God's Story Is Our Story: From Acts to New CreationSample

In the Old Testament, it was necessary to go to the temple and to make sacrifices. Jesus as the great high priest entered the true temple, God's own presence, of which the earthly temple was only a representation. He also made a sacrifice, but not a goat or bull. He sacrificed himself.

Jesus' one death was sufficient to forgive all sin. There is nothing we need to do to add to the sufficiency of Jesus' atonement. Nor does Jesus need to continue to suffer or to be sacrificed. He was offered once according to the author of Hebrews.

This passage in Hebrews also says that we must believe before we die. There is no opportunity for salvation after we die. It is after we die that we already begin to experience being in God's presence or bearing his judgment. Our choices matter in this life.

Jesus is coming again, not to solve the problem of sin. He's already done that. But, he is coming to save those who eagerly wait for him. Are we disillusioned with what this life can bring enough to say that we are eagerly waiting for him to return so that we can experience what is true life?