December 5, 2013
Central Truth
We have been saved once and for all by the sacrifice of God's Son, Jesus Christ. There is nothing we can do to atone for our sins and nothing else we need to do to receive His grace but to put our trust in Him for salvation.
By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10)
1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Consequently, when Christ 1 10:5 Greek he came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
6
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
7
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
8 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), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ 2 10:12 Greek this one had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
16
“This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”
17 then he adds,
“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
We can never be good enough for a perfect God. "[F]or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) If we had to rely on our own works to earn God's gift of salvation and get to heaven, we'd fail miserably. Fortunately, God does not require that of us. He has provided a way through His perfect plan.
Before the coming of Christ, God gave His people the Law. The Law required that sacrifices be offered by the priests. God's people followed the Law and had to continually offer sacrifices, but these were never good enough or permanent. The priests had to continually offer sacrifices, year after year, because the sacrifices they were offering were never sufficient. Christ, after having offered the ultimate sacrifice, sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12). "It is finished!" (John 19:30) Nothing more is necessary. He has provided the sacrifice for us all.
I am blessed to have been saved at an early age. I've wandered away from God many times during my life. In the times that I've wandered, I used to hold on to this promise, but in the wrong way. I knew that Christ died for me and took care of my sins, so I would rationalize that it didn't matter if I lived a sinful life. He had taken care of it if I just believed.
This is not a right response to a God who loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son. As Paul said, "May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:2) Christ has freed us from sin so that we will no longer be slaves to it (Romans 6:6). He undoubtedly forgives our sins. God says, "And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." (Hebrews 10:17) There is no greater statement of forgiveness because an all-knowing God promises to remember our sins no more. He does not, however, want us to keep on sinning. He wants us to learn to live in His light. He wants to bless us and show us His way is better than any way we could ever discover for ourselves.
1. Do you know that Christ has provided the ultimate sacrifice? Have you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior?
2. Do you truly believe that He can forgive your sins?
3. If you do believe that He has died for you and that your sins are forgiven, are you living in right response to Him?