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A Better and Final Sacrifice

¹ The first agreement was full of rules and regulations on how to do things in the holiest place on earth at the time. ² One of these things regarded the way God's tent was set up. The first part of the tent was called the Holy Place. In here was a lamp, table, and some special made bread. ³ The second and innermost part of the tent was the Most Holy Place. ⁴ In here was a golden smoker and chest of God. The chest was covered in gold and inside was a jar of angel food (manna), Aaron's staff that had flowers sprouting from it, and the stone tablets that had the agreement written on them. ⁵ Watching over the ark were some angels with their wings covering the place of mercy. But listen, all of this has been lost now and so we can't go into more detail than that.

⁶ The first part of the tent was for religious ceremonies. ⁷ The holiest part of the tent was reserved for the high priest, and he only went in there once a year. When he did, he made a sacrifice for his sins and the people's sins they committed out of ignorance, not choice. ⁸ The Holy Spirit did this to show that this method was only going to be used temporarily until the perfect sacrifice could be made.

⁹ We can still see some remnants of the old way in the first part of the tent. People bring their offerings and sacrifices, but it never cleanses their guilt or their soul. ¹⁰ These things were just used in various religious ceremonies for purification and stuff. God chose this way until his true plan was set into action.

¹¹ But Christ came riding in as the last high priest, the final trail boss. His way is good and better for all of us. He didn't go through a tent to get to God, he was one with God. ¹² Jesus didn't use the blood of animals to forgive sin, he used his own blood. Since it was perfect, there never needs to be another sacrifice for those who believe in him.

¹³ The blood and ashes of animals could cleanse someone's body, but not their soul. ¹⁴ But the blood of Christ washes us all clean, inside and out. By the power of the Holy Ghost, Jesus offered himself up as the final sacrifice and cleansed our consciences from the sorry deeds we've done. Now that we are free and pure, we can ride for the living God.

¹⁵ Because of Christ's sacrifice, he pulled the new agreement out of his saddle bags and gives it freely to anyone who wants it, even those who were under the first agreement.

¹⁶ A last will and testament has no power until that person is proven dead. ¹⁷ Only after death is the will of the departed put into effect.

¹⁸ It was the death and blood of animals that put into effect the first agreement. ¹⁹ Moses passed along every command God had given him to the people. After that, he took the blood of goats and cows and sprinkled it on the book to seal the agreement. ²⁰ He said, "The blood seals the deal between God and his people." ²¹ Even after this, blood was always sprinkled on everything used in worship according to the first agreement. ²² Moses taught us that blood could cleanse nearly anything. But the wage of sin was death and something had to die to take the sinner's place in death. Without blood, there can be no forgiveness of sin.

²³ Now the things down here were just copies of what was really happening in heaven. But the real deal in heaven couldn't be cleansed with animal blood. A better sacrifice was needed. ²⁴ Jesus didn't walk into a holy place made from human hands, he went to the real deal in heaven so he could vouch for us once and for all in front of God. ²⁵ The high priest had to offer sacrifices every single year with blood that was not his. But Christ didn't have to go into heaven every single year and offer himself as a sacrifice again and again. ²⁶ He didn't have to because the sacrifice he made once was perfect and will last all time. ²⁷ Everyone dies once and then they are judged. ²⁸ Jesus died once and then took away the sins of the world. No need to do it again if it was perfect the first time. Jesus is going to come riding back, but it won't be to save us from sin, he already did that. He will come riding over the hill again to take his cowboys who have been watching for him back home with him forever.