Our focus continues on the sufficiency of Christ’s one offering that has taken away sin once and for all. While religion has promoted the false need for people to keep seeking a renewed forgiveness from God, the tenth chapter of Hebrews reveals much better news for us. All of the forgiveness God is going to give has already been poured out through this one sacrifice. Once forgiveness has occurred, there is no longer the need for another offering. Whereas the priests kept standing while seeking more forgiveness with more offerings, Jesus offered Himself once and sat down.
It is finished!
574. Why God Has Stopped Forgiving
Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Jesus died once and He isn’t shedding any more blood. This shows the finality of his work at the cross. He was the perfect lamb of God that would bring an end to the previous covenant of law and repeated sacrifices that provided only a temporary forgiveness and could not remove sin. There is no longer the need to seek God’s forgiveness because He gave His all through Christ. Believe it! It was more than enough.
570. The New Way: “I Will Remember Their Sins No More”
The ministry of the law from the Old Covenant given to Israel brought a sin consciousness and a constant reminder of sins. The New Covenant would contrast that, with sin being taken away by the blood of Jesus, so that God would remember sins no more. The old way was made obsolete after the sacrifice of Christ, and would begin to disappear in the lives of new Jewish believers as they would grow in their understanding of this finished work.
531. Ananias & Sapphira
It's one of those mysterious passages in Scripture that can leave one wondering exactly what it means and why it happened. A couple named Ananias and Sapphira were caught in a lie and both ended up dropping dead within a few hours of each other. Often it is assumed God killed them for their disobedience. Is this a correct assumption considering it is not clearly stated as to why they died? We discuss it on this week's GIG podcast.