341. One Sacrifice for Sins
Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.
Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins forever. That includes all our future sins as well as past sins. The promise keeps us secure in the knowledge of God’s Love and faithfulness all of our days until the end of life. After death we will have no more worries, of course. The sacrifice of Christ avails before God on our behalf all the time. No sin, no fear, no doubt, no feeling, no lie can keep us away from that absolute security. There is no need for any further sacrifices on our part. It is done.
We do, however, make sacrifices every day for the good of others. Even unbelieving parents sacrifice for their children. And how much more so this is true for believers. We give up our own rights to help another; we die to self so others may live better; we surrender our own precious time to give it to someone else; we give away our money and possessions because we love God and others. There are many daily sacrifices we make for other people, or for a greater good; but we never make a sacrifice to appease God or make up for sin. We may selfishly sacrifice something for the sake of more money, pleasure or power (idolatry), Even the world knows one has to give in order to get. But the genuine good works that Christians do are for the benefit of others without expecting anything in return.
But any hint of a Christian making a sacrifice to pay for sin and guilt is unbelief: we don’t believe Jesus’ sacrifice for sin forever, but that we have to add something to what Christ has already done. The debt is paid in full. The sacrifices we make are willing and living sacrifices because Jesus made the sacrifice for us already.
The session at the right hand of God seems to be a big deal to the New Testament writers. It is a big deal because it means that our God-man Savior is ruling things for the eternal good of His people. We need to see by faith this Ruling Lover, the One Who Sacrificed for us, on the throne; He is the one who is in charge of all my life, my family and loved ones, my community, my country, and the whole world. No matter what it looks like, our God and Savior is in charge. And His sacrifice made a safe place and a secure future for us.