Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
For since the law has but aa shadow bof the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, cit can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But ain these sacrifices bthere is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For ait is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Consequently, awhen Christ came into the world, he said,
b“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in asacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, a“Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will awe have been sanctified through the offering of bthe body of Jesus Christ conce for all.
11 And every priest stands adaily at his service, boffering repeatedly the same sacrifices, cwhich can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he asat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time auntil his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering ahe has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
16 a“This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”
17 then he adds,
a“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
The Full Assurance of Faith
19 aTherefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter bthe holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by athe new and living way that he opened for us through bthe curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have aa great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts asprinkled clean bfrom an evil conscience and our bodies cwashed with pure water. 23 aLet us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for bhe who promised is faithful. 24 And alet us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 anot neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and ball the more as you see cthe Day drawing near.
26 For aif we go on sinning deliberately bafter receiving the knowledge of the truth, cthere no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 abut a fearful expectation of judgment, and ba fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 aAnyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy bon the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one awho has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned bthe blood of the covenant cby which he was sanctified, and has doutraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, a“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, b“The Lord will judge his people.” 31 aIt is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But recall the former days when, after ayou were enlightened, you endured ba hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being apublicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For ayou had compassion on those in prison, and byou joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had ca better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has aa great reward. 36 For ayou have need of endurance, so that bwhen you have done the will of God you may creceive what is promised. 37 For,
a“Yet a little while,
and bthe coming one will come and will not delay;
38 abut my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.