Yes — the shedding of blood is the one mandatory basis for both forgiveness and redemption, and there is no other way to approach God.
Scripture states plainly that without the shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). Les Feldick explains that God sovereignly placed the life of living things in the blood, and because God lost the human race when Adam fell, blood is the only thing He can use to purchase redemption. The redeemed are those who place their faith in the shed blood of Christ — His death, burial, and resurrection.
Hebrews 9:22 — This is the verse that most directly answers the question — it states that without shedding of blood there is no remission.
Romans 3:24-25 — This passage ties redemption and propitiation directly to faith in Christ's blood for the remission of sins.
Leviticus 17:11 — This verse gives the underlying reason — God placed the life of the flesh in the blood, which makes atonement for the soul.
Hebrews 9:22 states the principle directly: 'And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.' The reason for this requirement is given in 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.' Romans 3:23-25 applies this to every person: 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 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, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.' Redemption and forgiveness are therefore presented in Scripture as coming through Christ's blood, received by faith.
Les Feldick traces the necessity of shed blood back to God's sovereign mind in creation. God placed the life of living things in the blood — something science did not catch on to until about World War II — and His prescription stands: without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness, and it cannot be bypassed. Because God lost the human race when Adam fell, He had to put in motion the whole process of redemption, and blood is the only thing God can use to purchase mankind's redemption. The price of that redemption was the blood of Christ. Les repeatedly emphasizes what he calls the two mandatory statements of Scripture: 'Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission' and 'Without faith, it is impossible to please God.' They cannot be shortcut or detoured. Redemption is experienced when a person believes what God says about the shed blood, His death, His burial, and His resurrection. He also notes that people today are repelled by the idea of sacrificial blood, but the demands of Scripture cannot be abrogated. Even the manner of Christ's death was necessary — He had to shed His blood in a death where that was evident, which is why crucifixion, not stoning, fulfilled the purpose of the cross. And just as the high priest could only approach God by presenting blood in the tabernacle, there is no approach to God other than the blood-sprinkled way.
Scripture states that the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). Les Feldick emphasizes that God sovereignly placed the life of living things in the blood, and this is His prescription — without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness. He adds that science did not recognize that life is in the blood until about World War II, confirming what God had already stated.
Les Feldick identifies two mandatory statements of Scripture: without the shedding of blood there is no remission, and without faith it is impossible to please God. He says these two imperatives cannot be shortcut or detoured, and they apply to every person regardless of religious background or denomination. Faith and blood belong together — you cannot have one without the other.
Les Feldick explains that the whole purpose of the cross was the shedding of blood. Christ's death had to be one in which the shedding of blood was evident. If the Jews had killed Him by stoning — their normal method of capital punishment — that would not have fulfilled the shedding of blood required for remission.
Romans 3:25 says God set forth Christ as a propitiation through faith in His blood. Les Feldick teaches that we are redeemed when we believe what God says about the shed blood, His death, His burial, and His resurrection. There is only one way to experience the redemption of Romans 3:24, and that is putting faith in the blood of Christ — the same setting as the Passover night in Egypt, where Israel was sheltered by blood.
The Power of God in Redemption
Les ties the power of the cross to God's power in redemption — the same power that raised Christ from the dead brings believers out of deadness in sin and slavery to it.
The Two Mandatory Statements
Les identifies the two mandatory statements of Scripture — without shed blood no remission, and without faith no pleasing God — and says redemption comes through faith in the blood, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Life Is in the Blood
Les explains that God sovereignly placed life in the blood, and His prescription that without shed blood there can be no forgiveness cannot be bypassed.
Blood: The Only Purchase Price
Les teaches that because God lost the human race when Adam fell, blood is the only thing God can use to purchase redemption — and faith in Christ's blood is the only way to experience it.
God Demands Shed Blood
Les stresses that God has demanded shed blood for the remission of sin, and believers cannot ignore or abrogate that requirement.
The Price of Redemption
Les describes redemption as buying us back with a price — the price of Christ's own blood — and points to faith in His shed blood because of the power in that divine blood.
Why Crucifixion Was Required
Les shows that the whole purpose of the cross was the evident shedding of blood, which is why Christ died by crucifixion rather than by stoning.
No Approach Without Blood
Les connects the blood requirement to the tabernacle — the high priest's yearly presentation of blood was the only way man could approach God, and there is still no other way.
Hebrews 9:22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
The foundational verse cited by Les for the mandatory nature of shed blood.
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.
Explains why blood is the appointed means of atonement — the life is in the blood.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Shows that every person stands in need of redemption and the blood of Christ.
Romans 3:24-25: 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, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
The passage Les repeatedly takes his listeners to — redemption and propitiation through faith in Christ's blood.
Hebrews 11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
The complement verse Les pairs with Hebrews 9:22 — the second mandatory statement.
Yes. Scripture says 'without shedding of blood is no remission' (Hebrews 9:22). Les Feldick calls this a mandatory statement that cannot be bypassed, detoured, or abrogated, and he points out that the high priest had to present blood every year because it was the only thing that opened the way for man to approach God.
Because God placed the life of living things in the blood. Les Feldick explains that this was God's sovereign prescription from creation — science did not catch on to the fact that life is in the blood until about World War II. Since God determined that life is in the blood, He determined that the shedding of blood is the only basis for atonement.
Les Feldick pairs the two mandatory statements: without the shedding of blood there is no remission, and without faith it is impossible to please God. Both are required — you cannot shortcut either one. Redemption is experienced when we believe what God says about the shed blood, the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Christ.
Because the purpose of the cross was the evident shedding of blood. If the Jewish leaders had killed Christ by stoning, their normal method of capital punishment, the shedding of blood would not have been fulfilled. Crucifixion was the death that made the shedding of blood evident, satisfying the requirement.
Watch the Teaching: The 3 Requirements for Redemption: Person, Blood, and Power