Today's encouragement comes from Leviticus 17:11, where we read these words:
"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 atone-ment for the soul."God will only accept shed blood as atonement for sin. Nothing else will do—not works, nor religion, nor self-deprecation. The blood of animals sacrificed under the Old Covenant only pointed to the one true and only satisfactory blood atonement, which would be offered on the cross by the sinless God-Man, Jesus Christ, who is the "Lamb of God," (Jn. 1:29).
The Lord is *only* pleased with us—and views us as forgiven—as our souls are "covered" by Christ's blood. The only way to appropriate this blessed atonement is by grace through faith (in Jesus).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Never since the beginning of the world have their been such glorious times as we enjoy.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Free-dom"]
