Why you can be confident in Jesus
‘But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.’ — Hebrews 10:12
‘Let us look steadfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious that blood is to God, which, having been shed for our salvation, has set the grace of repentance before the whole world.’ — Clement of Rome
Recently, I had the joy of preaching at my church as part of our current series, where we’re looking at the different ways Jesus fulfils the Old Testament.
My theme was ‘sacrifice’ and ‘communion’. I know, pretty simple themes to explain in a 20-minute sermon, right?
But as I was preparing and even as I was speaking, I was so struck again by the sheer magnitude of who Jesus is and what He has done for us as our perfect High Priest and our perfect sacrifice.
The writer of Hebrews looks back to the Old Testament in the light of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and here are five things they want us to understand:
1. Jesus’ priesthood lasts forever
‘There were many priests under the old system, but death prevented them from remaining in office. But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.’ — Hebrews 7:23–25
In the old system, there was a constant turnover of high priests who came and passed away.
But Jesus is eternal, and so His role as the perfect High Priest is also eternal – meaning that He can save forever those who trust Him.
2. Jesus enters the true Most Holy Place: the throne room of Heaven
‘With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.’ — Hebrews 9:12
Jesus perfectly performed all the roles of Israel’s sacrificial system Himself—as the perfect High Priest, He brought His own blood into the Father’s holy presence in Heaven as the perfect sacrifice.
3. His sacrifice is once for all
‘Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.’ — Hebrews 10:11–12
Unlike the Levitical priests, Jesus’ work is finished and sufficient. There is nothing more to be done. Our sin is atoned for, forever.
Jesus giving up His life on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice for all people, for all time.
4. His blood truly cleanses our hearts
‘Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.’ — Hebrews 9:13–14
Whereas the animal sacrifices under the Law could only ever cleanse people ceremonially, Jesus’ sacrifice actually reaches the inner person, fully cleansing our hearts from sin and making us right with God forever.
5. He mediates a new covenant
‘…he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.’ — Hebrews 9:15
As the perfect High Priest who carried out the perfect sacrifice, Jesus hasn’t just temporarily covered our sin—He has removed it completely and opened up direct access to God!
Under this new covenant, God has put His laws in our minds and written them on our hearts. He has become our God, and we have become His people. Everyone from every tribe, tongue and nation can know Him. He has forgiven our wickedness and will never again remember our sins (Jeremiah 31:31–34).
Because of what Jesus has done by willingly shedding his blood and dying on the cross, we can be fully forgiven, forever.
We can be completely cleansed from our sin, forever.
We can be part of God’s covenant family and enjoy being in relationship with him and with one another, forever.
And as Hebrews 13:15 says, we can offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name, forever.
All we need to do is to put our trust in Him. To believe in Him, and to receive all that He has done for us.
This is the gospel: Jesus is Lord, and He has done everything that was needed to save us.
Let’s believe it, and let’s go and tell everyone about it.
Love,
Theo
