City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

The Word

Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. ² Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. ⁴ For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said:

You did not desire sacrifice and offering,
but you prepared a body for me.
⁶ You did not delight
in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.
⁷ Then I said, “See—
it is written about me
in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, God.”

Hebrews 10:1-7 (CSB)

Reflection

The author of Hebrews is finalizing his entire argument in regards to the old and new covenant. Here he’s stating that the old testament sacrifices had to be continually made each year, but if it truly did take away sin, then there would not have been a need for these offerings to continually be made. That is, these offerings were never meant to cleanse the inside of a person, but was serving as a guidepost to what God would ultimately do through Jesus. And when Jesus came, His sacrifice and subsequent resurrection was a one time thing. There was not a need for a continuous ritual or additional shedding of blood.

Verses 5-7 is used by the author to back up his argument. It quotes from Psalm 40 and let’s us know that it is Jesus who is speaking these words, and it is He who it is written about. The Psalm tells us that God does not delight in the burnt offerings or sin offerings. So what then does God delight in? He delights in His son who through His obedience, was born of a virgin, and lived a perfect life, and then shed His own blood as a one time sacrifice for our sins.

Application

The story of the Bible was never about us, it was about what God was going to do for us because of our sin and rebellion. The old testament sacrifices was a part of this. As we read the Bible now, it becomes clear for God’s ultimate purpose and plan all along. Yet, many times we still feel like we aren’t good enough or that God didn’t cleanse us from our sins.

Remember that Jesus only had to die once, and that the blood He shed was for all sins, past, present, and future. We are now free to serve God in obedience and truth. What we tend to be ashamed of, is that we don’t do the things we know we should do, so it all boils down to our lack of obedience in serving God. So pray for God to give you a willing and serving heart, so that the Holy Spirit can work through you in your daily life.

Prayer

Father in heaven, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to this earth so He could be the ultimate sacrifice for my sins. I would be an enemy of You if it weren’t for what Jesus did. Help me to live a life of obedience to Your will. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.