Here’s another review that Pastor Tom wrote last year. His review of Alan Stibbs’ book His Blood Works: The Meaning of the Word ‘Blood’ in Scripture originally appeared in the PEP Talk.
In this brief little book (83 small pages) Stibbs examines the uses of blood in both Old and New Testaments, proving clearly that the meaning is not the impartation of life but rather that a life has been surrendered. This is crucial to the proper understanding of the Atonement. The attack he is addressing is from a liberal persuasion which says that the blood is a representation of life transferred to us not as a sacrifice of life given by a substitute. In his conclusion Stibbs says:
All these four significances of ‘blood’ as shed meet in the cross of Christ. There the Son of Man in our flesh and blood for us men and for our salvation made the greatest offering. He gave His life (see John 10:17-18). Second, He became the victim of mankind’s greatest crime. He was vilely and unjustly put to death. Third, ‘He was reckoned with transgressors’ (Luke 22:37 RV, from Is. 53:12) and endured the extreme penalty of the wrongdoer. The hand of the law and of the Roman magistrate put Him to death. By man was His blood shed. Fourth, He as God made flesh gave, as He alone could do, His human blood to make atonement. Repentance and remission of sins can, therefore, now be preached in His Name. We are justified by His blood.
This is a brief but worthwhile study – I recommend it to you.