This is my understanding now re blood.
I have refused blood 3 times when a JW 2 for minor surgery one when my blood count went down to 5.
Leviticus 17 what did it mean to be 'cut off'?what was the penalty for taking blood?
15-16 "And every person who eats what died naturally or what was torn by beasts,whether he is a native of your own country or a stranger,he shall both wash his clothes and bathe in water,and be unclean until evening.Then he shall be clean.
16."But if he does not wash them or bathe his body,then he shall bear his guilt"
Acts 15 reading all of it,tells me there was conflict over circumcision
1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren "Unless you are circumcised according to the law of Moses you cannot be saved"
5.But some of the sect of the Pharisess who believed rose up,saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
10 ."Now therefore ,why do you put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11.But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.
seems to me that direction was given to converts to avoid giving offence to the Jews.
I asked an Elder who was also a Hospital Lliason Elder why it was that orthodox Jews have no problem having blood transfusions.His answer was "I don't know but they argue with God"............he could not give any satisfactory answers.
Acts 20-28 "therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock ,among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shephard the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Rev 1 5 and from Jesus Christ,the faithful witness the firstborn from the dead,and the ruler over the kings of the earth.To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.