If you've been listening to or reading through Hebrews this past month you've probably noticed that a large chunk of it -- from 4:14-10:18 -- deals with Jesus as our great High Priest and as the sacrifice offered for the forgiveness of our sins.
This Sunday we will be reading Hebrews 8:1-13 and Hebrews 9:11-15 as our Scripture reading. In preparation, though, I invite you to read Hebrews 9:1-15.
In the first 15 verses of chapter 9 there is a comparison between the sacrifices offered in the old and new covenant. And so here we see the difference between what was offered, what was sacrificed, and how it pales in comparison to Christ's once-for-all sacrifice for us.
It's Christ's sacrifice that gives us a clear conscience, the deep-rooted assurance that our sins are forgiven, and the hope of eternal life. It's Christ who has died to set us free from our sins.
It's interesting, then, that I often (and I don't think I'm alone) think of the Christian life as one of sacrifice, as though I need to do something, I need to give something up, I need to make a sacrifice for myself. I need to sacrifice my time on Sunday morning and go to church. I need to sacrifice some of my money, time, talents to serve God. I need to give up desires for things that go way beyond my needs like that new car with all the extras with it. I need to sacrifice how I spend my money...
What the preacher of Hebrews makes clear is that the sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins has been made. There is nothing more we can offer, there is nothing more that we can put on the altar to have our sins forgiven more or to earn that forgiveness. That sacrifice has been made for us.
And so really what I need to do (and again, I don't think I'm alone) is understand those things that I feel the need to sacrifice are not something I have to give up in order to have my sins forgiven. My sacrifice won't do that. Instead, I give up those things as an offering to God as a way of thanking Him for the sacrifice He made on my behalf. I offer Him my Sunday mornings - even my whole Sunday. I offer to Him my money, my time, my talents. I offer to Him my desires for things way beyond what I need. I offer to him my bank statements ... I offer that all to Him not as a sacrifice, but as a "Thank you" because I realize that the gift of eternal life and forgiveness of sins is one given freely by grace.
And everything pales in comparison to that gift offered to us (and for us).