The Effective Sacrifice

The old covenant sacrifices were only a shadow of the good things to come. They were offered year after year, yet they could never take away sin or cleanse the conscience. They served instead as a constant reminder of guilt. In this passage the writer to the Hebrews turns our eyes to Jesus Christ, who came to do the Father's will and offered His own body once for all. The Levitical priests stood daily at their unfinished work. Christ, having made one sacrifice for sins, sat down at the right hand of God, and by that single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. The Holy Spirit confirms this through the promise of the new covenant: "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where such forgiveness has been secured, no further offering for sin remains. Come and rest in the finished, effective sacrifice of our great High Priest.