Jesus Christ, the Ultimate Sacrifice!

“It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 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 9:23-28 NIV

Do we not hate ourselves when we have done something wrong accidentally? After these moments, we try to fix that particular situations to the way we have been wanting them to be. We even try to fix ourselves as well by developing our mind-set to think more deeply before we decide. In other words, we learn from our mistakes and improve how to do things properly. I think I have made a big mistake. I have wanted to do a bible college through distance-learning or studying theology at a bible college in person, but my mother thought studying theology was kind of hobby of mine. Maybe, I told her that I wanted to go to a school, so she thought that I was interested in computer course, due to the fact that she thought I was interested in computers. Therefore, I should have told her that I specifically want to do a Bible College. However, at that time, which is before I have gone to Unitec to do a computer servicing, I was not able to do a Bible College because of permanent residency or something. However, since I am in the computer course now, I am not going to simply quit studying. If I quit it, I am probably going to regret it. I think God wants me to develop my faith during the computer course, or He wants me to manage my time properly between reading Christian books and other stuff.

In keeping spiritual lives healthy and not sin against God, the priests had to do yearly animal sacrifices to take their and their people’s sins away (Leviticus 16). Nevertheless, the Israelites kept sinning, such as not obeying the law of God (Psalm 78:10) and serving other gods rather than the true God (Jeremiah 11:10). Because things like these might happen, God had decided to sent Himself as Jesus Christ to take our sins once for all from beginning of time (Romans 3:21-26), to bring His presence into our lives all the time. When Jesus said “It is finished” at the end of His physical death (John 19:30), it is possibly not only meant that the will of God for Jesus was finally over, but it also possibly meant that the separation between God and us is over. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). Not only we can stay in the presence of God all the time on the Earth, but we are able to have eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23; John 11:25-26). Furthermore, when we sin whether it is physical or spiritual one, we are able to pray to God by repenting of our sins earnestly and God can wipe all of our sins and purify us in Jesus Christ (1 John 1:5-2:2). Overall, the real story of the Israelites shows us how important to have and believe in Jesus Christ throughout our lives!

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 worshipers 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. (Hebrews 10:1-18)

Not only God is the source of eternal life through Jesus Christ (John 17:3), He is the Righteous Judge as well (James 4:12). Because of this, we try to be righteous by our deeds, even without faith in Jesus. Nonetheless, Ephesians 2:8-10 warns us that we are spiritually  saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Because of our faith in Jesus, we are to do good works in Him. Furthermore, we do not have to afraid that we might not going to enter the kingdom of heaven at the end of our physical lives, as long as our faith and our devotion is in Jesus Christ. 1 John 4:18 states, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Instead of being afraid, we have to approach God in freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12). Furthermore, we should rejoice that God is the Righteous Judge. This is because if He is not the Righteous Judge of all living, then everybody can enter the kingdom of heaven, despite of their wickedness. If everybody go to there at the end of their age, including wicked people, then heaven would not be the place of eternal joyfulness, happiness, and life (Revelation 21:1-8). In addition to this, there would be really no point of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus was crucified for our sins, In order to make us righteousness in God through faith in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24-25).  

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:18-21)