The Lamb of God

But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.  For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, He said:

"Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.' "
--Hebrews 10: 3-7

I looked up this passage yesterday, because I wanted to know more of what is meant by "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" in John 1:29, since we looked at that verse in youth group on Wednesday night.  These verses in Hebrews tell us how Christ's sacrifice exceeds any other sacrifice.  Any sacrifice that we try to make--any attempt undo the severity of our sins--doesn't work.  The sins always come back.  There can be no freedom outside of Christ.

To make the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus says that God had to prepare a body for Him.  Jesus made the sacrifice of His own life.  Unlike the old lambs and goats, whose blood could only hold off the wrath of God for a short period of time, the blood of Jesus removes God's wrath from us forever.  Jesus "does away with the first in order to establish the second (vs. 9)

And here's what really got to me.  Verse 10:

"And by that will [the will of God that Jesus came to do] we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Although I'm being sanctified day by day, in a broader sense my sanctification is as sure now as if it has already been completed.  The sacrifice of the Lamb of God was perfect; and thus it is my indisputable assurance that I will one day be perfected.  This life full of sin is just a prequel to my real life, forever, in heaven.

Freedom from sin was accomplished once for all by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.  Victory is mine, now and forever in Him.