When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "See, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God," and since then has been waiting "until his enemies would make a footstool for his feet." For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds," he also adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Hebrews 10:8-18

What do you think of when you hear the word sacrifice? We may use the term when we see parents follow a strict budget and drive an old car in order to send their children to college. We may see a soldier throw himself on a grenade in order to save the lives of his companions. Nothing, however, can compare to what our Savior did for us by dying on the cross. He died for our sins, for all time. Because of His death and resurrection, all who accept His offer of salvation receive complete forgiveness and eternal life.

Believing Christ died – that’s history;

Believing He died for me – that’s salvation.

Our Daily Bread – November 21, 2004