God’s Not Interested in Sacrifices
1The Law is just a sketchy shadow of the good things to come. It’s not the good things themselves. We can grow closer to God because of the Law. But the Law’s required sacrifices—year after year—can’t make us perfect. [1] 2If the Law could make us perfect, there wouldn’t be any more sacrifices. Why bother? Folks would have had the sin flushed out of them. People wouldn’t feel guilty anymore. 3Actually, what these sacrifices do is just the opposite. Year after year, they remind us of our sins. 4Blood of bulls and goats can’t take away our sins. 5That’s why Jesus offered this prayer to God when he came to earth:“Sacrifice and offerings don’t interest you.
What you want is me, the body you’ve given me.
burnt animal sacrifices
or any other offerings to atone for sin.” [2] 7So Jesus said,
“Here I am, God.
I’ve come to do what you want.
Just as our Bible says I’ll do.” [3]
“You didn’t want sacrifices and offerings and entire animals slaughtered and burned to atone for sins. You’ve never enjoyed them even though the Law required them.”
9Then he added,“Here I am.
I’ve come to do whatever you want.” [4]
Laws of the Heart, Not on Stone
15The Holy Spirit has something to say about this,16“This is the agreement I’ll make with the people when the time comes.
I’m going to write my laws onto their hearts.
I’m going to embed them into their minds.” [9] 17He also says,
“Whatever sins they’ve done or laws they’ve broken,
I’ll wipe them from my memory.” [10]
God Welcomes Us
19Dear family, because of the sacrifice Jesus made, we can confidently go to God’s throne room, the Most Holy Place. 20When Christ became human, he opened the curtain into God’s presence. It’s a new and real path to God. 21And since we have a great priest leading worship in God’s house, 22let’s keep moving toward God with sincere and confident faith. We’re welcome in God’s presence [11] because we’re clean inside and out. The priest has already sprinkled our hearts with his own blood. So, our conscience is clear, free of guilt. Our bodies are clean too, washed with pure water. [12] 23Let’s hold tight to our hope. We’ve talked about what we believe, now let’s believe it all the way home—no wavering. The one who gave us hope is someone we can trust to keep his promise. 24Let’s think about how we can encourage each other to be loving and to do kind things for others. 25Let’s not skip out on church services. Some are doing that. I’m asking that you encourage each other to attend the services. It’s important now because Judgment Day [13] is almost here.Terror in the Hands of a Living God
26If we accept the truth about Christ but go back to sinning, his sacrifice for our sin doesn’t exist anymore. 27All that’s left for us is the terror of judgment and the raging fire that will annihilate Christ’s enemies. 28Breaking the law of Moses can get a person executed. Conviction requires the testimony of just two or three witnesses. [14] 29So tell me this. How much greater should the punishment be for someone who-
- walked all over the Son of God,
- treated the blood as no big deal—the blood that made them holy, and on which God’s agreement is based,
- insulted the Spirit of kindness?
- walked all over the Son of God,
“Revenge belongs to me. I own it.
Payback is mine too. I deliver it.” [15]
“The Lord will judge his people.” [16]
31I’ll tell you what terror is like. It’s like the person I’ve just described, falling into the hands of the living God.Go the Distance with Christ
32Instead of thinking about that, I’d like you to remember when you first heard the truth and believed it. Soon afterward, you weathered a terrible storm of hardship and suffering. 33People publicly humiliated you with insults and other attacks. It became quite the spectacle. Later, when others were treated that way, you took their side and helped them through it. 34It’s a fact. I know you suffered because you supported those among you who went to prison. You seemed joyful when people confiscated your property. It was a joy that came from knowing they couldn’t take your most important possession. It’s yours forever. 35Don’t throw away this boldness of yours, which is earning a huge payday. 36You’ve got to keep going. Go the distance. Then, when you’ve done what God wants you to do, you’ll get what you’ve been promised.37“Just a little longer.
The one who is coming will get here.
He’ll be on time.
38A good person
lives by faith.
But if that person leaves me,
I’ll not like it one bit.” [17] 39We aren’t the kind of people who pull back from God and end up destroyed. We’ve got the faith, so we get to keep our souls alive.
