The Perfect Sacrifice

A Future for God's People
Turn to Me and Be Saved

Hebrews 10:10-18 (The Message)

The Sacrifice of Jesus

 ^1-10The old plan was only a hint of the good things in the new plan. Since that old "law plan" wasn't complete in itself, it couldn't complete those who followed it. No matter how many sacrifices were offered year after year, they never added up to a complete solution. If they had, the worshipers would have gone merrily on their way, no longer dragged down by their sins. But instead of removing awareness of sin, when those animal sacrifices were repeated over and over they actually heightened awareness and guilt. The plain fact is that bull and goat blood can't get rid of sin. That is what is meant by this prophecy, put in the mouth of Christ:

   You don't want sacrifices and offerings year after year;
      you've prepared a body for me for a sacrifice.
   It's not fragrance and smoke from the altar
      that whet your appetite.
   So I said, "I'm here to do it your way, O God,
      the way it's described in your Book."
When he said, "You don't want sacrifices and offerings," he was referring to practices according to the old plan. When he added, "I'm here to do it your way," he set aside the first in order to enact the new plan—God's way—by which we are made fit for God by the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.  ^11-18Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God and waited for his enemies to cave in. It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. The Holy Spirit confirms this:

   This new plan I'm making with Israel
      isn't going to be written on paper,
      isn't going to be chiseled in stone;
   This time "I'm writing out the plan in them,
      carving it on the lining of their hearts."
He concludes,
   I'll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins.
Once sins are taken care of for good, there's no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them.
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For Reflection
Even with sacrificial ritual, the old plan, encumbered as it was by human corruption could not complete humankind. Sacrifice became impotent. God through the Holy Spirit and the once and for all sacrifice of Christ is reconciling the world -- one person at at time. He has removed the crutch of formulary worship and obedience to rules enforced by fear and retribution is wiped away.  The slate is wiped clean.  Can you find the place God has for you that resides in the lining of your heart?

Pray
that you will listen for the call of God.  Pray that you will see in the commonplaces of your being the plan that God has for you.