“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…
“And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God… For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. [H]e adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’
“Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:1,11-12,14,17-23
A privileged calling it was for the faithful priests of Israel, yet theirs was a repetitive job. Morning and evening, Sabbath by sabbath, year by year they were the nation’s purveyors of blood in the sacred sacrifices. It was always enough for the occasion, never enough for the life. But the task was vital for understanding what it symbolized: the sacrifice repeated now their Priest Messiah would come and perform Himself, His life blood spilled, once for all. Each death said look ahead. Every repeated sacrifice remonstrated with life itself until it ushered in the way for life everlasting.
The law pointed to Christ, then was fulfilled perfectly by Christ. As Christians, we’ve been freed from guilt the perfect law imposed and slavery to sin that the law revealed. Yet, we tend still to hang around bad habits and cling to those repeated priestly sacrifices by nursing condemnation and asking continual forgiveness. Though Christ has defeated our defeat and opened the way, we get stuck in self-loathing and defeat like a skipping record and never move forward. (Matthew 5:17; Romans 7:7)
In what debilitating vortex are we stuck? A spiritual funk? A skipping record of all the times we’ve been defeat by repeated sin? A downward spiral of covetousness, bitterness, lust, anger? There is no condemnation! We must not throw away confidence in His provided victory, but persevere in its resurrection power! The only offering we’re to repeat is praise to Jesus who set us free from sin and death! (Romans 8:1; Galatians 5:1; Philippians 4:4; Hebrews 10:35,39)
When will we choose to unstick our feet, habits, and false mantras and walk in the freedom Christ won for us?
“My faith has found a resting place,
not in device or creed;
I trust the ever-living One,
his wounds for me shall plead.
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
it is enough that Jesus died,
and that he died for me.” ~Eliza Hewitt (1851-1920)
Lord, help me reckon all You have done as true and effective, with resounding praise.
As the rain and snow 