The Good Things That Are
Coming
The
law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities
themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated
endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it
could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have
been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their
sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is
impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Therefore, when
Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not
desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
Then I said, 'Here I
am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, O God.'
"First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin
offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although
the law required them to be made). Then he said, "Here I am, I have come
to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by
that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all.
Day after day every
priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the
same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had
offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of
God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because
by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
The Holy Spirit also
testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will
make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their
hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their
sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been
forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
Hebrews
10:1-18
In the Old Testament,
the people of God offered sacrifices over and over to cover their sins. But the
blood of the animals did not take away the sins. Only the precious sacrifice
made by Jesus Christ could actually take away our sins.
Jesus made the
sacrifice of His life and that took away our sins once and for all. That
sacrifice cleanses us completely from all guilt and sin.
Christ’s
cleansing power can remove the most stubborn stain of sin.
Our Daily Bread –