Why did blood have to be shed in order for sin to be forgiven?

Answer 1

It means basically means to Christians that God wants us to sacrifice something and give up our sins to God.

Additionally:

God doesn't "desire" blood for sin.

Sin -- [DISOBEYING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: the breaking of God's laws - I John 3:4] NECESSITATES the shedding of blood for its remission.

"In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Heb.9:22 NIV)

And it is the shedding of the innocent blood of "God's Son," Jesus Christ, that fulfills that requirement. From that point, it comes down to an individual's "belief" and "faith" that that required-by-law "Divine Blood" sacrifice has the power to save one from the coming "second death" on Judgment Day [see Rev.2:11; 20:6 & 14; 21:8].

From the point of "faith" then comes "action" [works]... the changing of one's way of living. The Bible calls it: REPENTANCE -- being sorry for having disobeyed God's Commandments. A humble loathing of oneself for having disappointed Him, the FATHER in heaven.

The "necessary" blood has been shed for our sins through the greatest act of love the world shall ever see. The requirement of the law is satisfied in the Divine shed blood of Jesus Christ. The Father has "accepted Him."

Now, it's a matter of: "do we accept Him?" Will we repent? Will we "believe" in Him... place all of our "faith" in Him. What will we sacrifice for Him?

"...This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS OF SINS will be preached IN HIS NAME to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47 NIV)

It comes down to the individual. Salvation isn't a "group thing." It's a deeply intimate and personal "family" relationship between a Father and His Child. A Child who is repentant for having disobeyed his Father... and who desires to change his ways and seeks to comply with the rules of his Father's household [where he wants to live].

The blood has been shed for us. But we still must sacrifice [as stated above] something. We must "repent"... and humble ourselves before the Father and Son, that our healing may begin.

God has even provided us with a special prayer for the "repentant" son whose eyes are opened to the Truth:

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin...

"...Against you, YOU ONLY, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight...

"...Surely you desire TRUTH IN THE INNER PARTS; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place...

"...Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

"Restore to me the JOY OF YOUR SALVATION and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me...

"...YOU DELIGHT NOT IN SACRIFICE, or I would bring it; YOU DO NOT TAKE PLEASURE IN BURNT OFFERINGS. The sacrifices of God are A BROKEN SPIRIT; A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART, O God, you will not despise." (Ps.51:1- 17 NIV)

God doesn't "desire" blood for sin. His law required it. He didn't "delight" in it... nor did His Son want to do it:

"...My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me..." (Matt.26:39 NIV).

But through His Son's love for His creation... and His eternal and devout "obedience to His Father's commands" ['He that sent Me is with Me... for I do always those things that please Him.' - John 8:29]... He willingly and lovingly went through with the horrifying requirement of the law:

"...Yet not as I will, but as you will." (same verse)

Satan the Devil sinned first in the beginning... and contaminated man with it. And sin and its "originator" are in the process of being eliminated from the "earth" and man where God has limited and contained it for the time being. It's here on earth where "God's will will be done" [as it already is done in heaven].

Man's idea regarding "sin" varies from man to man. Sin is neither here nor there to many. It's nonexistent to others. It's important to some as something to pursue at all cost... as well as something others try to avoid.

But sin is deadly serious business to our Father, who created us through His Son, to become the Children of His future Family. The Father does things "by the Book" [the Holy Bible]... lawfully... in Righteousness and with Justice.

The Father in heaven is defeating sin, lawfully and with equity. The shedding of blood for the remission of sin was a necessary step in that "lawful" process.

But, now... it's up to men whom God is calling to "believe" in that process. To put their"trust" and "faith" in God to finish it. To END SIN ON EARTH.

"Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that BY HIS DEATH He might destroy HIM WHO HOLDS THE POWER OF DEATH -- that is, THE DEVIL..." (Heb.2:14).

"Then THE END WILL COME, when He hands over the Kingdom to God the Father AFTER HE HAS DESTROYED ALL DOMINION, AUTHORITY AND POWER [of men and man's god, Satan the Devil]. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. THE LAST ENEMY TO BE DESTROYED IS DEATH." (I Cor.15:24-26)

Man has lived with "sin and death" from the beginning. It's an everyday occurence around the world... and man has come to expect it. It's a "necessary evil" that we all "live with." Man cannot conceive of a world without them.

But a world is coming that shall have neither... when Jesus Christ shall defeat and destroy them both. No Satan... no sin... no death. It's a fanciful fairytale to most men... an unfathomable impossibility. It's "un-believable."

And so the shedding of blood continues in a hate-filled, uncaring, lawless, sin-filled, unbelieving world.

Fortunately for man, in spite of himself, God's serious plan for sin... and love for His creation... moves forward with precise timing and purpose toward sin's eradication from earth.

The law requires the shedding of blood for the remission of sin. And the Divine shed blood of Jesus Christ satisfies that requirement.

Answer 2

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

To God, sin requires death of the sinner, or his/her surrogate. Life is in the blood, hence, shedding of blood is a metaphor (as well as a fact) for sufficient atonement for sin. It means someone or some warm blooded thing is dying for the sin. Typical of the Jewish expiatory sacrifices are lambs and goats. John the Baptist called Jesus, "The lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world." Jesus' shed blood expiated all the world's sin. It is God's gift of love to mankind. This gift can be received from God by faith. A simple prayer is sufficient.

Roman Catholic AnswerTo worship God Almighty worthily is to offer sacrifice. The ONLY Sacrifice worthy of God was His Son, Our Blessed Lord, who, of His own free will, offered Himself upon the Cross for our Redemption. Every sacrifice in the history of mankind has been built upon that. Before Calvary, the sacrifices offered by the Jews were a foreshadowing of Our Blessed Lord's sacrifice of Himself on Calvary. After that, every Mass is a re-presentation, a "presenting again" of that one Sacrifice. It can never be re-done, but we view the Sacrifice, as it were, through the Mystery of the Sacred Eucharist, also, through Holy Communion, we are fed on the Sacrifice exactly as the Apostles were in the Upper Room. As the only Sacrifice that is appeasing to God, is the shedding of His Son's Blood on the Cross, all the other sacrifices, in one way or another reflect that shedding of His Blood, from the lambs on the altar, the eating of the Passover Meal, the Last Supper, and now the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The short, sweet answer is that is what God requires of us, and He provided It for us.