Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice

1For the law having but a faint shadow of good things to come, and not the full image of the things, can never, even by the great annual sacrifices which they offer statedly, make the comers thereunto perfect. 2For then they would have ceased to be offered, because the sacrificers, being once purified, would no longer retain any consciousness of sins. 3Whereas in these very sacrifices there is a recalling of sins to mind every year. 4For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

5Wherefore upon his coming into the world He saith, "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire, but a body hast thou prepared me:

6in whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hadst no pleasure:

7then said I, Lo I come, as in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God."

8Having said before, "Thou didst not desire, nor hadst pleasure in, sacrifice and offering, and whole burnt-offerings, and sacrifices for sin," (which are offered by the law) then He adds, 9"Lo I come to do thy will, O God." (He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second.) 10By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11And indeed every priest under the law standeth daily ministring, and frequently offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12but He having offered one sacrifice for sins, is for ever sat down at the right hand of God; 13waiting for the future, till his enemies be put under his feet. 14For by one offering He hath perfected for ever those that are sanctified. 15And of this the holy Ghost also beareth witness with us:

16for after He had said, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and on their minds will I inscribe them;

17He adds, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more."

18Now where there is such a remission of these, there needs no more offering for sin.

A Call to Persevere
(Jude 1:17–23)

19Having therefore, brethren, free admission into the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20the new and living way which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, 21his flesh, and having a great high-priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with sincerity, in the full assurance of faith, having our hearts cleansed from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us inflexibly retain the profession of our hope, 24(for He is faithful who hath promised) and let us observe each other to the incitement of love and good works: 25not forsaking our assemblies, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.

26For if we sin wilfully after having received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins; 27but a dreadful expectation of judgement, and a fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28If any one that violateth the law of Moses, dieth without mercy under two or three witnesses, 29of how much greater punishment, think ye, shall he be counted worthy, who hath trampled under foot the Son of God, and accounted the blood of the covenant, by which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and abused the Spirit of grace? 30For we know who hath said, "To me belongeth vengeance, I will recompense, saith the Lord:" and again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32But call to remembrance the former days, in which after being enlightened, ye sustained a great conflict of sufferings; 33partly, being made a public spectacle by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, as ye became associates of those who were so treated: 34for ye sympathized with me in my bonds, and ye took joyfully the plundering of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35Cast not away therefore your couragious profession, which hath a great recompence of reward. 36For ye have need of patience, that having done the will of God ye may receive the promise.

37For yet a little while, and He, that is coming, will come, and will not delay:

38and the just shall live by faith, but if any draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39But we are not of those who withdraw to perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.