The Perfect Sacrifice

Many believers reflect on the death of the Lord Jesus several times during the course of a week for numerous reasons. Others perhaps think about Him offering up Himself to God weekly during church services or when it is mentioned in a sermon. No doubt there are people who consider Christ’s redemptive sacrificial death once or twice a year during the religious holidays. Then finally, there are many who never give Christ’s sacrifice a second thought.

To ponder His sacrifice recalling His suffering undoubtedly moves one at the very core. Such serious mediations give birth to the most profound gratitude. This automatically ignites a sense of obligation to live for the Christ who died for all. One can never repay Him for His sacrifice; to even attempt to do so would deeply insult a gracious God. At the same time one should never take His Cross for granted. Certainly it is a truly healthy exercise to meditate on the significance of Calvary.

The consideration in this essay is the perfection of His sacrifice. It fulfilled and completed all that Aaron’s priesthood and the tabernacle anticipated under the old covenant and thoroughly satisfied the Father’s will regarding the full atonement for sin and the sanctification of believers. Now believers enjoy complete access to God through the “new and living way” offered at Calvary’s altar.

CHRIST IS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR HEAVEN

William Newell (Hebrews Verse by Verse) noted that the focus is on Christ as high priest and not as Redeemer and so the emphasis is on cleansing the conscience of dead works to serve the living God (9:14). In Hebrews 9:10-15, one can see how the value of Christ’s sacrifice was presented in Heaven, it secured eternal redemption for sinners, and it cleanses the conscience to prepare believers for service to God.  The Lord Jesus’ sacrifice also dedicated and initiated the New Testament affording an eternal inheritance to believers.

Again it is obvious in Hebrews 9:22-28, that Christ’s sacrifice facilitated the dedication of the New Testament. Jesus’ perfect sacrifice literally provided purification for sin in Heaven itself, and it afforded Christ access into the presence of God on behalf of Christians. Newell observed that cleansing was required in Heaven because, “the record of man’s sin existed in Heaven. But when the great Sin-Bearer entered…into Heaven…sin had been put away from God’s sight through the value and power of the infinite sacrifice of Himself.” It was the sacrifice of Christ Himself once and for all that actually put away the sins of many and no more sacrifices are necessary. This perfect Sacrifice satisfied Heaven’s holiness and justice!

CHRIST IS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR SINS

Hebrews 10:1-4, tells of the inadequacies of OT sacrifices under the law. These only foreshadowed the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ; those annual offerings could not cleanse the conscience they could only remind Israel of their sinfulness. The words “make …. perfect” (10:1) means “to bring to a state of completeness.” The ceremonial law could not actually save the believer. Its work was always short of completeness. To “make… perfect” does not mean sinless perfection, but that definitive removal of guilt that makes free access to God possible for worshipers trusting in the sufficiency of the Cross. Animal sacrifices were entirely unable to take away sins, but Christ’s was totally able to.

This sacrifice is why God the Word became a human being. Hebrews 10:5-10, reports that the body and incarnation of Christ enabled Him to satisfy the Father’s will as the perfect sacrifice. His offering enabled Him to replace the old sacrificial system with the actual execution of God’s will—the sanctification of sinners once and for ever. The perfection of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was not for show or charming. Humanly speaking, His death was a brutal execution. Divinely speaking, Calvary was a sacrifice for sin, an offering that satisfied God’s justice and at the same time expressed His passionate love and mercy for all. Everyone would certainly be destroyed if God were only just and not also merciful (see Rom. 3:21–25). Though the perfect death of Jesus was pleasing to God, it was still unpleasant and terrifying. Yet, He willingly, freely, and completely gave Himself to this Cross without any reluctance or hesitation.

Then in contrast to the OT priests and the voluminous offerings, Christ offered one sacrifice that actually dealt with sin and perfected salvation for believers (Hebrews 10:11-18). Thus Calvary affords believers the New Covenant promises of the indwelling Spirit of truth, the complete forgiveness of sins, and it stands as the final sacrifice forever.

Accordingly Christians have been “perfected” and are being “sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). They are set apart for God—“them that are sanctified” (see 10:29). The “sanctified” are all true believers having been set apart to God from the world. The blood of Jesus Christ secures their sanctification (being both purified and related directly to God for His work (see Eph. 2:11–22)).  

Christians are also set apart before God. They have been “perfected” in a twofold sense. First, they have a perfect standing before God the Father in all the acceptability of His beloved Son. Thus their status in God’s presence is “perfect” (Heb. 11:40; 12:23). They approach God with the full approval secured through Christ’s Cross (Heb. 10:19-22). Secondly, they possess a perfect conscience regarding the guilt and penalty of sin. They are confident that the price has been paid in full and that God will not demand payment a second time. Christ’s offering is the perfect sacrifice for sin.

CHRIST IS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE TO ACCESS GOD

Because of Christ’s sacrifice and priesthood believers can enter directly into God’s Presence freely (Hebrews 10:19-25). Note what Newell (pg. 344) said, “It is into the presence of God, as God, that believers are invited to come with boldness.” This is the phenomenal entrance into God’s throne room Christ’s blood secured!

This access and His high priestly ministry afford confidence to approach an all holy God. In fact all believers are priests who may boldly enter into the Heavenly Holy of Holies! Christ’s death (Matt. 27:51) gave believers the needed access and route to God. The priesthood of Christ affords every believer the assurance of thorough cleansing. It likewise stirs them to be steadfast in professing Christ, to motivate others to love and service, and to be faithful to Christ and His church in anticipation of His return. Christ’s Cross motivates the believer to holiness, love, service, faithfulness, sacrificial labors, and hope in a coming Lord. 

“Let us draw near” (10:22) then. Access to His Majesty is the believer’s blood-bought privilege. How wonderful beyond all words that they are invited to have audience, not with this world’s celebrities, but with the Sovereign of the universe! Their approach should be with utter sincerity having a genuine heart for God. They are to draw near with total confidence in the promises of God convinced they will have a gracious reception into His presence. Rejoice in the fresh and revitalizing realities of the New Covenant!

So the Sacrifice of Christ purged sin, and dedicated the New Testament while fulfilling the Old.  The New Covenant provides eternal redemption, thorough forgiveness of sin, and the anticipation of Christ’s return with full salvation. Believers have no need of any other religious system or supplements to Christ’s service in order to have a clear—guilt free— conscience with God.

The Sacrifice of Christ took away sin forever and sanctified every believer—this is the very will of God. Now believers enjoy a status before God that can only be described as “perfect.” They may confidently approach God through the blood of Christ knowing they are fully accepted!