Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice

1For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very likeness of the things, can never, with the same sacrifices, which they offer year by year continually, perfect those who come to them; 2else would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshipers, having been cleansed once for all, would have had no more conscience of sins. 3But in these sacrifices there is a remembrance of sins year by year; 4for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

5Wherefore, coming into the world, He saith, "Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not wish, but a body didst Thou prepare for Me;

6in whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hadst no pleasure.

7Then said I, 'Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it has been written concerning Me), to do Thy will, O God.'"

8Saving above, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt-offerings and offerings for sin," Thou didst not wish; neither hadst pleasure therein, which, indeed, are offered according to the law; 9then hath He said, "Lo, I have come to do Thy will." He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second: 10in which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11And every priest, indeed, stands daily ministering, and ofttimes offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12but This Man, having offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13from henceforth awaiting until His foes shall be placed as a footstool for His feet. 14For by one offering He hath perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15And the Holy Spirit also testifieth to us; for after He had said,

16"This is the covenant that I will covenant with them after those days," saith the Lord, "Putting my laws on their hearts, I will also write them upon their mind;

17and their sins and their iniquities I will in nowise remember any more."

18But where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

A Call to Persevere
(Jude 1:17–23)

19Having, therefore, brethren, boldness for the entrance into the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20which He dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is, His flesh; 21and, having a Great Priest over the house of God; 22let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our body washed with pure water, 23let us hold fast the confession of the hope without wavering (for faithful is He Who promised); 24and let us consider one another, to incite to love and good works; 25not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as is the custom of some, but exhorting, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.

26For, if we sin wilfully after we received the full knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fierceness of fire about to devour the opposers. 28Anyone, having set aside Moses' law, dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses; 29of how much worse punishment, think ye, shall he be accounted worthy, who trampled under foot the Son of God, and accounted the blood of the covenant with which He was sanctified an unholy thing, and treated with contempt the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him Who said, To Me belongs vengeance; I will recompense," saith the Lord; and again, "The Lord will judge His people." 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

32But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings; 33partly, indeed, when ye were made a spectacle both with reproaches and tribulations; and partly, when ye became partakers with those who were so used; 34for ye both sympathized with those in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions; knowing that ye yourselves have a better possession and an abiding one. 35Cast not away, therefore, your boldness, which, indeed, has great recompense. 36For ye have need of patience, that, after having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.

37"For yet a little while, how short! how short! The Coming One will come, and will not tarry."

38"But My righteous one shall live by faith, and, if he draw back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

39But we are not of those who draw back to destruction; but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.