10210. From the blood of the sin-offering of expiations. That this signifies through the truths which are from the good of innocence, is evident from the signification of “blood,” as being Divine truth (see n. 4735, 6978, 7317, 7326, 7846, 7850, 9127, 9393, 10026, 10033, 10047); and from the signification of “the sin-offering of expiations,” or of the sacrifice of sin by which expiation is effected, as being purification from evils and the consequent falsities. (That by “sin” is meant sacrifice for sin, see above, n. 10039; and that “expiation” denotes purification from evils and the consequent falsities, n. 9506.) That this purification is effected by means of truths which are from the good of innocence, is because the blood by which expiation was effected was from a bullock or a lamb, and by a “bullock” is signified the good of innocence in the external man (n. 9391, 9990, 10132); and by a “lamb,” the good of innocence in the internal man (n. 10132); and there must be innocence in order that truth and good may be received (see n. 3111, 3994, 4797, 6013, 6765, 7836, 7840, 9262, 10134, and the places cited in n. 10021). For the good of innocence consists in acknowledging that all truths and goods are from the Lord, and nothing from man’s own; thus it consists in being willing to be led by the Lord, and not by self. From this it is plain that the more a man trusts and believes in himself, thus the more he is in the love of self, the less he is in the good of innocence. From this it is that a man cannot be purified from evils unless he is in the good of innocence; for if he is not in this good, he is not led by the Lord, but by self; and he who is led by self, is led by hell, for what is man’s own is nothing but evil, and all evil is of hell. (That all expiation was made by the blood either of a bullock, or of a lamb, or of turtle-doves, or of young pigeons, is evident in Exodus 29:36; Leviticus 4:1-7, 13-18, 4:27-35 the end; 5:1-7; 15:14, 28-31; Numbers 6:9-11.) By “turtle-doves” and by “young pigeons” is also signified the good of innocence.

10026. And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock. That this signifies Divine truth accommodated in the natural or external man, is evident from the signification of “blood,” as being the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord’s Divine good (of which below); and from the signification of “the bullock,” as being the natural of man, which is to be purified, and in which truth and good are to be implanted (see n. 9990). That mention is here first made of “blood,” and that it was to be put on the horns of the altar, and the rest of it poured out at its base, is because by “blood” in the Word is signified the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord’s Divine good, and all purification is effected thereby, for truth teaches man what is good and how he should live, and when a man knows this, then for the first time can the affection or love of good be implanted, and thus the man be regenerated. For knowledge must come first, before man can have faith, and live the life of faith, which is the life of good. (That all purification from evils and falsities is effected through the truths of faith, consequently all regeneration, see the places cited in n. 9959.)

[2] They who have no knowledge of the internal sense of the Word, thus who do not know that by “blood” is signified Divine truth, and that by this from the Lord is effected purification, believe that man is purified by the blood of the Lord, by which they understand His passion of the cross. But be it known to them that no one is purified by the Lord’s passion of the cross, thus by His blood; but by a life according to His precepts, as He Himself teaches in many places. The passion of the cross was the last of the Lord’s temptation, by which He fully glorified His Human, as He Himself also says in Luke:

Ought not Christ to suffer this, and to enter into His glory? (Luke 24:26).

For the Lord came into the world that He might subjugate the hells and bring back all things into order, even in the heavens, which was effected through temptations admitted into Himself; and the passion of the cross was the last of His temptation, by which He fully conquered the hells, and set the heavens in order, and at the same time glorified His Human; and unless He had done this, no man could have been saved (but see wh at has been abundantly shown before on these subjects at the places cited in n. 9528, 9715, 9937, 10019); and that by “the blood of the Lord” is signified the Divine truth that proceeds from His Divine good (n. 4735, 6378, 6978, 7317, 7326, 7850, 9127, 9393).