Be reminded of just how much you are loved.
Hebrews 7:25-28 (NIV)
25 Therefore Christ is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Listen to passage & devotional:
Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 21: The Atonement
We believe
that Jesus Christ is a high priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek—
made such by an oath—
and that he presented himself
in our name
before his Father,
to appease his wrath
with full satisfaction
by offering himself
on the tree of the cross
and pouring out his precious blood
for the cleansing of our sins,
as the prophets had predicted.
Summary
The book of Hebrews is a rich teaching of Jesus’ role as priest for the people of God. He was unlike any priest that had come before because he was holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. In other words: he was perfect.
The priests of the Old Testament would have to offer sacrifices for their own sins before they could offer sacrifices for the sins of the people of God. Jesus was perfect, he was without sin, so no sin offering was needed on his behalf. The priests of the Old Testament would have to offer sacrifices day after day. Those sin offerings only accounted for the sins that had been committed, and would have to be repeated the next day.
Jesus only needed to offer a sacrifice once. His offering was enough to cover the sins of the whole world, forever; though it is only guaranteed to those who confess Jesus as Lord.
Dig Deeper
Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins was not a bull or a lamb or doves. Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins was Himself. Let me write that again, because it is startling: Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins was Himself.
A sacrifice had to be made to appease the Father’s wrath. The priests of the Old Testament would offer bulls on behalf of the people and themselves. They would do this day after day. Jesus offered himself on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. He poured out his blood. He died. All of this he did for the people of God. Jesus did it willingly.
Do you know how much God loves you? He loves you so much that he sent his Son to die on the cross for your sins. Do you know how much God loves you? Jesus went to the cross knowing full well what he was going to endure, so that you could be saved from your sins. Jesus’ sacrifice was himself. It was enough to cover our sins completely.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Jesus, the Lamb of God
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: May I praise you for the sacrifice you made;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Philippians 4
