Why did God require blood sacrifices?

Question

What does it mean to him?

Yes, he did require "animal blood sacrifices" in the old testament in order for sin to be forgiven.

Dayne G its just a question p.a.

Even Jesus had to shed his blood in order for sins to be forgiven..

Answer 1

Great question, but I don't think it was the blood that God was interested in. Here's where I believe it started.

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. - Gen 3:21 -

From what I can see, God killed some animals, took the skin off and clothed Adam and Eve. I'm not going to get into any theological debate about God's glory and what the fig leaves and this skin represents... but basically when Adam and Eve sinned, and an unblemished animal needed to die in their place.

In other words, someone had to take the blame for their mistakes. The reason why Jesus is called the sacrificial lamb for our sins is because He is the unblemished lamb. The perfect one that took on our sins on the cross so that we can be forgiven. And that's why we don't sacrifice any more lambs or animals when we sin, because Jesus has already done that for us.

Answer 2

Blood is symbolic of life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrifice

quote:
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Gods need sacrifice to sustain themselves and their power.

Sacrificed goods are used to make a bargain with the god, who has promised some favour in return for the sacrifice.

The lives or blood of sacrificial victims contains mana or some other supernatural power whose offering pleases the god.

The sacrificial victim is offered as a scapegoat, a target for the wrath of a god, which otherwise would be visited on the followers.

Sacrifice deprives the followers of food and other useful commodities, and as such constitutes an ascetic discipline.

Sacrificed goods actually become part of a religious organisation's revenue; it is a part of the economic base of support that compensates priests and supports temples.

The sacrifice is actually a part of a festival and is ultimately consumed by the followers themselves; often this includes an element of redistribution where the poor get a larger share than they contributed.

The sacrifice may be a sign of a covenant between a god and his people.

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Answer 3

he didn't.

EDIT

no, he didn't. here is a link you can read: http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org/explanation02.html

"If one believed that a blood sacrifice was necessary before God would forgive you, then even one example where God forgave without a blood sacrifice would prove that this idea is UnBiblical. There are many such examples, but the most interesting is found in the Book of Leviticus. The reason this is so interesting is that it comes right in the middle of the discussion of sin sacrifices, which is found in the first chapters. In Leviticus 5:11-13, it states, "If, however, he cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, he is to bring as an offering for his sin a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering." One can also see that one does not need a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins in the Book of Jonah 3:10. There, the Bible simply states that God saw the works of the people of Ninevah. Specifically it says that the works God saw were that they stopped doing evil, and so God forgave them. There are plenty of other examples, and the idea that one needs a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins is UnBiblical."

EDIT

"Even Jesus had to shed his blood in order for sins to be forgiven."

alright, according to christian doctrine that is true, but according to the old testament, blood is not needed to atone for sins (and if you read leviticus, you will see that sacrifices can only atone for unintentional sins, btw, not intentional ones), and a person is not allowed to be put to death for the sins of another. just one example of how judaism differs from christianity, i suppose

Answer 4

Because life is in the Blood. Without the shedding of Blood there is no remission of sin.

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

I Cr 13;8a
10-28-6

Answer 5

Blood sacrifices were useful only in pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

No one ever had their sins forgiven due to an animal sacrifice.

Participation in those rites simply demonstrated faith in God, submission to him, and a willingness to accept Christ, when he finally arrived.

Answer 6

Only blood, can remove sin!
a surrogate, an animal that was as close to perfect, and because it was an animal was Innocent of human sin, could temporally with its death, could remove your sin! Up to that moment!

It was the only way a man could stand before God, even temporally.

Christ, who was perfect before God all his life, became our sacrifice (if accepeted) once and for all!

Answer 7

it was all as a for runner to Jesus' blood. Jesus' blood was realy the only blood that counted. but from the start God knew the end so he was preparing the way for the final gift of salvation ( Yeshu'ah) which was provided by Jesus ( Yeshua). if you read all the bible it would become clearer

Answer 8

Also, the death of Jesus led to His victory over death, hell & the grave giving Xtians back the authority Adam & Eve gave to satan. He sacrificed His blood & life so that anyone else, not being perfect, could ask 4 salvation in His name and receive it.

Answer 9

He didn't ask for them. It was a beginning of a new way of life, a new belief in G-d, and people were in the middle of transferring from pagan ways to a way with G-d. Some old customs did not die easily.

Answer 10

yes the Vampire God