A Final, Complete, and Permanent Sacrifice

Hebrews 10

Since the law only possesses a shadow of the good to come not the deeper reality of things, it can never make perfect those who draw near with the same sacrifices they offer continuously year after year. Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, because the worshipers would have been cleansed once and for all and would no longer be conscious of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore when he comes into the world, he says,

“sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me. You were not pleased with burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin. Then I said, ‘Here I am, (it is written about me at the head of the scroll) I have come to do your will, O God.’”+Psa 40:6-8

Above he first says, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (though they were offered in accordance with the law). Next he says, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. And by this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Indeed, every priest stands day after day, serving and offering the same sacrifices over and over, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, he sat down on the right hand of God, where he remains waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet. For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 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 [YHWH], “I will put my laws upon their heart, I will also write them on their mind.”+Jer 31:33

Then he adds,

“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”+Jer 31:34

Now where these things have been forgiven, there is no more offering for sin.

Persevere in Godliness

Therefore siblings, since we have confidence to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way that he inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have a great priest over God’s house, let’s draw near with a sincere heart in the full assurance that comes from faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and having our body washed with pure water. Let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

And let’s consider how to spur one another toward love and excellent works, not forsaking our own meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another all the more as y’all see the Day approaching.

A Warning for Deliberate Sin

For if we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no more sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and a zealous fire which will consume the adversaries. A man who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severe a punishment do y’all think someone deserves who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, and has treated as unclean the blood of the covenant through which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know ʜɪᴍ who said, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will repay.”+Deut 32:35 And again, “The Lord [YHWH] will judge his people.”+Deut 32:14 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

But y’all should remember the former days just after you were enlightened, when y’all endured a great struggle with sufferings, at times, being made a public spectacle through insult and oppression, and at other times, becoming sharers with those who were treated in that way. For y’all shared with the sufferings of those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your* property, knowing that y’all have a better possession and more lasting possession.

Therefore y’all must not throw away your* boldness, which has a great reward. For y’all need endurance so that when you’ve done the will of God, y’all may receive what was promised.

“In a very little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. But in the one who shrinks back, my soul takes no pleasure.”+Hab 2:3-4

But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but among those who have faith that preserves the soul.