Dear brothers and sisters,

Christians claim that the only way to remove sins is through the blood of Jesus, they claim that the Old Testament supports their views.

The Christians point to the Old Testament and claim it supports their views that sin is only removed through blood.

Let us have a closer critical look at the Old Testament and see if it supports the Christian views that the only way to be saved is through the blood of Jesus.

The most commonly used verse from the Old Testament by Christians is

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. "

If this was the only verse in the entire Old Testament, then it may support their views but this is only a fraction of the guidelines of removing sins.

The Old Testament goes into numerous Different methods of removing sins and blood is at the bottom of the list.

For Example the Old Testament says you can also remove sins by giving charity Exodus 30:15-16 and Numbers 31:50, incense Numbers 16:46-47, etc...

" The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord , to MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR YOUR SOULS . And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR YOUR SOULS . "( Exodus 30:15-16 )

"We have therefore brought an oblation for the Lord , what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR OUR SOULS before the Lord . " ( Numbers 31:50 )

Furthermore, blood sacrifices were only preformed for unintentional sins (Leviticus 4:2-3 ,Leviticus 5:15 , and Numbers 15:22-31).

"If a soul commit a trespass, and SIN THROUGH IGNORANCE , in the holy things of the Lord; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: "(Leviticus 5:15)

"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall SIN THROUGH IGNORANCE against any of the commandments of the Lord which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a sin offering. "( Leviticus 4:2-3 )

"And if any soul SIN THROUGH IGNORANCE , then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the SOUL THAT SINNETH IGNORANTLY , when he sinneth BY IGNORANCE before the Lord , to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him." ( Novembers 15:27-28 )

If we take a closer look at the Logic behind Leviticus 17:11, we see that the Christian opinion that the only way to remove sin is through blood is even further not supported in the Torah.

For Example, Blood sacrifices would only be available to the rich who can afford a animal.

Therefore the Blood sacrifices would not be for everyone as Christians suggest.

The Old Testament made it clear that blood sacrafices was not the only way to remove sins becuase it stated that if someone was too poor for a lamb, they then could offer two turtledoves or two young (Leviticus 5:7)

It even goes further to show that blood was not the only means to salvation by saying if you couldn't even afford pigeons, then use flour;

"But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of AN EPHAH OF FINE FLOUR FOR A SIN OFFERING ; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: FOR IT IS A SIN OFFERING ." (Leviticus 5:11)

Since flour could be used for a sin offering, it is clear that blood was not the only way to forgive sins.

The Christian claim that only blood sacrifices can forgive sins contradicts the Old Testament.

Throughout the Old Testament, it states that everyone is responsible for their own sins;

"But everyone will die for his own sin; each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge" (Jeremiah 31:30).

"No man can by any means redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him" (Psalms 49:7).

"So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who has shed it!" (Numbers 35:33).

"The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself" (Ezekiel 18:20).

"Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin" (Deuteronomy 24:16, II Kings 14:6).

Therefore the Death of Jesus for everyone's sins is not supported by the Old Testament.

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