Bible Time

¹FOR the law had in it a shadow of the good things to come, but was not the essence of the things themselves; for this reason, although the same sacrifices were offered every year, they could not perfect those who offered them. ²For if they had once been perfected, they would have ceased from their offerings; for, from then on their minds would not have driven them into the sins from which they had once been cleansed. ³But in those sacrifices they remembered their sins every year. ⁴For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats could take away sins. ⁵Therefore, when he entered into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you did not desire, but a body you have prepared me; ⁶Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

⁷Then I said, Look, I come; in the beginning of the books, it is written of me, I delight to do your will, oh God. ⁸Above when he said, Sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and offerings for sins, you would not have, the very ones which were offered according to the law; ⁹And after that he said, Look, I come to do your will, oh God. Thus he put an end to the first in order to establish the 2nd. ¹⁰By this very will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Messiah once for all. ¹¹For every high priest appointed ministered daily, offering the same sacrifices, which had never been able to cleanse sins; ¹²But this one after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down on the right hand of God forever. ¹³From now on he will remain there until his enemies are placed as a stool under his feet. ¹⁴For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. ¹⁵The Holy Spirit is also a witness to us; for he had said before, ¹⁶This is the contract that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. ¹⁷And their iniquities and sins I will not remember any longer. ¹⁸For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is no need for offering for sins.

¹⁹Having therefore, my brothers, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰By a new and living way which he has made new for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, ²¹And having a great high priest over the house of God, ²²Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled and cleansed of evil thought and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³Let us remain firm in the profession of our faith without wavering, for he who has promised us is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider one another to arouse love and good works, ²⁵Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is customary for some; but exhorting one another, and so much more when you see that day approaching. ²⁶For if any man sin willfully after he has received the knowledge of the truth, then there is no sacrifice to be offered for sins any longer, ²⁷But he is ready for the fearful judgment and the fiery indignation which will consume the adversaries. ²⁸He who transgressed the law of Moses, on the word of 2 or 3 witnesses, died without mercy: ²⁹How much more punishment do you think he will receive who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has considered the blood of his contract, through which he had been sanctified, as ordinary blood and has blasphemed the Spirit of Grace? ³⁰For we know him who said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge his people. ³¹It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³²Remember, therefore, the former days, in which, after you received baptism, you endured many tribulations. ³³By disgrace and trouble you were made an object of ridicule; and you have also become companions of those men who have also endured these things. ³⁴And you had pity on those who were prisoners, and you took the seizure of your property cheerfully, for you know in yourselves that you have a better and a more enduring possession in heaven. ³⁵Do not lose, therefore, the confidence that you have, for it has a great reward. ³⁶For you have need of patience in order that you may do the will of God and receive the promise. ³⁷For the time is all too short, and he who is to come will come and will not delay. ³⁸But the righteous will live by my faith; and if any draw back, my soul will have no pleasure in him. ³⁹But we do not belong to those who draw back to perdition, but to the faith which restores our souls.