by: Rev. Jonathan Doctor, Ph.D.
Jesus’ sinless life and sustitutionary death was a great exchange for our sinful lives and eternal death that we deserve. Christ suffered once for sin, the just for the unjust. He brought us to God by being put to death in the fl esh. The blood of an innocent animal had to be shed so Adam and Eve could be brought to God. The death of an innocent animal was established in the garden of Eden. The law
of first mention is a truth or principle that once established in the Word will remain the same throughout the Word.
Seven foundational truths that were established in the garden of Eden concerning atonement for sin.
1. God requires the shedding of blood for sin.
2. The sinner must be covered.
3. Life is in the blood.
4. God provides the sacrifice.
5. God covers the sinner.
6. The innocent sacrifice dies for the guilty sinner.
7. God brings judgment on the sacrifice.
The Blood Today
In the Old Covenant, the blood of the sacrifi ces only covered the sin for a year, but in the New Covenant, the blood of Jesus remits and removes our sin forever. The blood is a propitiation for our sins. (Hebrews 9:22; 1 John 2:2 ) Propitiation deals with remission of sins and has a reference to the mercy seat. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for us. When Adam and Eve sinned, they died spiritually, but it took 930 years for their bodies to die physically. Spiritual death leads to physical death. Spiritual death means separation from God. When a church or a believer loses sight of the blood of Jesus, they lose their life and power.