Messiah: Sacrifice for our Sins

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—it is written about Me in the scroll. I desire to do Your will, O My God; Your law is within My heart.” (Psalm 40:6-8, NIV). “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, O God.’ “ (Hebrews 10:5-7, NIV).

As I prepare to go to church on Sundays, I often think, What if I had to find a lamb or an acceptable animal sacrifice to take, one without spot or blemish, to offer for my sins? Jesus the Messiah, the sacrifice for our sins, did away with the ritual sacrifice and made it possible for us to approach the Mighty God of the Universe in worship without having to bring anything in our hands—just a contrite and trusting heart, knowing that Jesus Himself provided the perfect sacrifice on the cross for my sins.

God’s will is that each one of us be made holy by the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews continues to explain the Messiah’s sacrifice in these words: “But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool, because 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, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.’ “ (Hebrews 10:12-18).

This is the message proclaimed through the Messiah’s sacrifice: By the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, anyone who believes may receive pardon from sin and abundant life in Him. We no longer have to search for and make a required blood sacrifice. That has been accomplished. Messiah’s purpose was to reconcile us unto God. Forgiveness and restoration are the key elements of Christ’s New Covenant. And the Holy Spirit, still active and revealing God’s will to us, makes this known in our hearts. Praise be to God! This Christmas season, let us remember uppermost why Jesus came!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Monday, December 6, 2010