One sacrifice for sins
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming — not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshippers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, Here I am — it is written about me in the scroll — I have come to do your will, my God. First he said, Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them — though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, Here I am, I have come to do your will. He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Then he adds: Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming — not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshippers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Then I said, Here I am — it is written about me in the scroll — I have come to do your will, my God.
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
First he said, Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them — though they were offered in accordance with the law.
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Then he said, Here I am, I have come to do your will. He sets aside the first to establish the second.
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Then he adds: Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Draw near, hold on
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
And having an high priest over the house of God;
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Do not shrink back
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgement and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, It is mine to avenge; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay. And, But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
but only a fearful expectation of judgement and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For we know him who said, It is mine to avenge; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people.
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.
Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
For, In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
And, But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.