ also could have no stains upon Him. Now, think with me of something that you may not have ever considered before. In Matthew 4, Christ has just started His earthly ministry, the Spirit has just come upon Him, and He is being led (by the Spirit) into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. We know that, at a minimum, Christ was tempted three times by Satan in this context. So there were the three temptations in Matthew 4 plus whatever else the devil threw at Him during His time on earth. It was during these situations that our eternal status was on the line. All Christ had to do was sin once, and He would no longer be the unblemished Lamb. He couldn’t have died for our sins, bought His church, sent the Comforter, or judge us on that final day. We would be condemned and without hope. Yet, through all of the heartache that He experienced, He prevailed. Indeed, He had overcome the world (John 16:33). Because all men have sinned (Romans 3:23) and the penalty for all sin is death (Romans 6:23), every man needs a Savior. Our Lord and Master stepped forward and offered Himself to be that spotless sacrifice, the only One that could take away our sin (see also Hebrews 9:14). 
As we’ve said before, I’ll say again: There is no substitute for blood. If Christ had not stepped forward, we would truly be “of all men the most pitiable.” However, He did step forward and live that perfect life. And, because of that priceless blood that was shed for a wretch such as I, how could I be anything but thankful? 
 
What can wash away my sin? 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 
What can make me whole again? 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.