The Revelation of Blood and Forgiveness Across the Dispensations

The Revelation of Blood and Forgiveness Across the Dispensations

Redemption has always been tied to blood, but the way God revealed its meaning changed over time. The cross of Christ is the foundation of salvation in every age, yet the understanding of His blood and death unfolded progressively. To grasp this, we must trace the theme across the Old Testament, the earthly ministry of Christ in the Gospels, the preaching of Peter and the Twelve in early Acts, and finally the mystery revealed to Paul. Only then do we see how the blood of Christ takes on its full, once-for-all meaning in the dispensation of grace, and how Hebrews later confirms this truth for tribulation saints.

Old Testament: Blood as Covering, Not Full Payment

From the beginning, God tied forgiveness to blood. When Adam and Eve sinned, He clothed them with skins (Genesis 3:21), showing that blood had to be shed to cover sin. Abel’s offering of the flock was accepted because it was a blood sacrifice (Genesis 4:4). Under the law, God declared, “It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). Yet Hebrews 10:4 makes clear: “It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

Animal sacrifices provided temporary covering, but they could not remove sin. Old Testament saints were saved by faith in what God revealed at the time, expressed through obedience to His instructions. Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). They did not know the cross, but God looked forward to it. Their salvation rested on His provision, not their knowledge of Christ’s blood.

The Gospels: Messiah Presented, Blood Mentioned but Not Understood

When Christ came, He foretold His death and resurrection. He said, “The Son of man must be delivered… and be crucified, and the third day rise again” (Luke 24:7). Yet Luke 18:34 records, “They understood none of these things… neither knew they the things which were spoken.” The disciples did not comprehend the cross.

Jesus did speak of His blood: “This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). But during His earthly ministry, salvation was tied to believing He was the Christ, obeying His kingdom instructions, repenting, and being baptized. The cross was coming, but its saving meaning was hidden. People were saved by faith in Jesus as Messiah, not by faith in His blood for justification.

Early Acts: Peter’s Preaching—Prophecy Fulfilled, Israel’s Guilt, Kingdom Offered

After the resurrection, Peter stood in Jerusalem and preached boldly. He charged Israel: “Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23). He declared, “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just… and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead” (Acts 3:14-15). The resurrection was proof that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:32).

But notice carefully: Peter did not preach the cross as saving grace in itself. He preached it as Israel’s crime and the resurrection as God’s vindication. His call was: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). He promised, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come” (Acts 3:19). Forgiveness here was conditional on repentance and baptism, tied to Israel’s national restoration.

And importantly, the apostles and Jewish believers continued temple practices. Acts 2:46 says, “They continued daily with one accord in the temple.” Years later, Paul himself joined purification rites in the temple (Acts 21:26). This shows that the Jewish believers did not immediately abandon sacrifices. They recognized Jesus’ death, but their understanding was still within the prophetic framework. The blood of Christ was preached as proof of Messiahship and Israel’s guilt, not yet as the once-for-all payment for sin.

Mystery Revealed to Paul: Blood as Once-for-All Payment

It was Paul who revealed the mystery of the cross. He declared, “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). For Paul, the cross itself was the saving work.

He explained, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood” (Romans 3:24-25). He wrote, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). And he tied justification directly to the resurrection: “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25).

Here the blood is revealed as the full, once-for-all payment for sin. No more sacrifices are needed. Hebrews 10:14 confirms, “By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” This was the mystery truth, hidden since the world began, now revealed to Paul. Salvation is faith alone in Christ’s finished work, apart from law, works, or baptism.

Hebrews: Blood for 7-year Tribulation Saints

Hebrews, written to believing Jews facing the 7-year tribulation, explains the superiority of Christ’s blood over the old sacrifices. “Without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). “By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).

For tribulation saints, the blood is revealed as the only true basis of forgiveness, replacing the temple sacrifices they once relied on. Hebrews shows them that Christ’s one offering is sufficient, even as they endure persecution and await the kingdom.

The Significance

The cross is always the basis of salvation, but its meaning was progressively revealed. In the Old Testament, blood covered sin and pointed forward. In the Gospels, blood was mentioned but not understood, and salvation was tied to believing in Messiah. In early Acts, Peter preached the death and resurrection as Israel’s guilt and God’s vindication, offering forgiveness conditionally with temple practices continuing. Only with Paul was the mystery revealed: the blood of Christ as the once-for-all payment for sin, securing eternal redemption by faith alone. Hebrews then confirms this truth for tribulation saints, showing that Christ’s blood alone is sufficient.

Thus, we see the unfolding revelation: the same cross, the same blood, but different understandings in different dispensations. For us today, in the grace dispensation, the blood is fully revealed as the complete payment for sin, received by faith alone, apart from works. This is the gospel of salvation we preach, the mystery once hidden but now made known.