Hebrews 10:11-36

Every day the priests stand and do their religious service. Again and again they offer the same sacrifices. But those sacrifices can never take away sins. But Christ offered one sacrifice for sins, and it is good forever. Then he sat down at the right side of God. And now Christ waits there for his enemies to be put under his power. With one sacrifice he made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also tells us about this. First he says: “In the future I will make this agreement with the people of Israel, says the Lord. I will put my teachings in their hearts. And I will write them on their minds.” Jeremiah 31:33 Then he says: “Their sins and the evil things they do— I will not remember anymore.” Jeremiah 31:34 And when these have been forgiven, there is no more need for a sacrifice for sins. So, brothers, we are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place. We can do this without fear because of the blood of Jesus’ death. We can enter through a new way that Jesus opened for us. It is a living way. It leads through the curtain—Christ’s body. And we have a great priest over God’s house. So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith. We have been cleansed and made free from feelings of guilt. And our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed. We can trust God to do what he promised. Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds. You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing. But you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the Day coming. If we decide to go on sinning after we have learned the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins. There is nothing but fear in waiting for the judgment and the angry fire that will destroy all those who live against God. Any person who refused to obey the law of Moses was found guilty from the proof given by two or three witnesses. He was put to death without mercy. So what do you think should be done to a person who does not respect the Son of God? He looks at the blood of the agreement, the blood that made him holy, as no different from other men’s blood. He insults the Spirit of God’s grace. Surely he should have a much worse punishment. We know that God said, “I will punish those who do wrong. I will repay them.” And he also said, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Remember those days in the past when you first learned the truth. You had a hard struggle with many sufferings, but you continued strong. Sometimes you were hurt and persecuted before crowds of people. And sometimes you shared with those who were being treated that way. You helped the prisoners. And you even had joy when all that you owned was taken from you. You were joyful because you knew that you had something better and more lasting. So do not lose the courage that you had in the past. It has a great reward. You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised.