Christianity: A Blood Religion?

Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22

Not all the blood of beasts–On Jewish altars slain
Could give the guilty conscience peace–Or wash away the stain.

But Christ, the heav’nly Lamb–Takes all our sins away;
A sacrifice of nobler name–and richer blood than they. (LW 99 vs. 1&2)

Christianity has been criticized as being a “blood religion.” Something ancient and barbaric. Not worthy of modern people’s belief.
These critics would make Christianity into a moral system with Jesus as its teacher rather than its savior and sacrifice.
But Holy Scripture will have none of that attitude. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness for our sins!
This is not something that the early church “read into” the events of Jesus’ life. It was there from the beginning of time.
After Adam and Eve sinned, they attempted to fashion a garment for themselves out of plant material to cover their shame. But it was woefully insufficient. God provided garments for them from the skins of animals–the first shedding of blood to cover the sin of humanity.
That picture continued for thousands upon thousands of years as God’s people sacrificed animals in anticipation of that once for all sacrifice to come.

That sacrifice was Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. He offered up the perfect sacrifice of his body and blood upon Calvary’s Cross to pay for the sins of the whole world.
We rejoice in the fact that Christianity is a blood religion–and thank Almighty God that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness!

My faith would lay its hand–On that dear head divine.
As penitently here I stand–Confessing guilt is mine.

My soul looks back to see–The burden you did bear
When hanging on the cursed tree–I know my guilt was there.

Believing we rejoice–to see the curse remove.
We bless the lamb with cheerful voice–And sing his bleeding love. (LW 99 vs. 3,4,5)