The Last Sacrifice!  If you have read the New Testament or ever heard of John 3:16 (¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life), then you know that Jesus came as the last sacrifice for our sins.  There are several aspects involved to the sacrifice in which we must fully grasp in order to obtain a better understanding․

Sin and Atonement

When the Original Sin was committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, humans were bound by their sinful nature and they required a savior that would free them from their bondage.  Immediately following the Original Sin, we read in Genesis that people brought offerings to the Lord for the forgiveness of their sins.  In the case of the Israelites, God established the position of the High Priest, and appointed Moses’ brother Aaron for the role.   Among the High Priest’s many roles, he was tasked with the Day of Atonement service.  Essentially, a blood sacrifice was offered once a year for the atonement of sins (both for the Israelites and for him).

End to Annual Atonement

In Hebrews 10:4-14 we read the following:

4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’”  8 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. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  11 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. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

• We can clearly see that the constant sacrifices offered for the forgiveness of sins wasn’t something that God the Father preferred going forward and decided to provide His Son as the final sacrifice. In our previous Bible Study we talked about Jesus as the High Priest.  In verse 12 a reference is made to the final priest who would make the one and only/final sacrifice for the atonement of sins.  If we believe in Him and confess Him as Lord and Savior we will be saved.
• Next, Paul is quoting Psalms 40:1-10 when he mentions the final sacrifice in Hebrews 10:5-7.
• Salvation was offered to everyone and all would be given the opportunity to repent and to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Instead of a constant sacrifice to cleanse the person of his/her sins, or to carry out the Annual Atonement service, Jesus would serve as the final sacrifice.
• No matter how many bulls or goats were sacrificed, human sin would not be eradicated. The sacrifices offered only wiped the sins already committed, not the sins that would be committed in the future.  We were damned to our sinful nature and fell short of this standard. Therefore we have the Grace of God through the blood of Jesus who has cleansed us of our sins.  God the Father views us through His Son Jesus and sees us as white as snow.

One and Only Salvation through Jesus Christ & Final Word

God the Father provided a practical and permanent solution to the sins of mankind.  He made sure that it was a single act of love and a single act of sacrifice which wiped the world of its sins.  Salvation is offered to those who accept it rather than given to all without acceptance.   Since God has given us a free will and allows us to make the choice of accepting Him, we must make the decision ourselves.  The work has been done by Christ and the opportunity is available for everyone to accept.

If you haven’t accepted Jesus, please pray after me:

Heavenly Father, I know that I am sinner and ask that you forgive me of my sins in Jesus mighty name.  Jesus please wipe my sins and make me as white as snow, and remove my transgressions as far as the east is from the west.  Jesus please come into my heart and this day forward I proclaim you as my Lord and Savior.  Please send me the Holy Spirit so that I may be guided by Him and live my life in your perfect will. AMEN