When asked why Jesus had to die most Christians will respond saying that His death was necessary for forgiveness of sins. And when asked wasn’t there forgiveness of sins under the law the usual reply is no not really, because until Jesus died there was only the covering of sins for those under the law. And it was only after Jesus’ sacrifice that there can be true forgiveness.
But, if this is true then why did Jesus use the word forgiven when He would tell people their sins were forgiven before He died on the cross, if under the law sins could only be covered? To me this is direct evidence that there was indeed forgiveness of sins under the law just as there is for us who are under grace.
The reason for the confusion about this comes from what Paul wrote to the Hebrews in ch.9,10. Saying in ch.9:14 that “the blood of bulls and goats purified to the sanctifying of the flesh.” And in ch.10:4 that “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”
Did you know that forgiveness is one of the great ways we can be like God? And that this is true when we love in such a way that we can forgive harm others have caused to us even when it was done maliciously and on purpose. The way it was to Jesus when He was crucified.
This love comes at a cost though. And the cost is much too high for most. So they remain angry and unforgiving toward the one who hurt them. Rather than being released from their prison of unforgiveness.
This was the meaning of the parable Jesus told in Mt.18:23-35 where He spoke of a king taking account of his servants. And to the servant that would not forgive after being forgiven the king said, “32 …O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
Here we see that to be like the king we must learn to forgive as He forgives us. And the question I want to get to here is did our King always forgive like this? Was there the same forgiveness for all men at all times? Or was there a time when forgiveness was not available from God? And sins could only be covered.
To find the answer to this question I want to direct our attention again to the book of Hebrews. Starting in ch.9 we read about forgiveness or cleansing from sin starting in vs.12 where Paul says, “12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Here we see that the Israelite was sanctified to the purifying of the flesh by the sacrifices of bulls and goats under the law. This sounds like forgiveness of sins doesn’t it? Because when the flesh is purified the sin must be gone, not just covered.
When we sweep the floor but put it under the rug so it is covered the floor is not purified. It is only covered but still dirty. But, when the floor is swept so that it is purified from dirt the dirt is gone. So when our flesh is purified from sin this is forgiveness because the sin is gone, and not just covered.
But, if this is true. And if this was the reason Jesus had to die. Then how could these sacrifices have brought real forgiveness of sins? This is the quandary at which many Bible teachers fail.
They will say this is talking about covering for sin and not forgiveness. Because these sacrifices did not have the same power that Jesus’ did. And they reason that if Jesus died for forgiveness of sins, and sins were already forgiven under the law, then Jesus died for nothing. So they had to be only covered then and forgiven now.
But, the Bible says they are mistaken. And forgiveness of sins which is the sanctifying to the purifying of the flesh Paul spoke of was indeed had by those Israelites who were under the law.
And the problem those who teach there was only covering for sins under the law have here comes from a misunderstanding of what we read Paul saying in Heb.10. Here Paul is making the case for forgiveness and the difference between forgiveness under law and forgiveness after Jesus died on the cross.
In Heb.10:1-4 Paul describes the law as a shadow of good things to come. Saying that because it was “not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”
And here we have the reason forgiveness under the law and forgiveness under grace is different. Not that one is only covered and the other is forgiven. But, because under the law the one who was purified/forgiven from their sins was constantly reminded of sins by the sacrifices they were required to perform over and over again.
Paul says it is because of this that “the blood of bulls and goats should not take away sins.” They could not be taken away because of their rememberance through continual sacrifices.
But, Paul says because of Jesus no such sacrifices are required. Because Jesus’ sacrifice was the once for all sacrifice for sins. And because it is once for all there is no constant reminder of sins by any continued sacrifices.
But, there are practices in Roman Catholicism and evangelical Protestantism that are constant reminders of sin. Things like confessionals where the RC goes to the priest for absolution over and over again. And for the Protestant who uses 1John1:9 for the same purpose.
By doing this the believer has placed himself into the same predicament the Jew was under the law. He has a constant reminder of sin because of his constant confession.
But, Paul teaches us in Heb.9:14 saying, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Saying also that it is “15 for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
This is why he must no longer think in terms of the law to define what sin is, but of grace. Of the personal relationship he now has with his Creator. Having his mind renewed by the Spirit of God so that when he thinks of sin he thinks of it in terms of not believing in Jesus.
Something that is impossible for those who have come to a saving faith because they have been born of God and God’s seed which is the spirit God creates in everyone who trusts in Him and is born again remains in him so that he can not sin. 1John3:9.
So the great taking is when Jesus’ sacrifice takes away even the very consciousness of sins as they are defined by the law for the believer. Because the believer’s conscience is purged from those dead works of the law by the knowledge that sin is now defined as no faith in Jesus. And this is why Paul said the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins. But, Jesus’ sacrifice does.
If you want this kind of purging from sin it comes by relying on your relationship with Jesus as the definition of what sin is. That by confessing and trusting in Him He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness is a one time confession. And that this cleansing is from all unbelief. The liberty that is in Christ Jesus can only be realized when we do this.
And if you have not trusted in Jesus I want to invite you to do so now. By confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus. And believing in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead.
If you do this you will be saved from death to eternal life. And from natural to spiritual. Because when you do this God will create a spirit in you that you never had before. A spirit that joins you to Him as His child and therefore heir to His kingdom. If you will do this… then I will see you there or in the air!
This message can also be heard at: https://rumble.com/v7id288-the-great-taking-heb.104.html?e9s=src_v1_upp_a
Subscribe At The Bottom Of This Pag
