In the Old Testament Levitical offerings, animal blood was the basis for setting up a representative analogy, or a teaching aid. Remember, in ancient times most people could not read. The animal blood in itself had no value but was used to demonstrate the future sacrifice of the innocent Lamb of God (Christ) on the cross. Therefore, whenever the blood of Christ is mentioned in the New Testament, it is a reference to Christ’s spiritual death on the cross in our place – the saving work of our Lord (Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 13:12, 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 1:5).
The physical death of the sacrificial animal represented the physical and spiritual death of Christ. The Lord’s physical death occurred after salvation was completely finished.
It is Christ’s spiritual separation from the Father and the Holy Spirit that saves.
The blood is metaphorical.
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