the life blood

I'm copying this post from "The Restoration Project" for today -

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.
(Leviticus 17:11)

One question that arises is whether the blood on the altar is the only way to atonement for souls. The comment "for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life" is a general statement that seems to have a universal and cosmic significance. Therefore, Jesus' blood (that of the perfect, unblemished lamb) had to be shed and applied to the heavenly altar to make atonement. The book of Hebrews supports this in teaching that Jesus is superior to the sacrifices, and the substance and fulfillment of what was foreshadowed in the Mosaic Covenant.

To complement this understanding, or fill it out some:
When in Israel for my Sabbatical, I was encouraged to go talk to a very thoughtful Jewish man who ran a shop in the Jewish quarter with his brother. One of them was named "Dov" (I can't remember which). Indeed this man loved to talk with Christians. He said Kay Arthur usually came in to talk when she visited Israel. We talked about Christians' belief that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins, and that they often based it on this verse (Leviticus 17:11). He pointed out that Jews no longer believe that sacrifice is the only way to forgiveness (especially since the destruction of the Temple and the end of sacrifices.) He said it was basically through repentance, contriteness, and true humility. He pointed out that David was forgiven after his adulterous and murderous affair with Bathsheba. After Nathan the prophet confronts David, we read:

David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die."
(2 Samuel 12:13)

The sacrifice David mentions in the Psalm (51) that articulates his admission of sin to Nathan is that of a broken and contrite heart. That's the sacrifice God is looking for from us, and the one that is acceptable.

Yesterday, we heard about the tax collector in the Gospel who prayed "God, have mercy on me, a sinner" and went to his house "justified" (literally, "having been made righteous" - same word and concept Paul used all the time)... obviously Jesus taught this before he died on the cross.

I'm not suggesting that Jesus didn't have to die (!). His blood made a new covenant for us, and atones for our sins, propitiating God's anger; our death died in his death, and we have new, abundant, eternal life through his resurrection. But it does seem an encounter with the bloodied, suffering savior hanging on the cursed tree may not be the only approach to finding forgiveness with God (though this "justification with God" will, I think, normally lead to such an encounter with the suffering Savior and victorious Lord). Maybe it's that we don't necessarily have to have the correct understanding of the atonement to be forgiven, to approach God, to find favor. That God doesn't test for orthodox theology on penal substitutionary atonement, or specific language in our prayer - but a heart attitude that is expressed by both David and the tax collector.

God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Maybe that really does say it all.