Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

¹ For the law, having been a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never, with the same sacrifices which they offer continually, year after year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Or else would they not have ceased being offered, because the worshipers, once they have been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?

³ But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins. ⁴ For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ⁵ Therefore when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings, you never desired, but you prepared a body for me.
⁶ In burnt offerings and offerings for sin, you took no delight.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Here I am. In the scroll, it is written of me. I have come to do your will, O God.’ ” ^a

⁸ Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings, and burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you did not desire, nor did you take pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law). ⁹ Then he has said, “I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second, ¹⁰ by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹ Every priest indeed stands day after day, serving and often offering the same sacrifices which can never take away sins, ¹² but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet. ¹⁴ For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. ¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,

¹⁶ “This is the covenant that I will make with them:
‘After those days,’ says the Lord,
‘I will put my laws on their heart,
I will also write them on their mind.’ ” ^b

Then he says,

¹⁷ “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.” ^c

¹⁸ Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

A Call to Persevere

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, having boldness to enter into the holy place through the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil (that is, his flesh), ²¹ and having a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

²⁴ Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the custom of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

²⁶ For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. ²⁸ A man who disregards the law of Moses dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has treated the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified as something unholy, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

³⁰ For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine,” says the Lord, “I will repay.” ^d

Again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ^e

³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³² But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with suffering, ³³ partly, being exposed to both oppression and reproach, and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated thus. ³⁴ For you both had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens. ³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your boldness, which has a great reward. ³⁶ For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

³⁷ “In a very little while,
he who is coming will come, and will not wait.
³⁸ But the righteous will live by faith.
If he shrinks back, I will have no pleasure in him.” ^f

³⁹ But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.

^{a Psalm 40:6-8
b Jeremiah 31:33
c Jeremiah 31:34
d Deuteronomy 32:35
e Deuteronomy 32:36
f Habakkuk-2:3-4}

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