Read Hebrews 9.1-10.18
Verses chosen for reflection:
Hebrews 10:12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
Reflect
Hebrews 9-10 talks about God's gift of salvation through the unique work of Christ on the Cross. With God's gift of salvation, our sins are forgiven because the Son of God paid them in full with His death and blood. The blood of Christ is compared to the blood of animal sacrifices offered for the forgiveness of sins during the time of the Old Covenant. While animal sacrifices were needed to be made every year; the blood of Christ is "offered" once and for all.
Hence, Jesus need not go through His suffering and death on the Cross every year in order to atone for our sins. This is even the case when Jesus' blood not only atone for our past and present sins, it also atones for sins that God know we are going to commit in the future.
Once again, this highlighted the divine grace and mercy of God. Who are we, that God sent His only Son to die for our past, present and future sins? Yet, this is exactly what Hebrews 10:12-13 means. Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins.
Relate
How then are we to live out this truth in our lives? If the blood of Christ atones for our future sins, do we then have to confess and live holy lives? Does it not conflict with what was suggested by the Apostle John in 1 John 9 that if we confess our sins, God is just and faithful and will forgive us of our transgressions and cleanse us from all unrighteousness?
While the blood of Christ paid for our past, present and future sins, we cannot use that as a licence to go back to our old life of sinning. While our past sins have been forgiven through the blood of Christ, our present and future sins are contingent upon how we live out the new life that is based on the justification made possible by the blood of Christ. And living it out includes our acknowledgement, confession and repentance of sin.
What this means is that if we sin in the present or future, we still have to confess and repent from these sins. For when we sin, we lose consciousness of forgiveness. We also lose our sense of peace with God for the shalom is broken. Therefore, we need to confess our sin in order to rewaken to the reality that we are saved in Christ and for the assurance that we can boldly approach the throne of grace for forgiveness that is based on Christ. And as we confess and repent, we hold on in faith to God's grace to change for His glory.
When I was a young Christian, hearing that my past, present and future sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus shook my world. It convicted me that I worship a God who really knows who I am and what I am capable of and yet choose to be merciful and generous. I realised that only true love can compel such mercy and kindness from another; what is more He is the God of the Universe! Hence, I considered that my only sensible response to such amazing love, should be of pure gratefulness, obedience and humility.
Rest
May the Lord help me and all of us to live out this amazing truth in our lives for the glory of His Name. Amen.
Jason
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