Study Desk

He is not like those other priests. They had to offer sacrifices every day, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus doesn't need to do that. He offered only one sacrifice for all time. He offered himself.

If there was nothing wrong with the first agreement, then there would be no need for a second agreement.

The first agreement had rules for worship and a place for worship here on earth.

In the Most Holy Place was a golden altar for burning incense. And also there was the Box of the Agreement. The Box was covered with gold. Inside this Box was a golden jar of manna and Aaron's rod—the rod that once grew leaves. Also in the Box were the flat stones with the Ten Commandments of the old agreement on them.

But only the high priest could go into the second room, and he went in only once a year. Also, he could never enter that room without taking blood with him. He offered that blood to God for himself and for the sins the people committed without knowing they were sinning.

This is an example for us today. It shows that the gifts and sacrifices the priests offer to God are not able to make the consciences of the worshipers completely clear.

These gifts and sacrifices are only about food and drink and special washings. They are only rules about the body. God gave them for his people to follow until the time of his new way.

Christ entered the Most Holy Place only one time—enough for all time. He entered the Most Holy Place by using his own blood, not the blood of goats or young bulls. He entered there and made us free from sin forever.

If Christ had offered himself many times, he would have needed to suffer many times since the time the world was made. But he came to offer himself only once. And that once is enough for all time. He came at a time when the world is nearing an end. He came to take away all sin by offering himself as a sacrifice.

So Christ was offered as a sacrifice one time to take away the sins of many people. And he will come a second time, but not to offer himself for sin. He will come the second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

because it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

So when Christ came into the world he said, "You don't want sacrifices and offerings, but you have prepared a body for me.

Jesus Christ did the things God wanted him to do. And because of that, we are made holy through the sacrifice of Christ's body. Christ made that sacrifice one time—enough for all time.

But Christ offered only one sacrifice for sins, and that sacrifice is good for all time. Then he sat down at the right side of God.

And now Christ waits there for his enemies to be put under his power.

And after everything is forgiven, there is no more need for a sacrifice to pay for sins.

We enter through a new way that Jesus opened for us. It is a living way that leads through the curtain—Christ's body.

If we continue sinning, all that is left for us is a fearful time of waiting for the judgment and the angry fire that will destroy those who live against God.

So think how much more punishment people deserve who show their hate for the Son of God—people who show they have no respect for the blood sacrifice that began the new agreement and once made them holy or who insult the Spirit of God's grace.

We know that God said, "I will punish people for the wrongs they do; I will repay them." And he also said, "The Lord will judge his people."