ONLY ONE SACRIFICE

ONLY ONE SACRIFICE

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. —Hebrews 9:1

The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. —Hebrews 9:8-9

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. —Hebrews 9:11-12

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. —Hebrews 9:24-26

The earthly sanctuary was “an illustration” of the heavenly one that Jesus entered. He entered the Most Holy Place of heaven into God’s presence to “do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” He did this only one time to obtain eternal redemption for us and “to clear the conscience of the worshiper.”

The sin problem has been taken care of— “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:1-2).

Jesus did this once for all time— “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit” (I Peter 3:18). “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (II Corinthians 5:21).

So now “Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world” (I Corinthians 11:28-32).

Praise God for what He has done for us through Jesus. Now may each of us seriously look at our own lives, judging ourselves that the Lord may not discipline us because of unconfessed sin.

Dear Father, I praise You for all You have done for me through Your Son. Out of loving gratitude may I live faithfully for You in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority o Your Son. May it be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC59rgmcu34