Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool. Hebrews 10:11-12 HCSB
We should be very grateful that we no longer have to bring large animals to church to be sacrificed for our sins. Our Scripture passage tells us that these sacrifices had to be made over and over. It was not only cumbersome but also costly to have to do this.
Animals were their wealth in Old Testament times. Sacrificing them was like us giving a large portion of our income to the church today. The blood shed by these animals could not provide a permanent sacrifice. They had to be continually offered. The reason we no longer have to perform all these rituals through a priest is because of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.
His blood saved us from our sins. It provided eternal salvation for those who believe in Him. John 3:16 tells us that God sent His only Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. We have to believe in Jesus and receive Him into our hearts.
Once we do this, His blood can cleanse us from our sins. 1 John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus has done His part. He has shed His blood so that we can be forgiven of our sins. Are you willing to do your part? He’s given Himself for you. Are you willing to surrender yourself to Him? Are you willing to die to yourself?
John 3:30 says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Are you willing to decrease so that God may increase in your life? God doesn’t want part of us. He doesn’t want a small portion of our lives. He wants total dedication. He wants complete surrender.
If we are all honest with ourselves, we are thinking, “What’s in it for me?” When we surrender our lives to Christ, it gives us an intercessor in heaven. He is our advocate and our intercessor. He will guide us in the right way. And most importantly, it secures an eternity in heaven for us.
If you are looking for some other way to have your sins washed away, you can stop. You won’t find it. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.”
My friend, our goal in life should be to get to the Father in heaven and spend eternity there. The only way to do this is through Jesus Christ.
Jesus has shed his blood on the cross to save us once and for all from our sins. This is a free gift to us. That gift does us no good, however, unless we are willing to accept it.
We don’t have to clean up to come to Jesus. He will take us as we are. We will not reach perfection until we get to heaven. So, once we come to Jesus, His blood will clean us white as snow. Then we can go to God the Father and spend eternity with our Lord and Savior.
If the Israelites could go through all they went through and pay all they paid to ask forgiveness from their sins, what are you willing to do? Are you willing to submit yourself to Christ? Are you willing to humble yourself and repent of your sins?
After all that was required of people in ancient days, it seems like so little, but it can do so much. The first step is to accept that you are a sinner in need of a savior. Then you must believe in Him and confess your sins to Him. Repent and surrender your life to Him. He will forgive you, and His blood will wash you clean.
Have a great day!