He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he
entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal
redemption. The
blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are
ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts
that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Hebrews 9:12-14
The Old Testament procedure for sin forgiveness used the
blood of sheep, goats and cows to forgive sins.
The forgiveness was temporary and “worked for now.” But it was a sign pointing to a greater sacrifice
coming that would take care of all sins.
The death of the sacrifice was proven when its blood
spilled out (Hebrews 9:16). But the
blood of a mortal animal only has limited power to forgive. The blood of an immortal God-man forgives
completely and eternally.
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,
and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22
We are forgiven when the penalty is paid. Our sins force a penalty of death. To forgive all our sins, past-present-future,
we need eternal blood to cover it all and die for all of it.
Only the blood of Jesus can do that. One death sacrificed for all.
Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the
high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his
own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation
of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages
to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face
judgment, so
Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a
second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting
for him. Hebrews 9:25-28