Study Desk

but only the high priest goes into the inner tent, and he does so only once a year. He takes with him blood which he offers to God on behalf of himself and for the sins which the people have committed without knowing they were sinning.

When Christ went through the tent and entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us.

For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. This can be done because there has been a death which sets people free from the wrongs they did while the first covenant was in effect.

for a will means nothing while the person who made it is alive; it goes into effect only after his death.

For Christ did not go into a Holy Place made by human hands, which was a copy of the real one. He went into heaven itself, where he now appears on our behalf in the presence of God.

for then he would have had to suffer many times ever since the creation of the world. Instead, now when all ages of time are nearing the end, he has appeared once and for all, to remove sin through the sacrifice of himself.

In the same manner Christ also was offered in sacrifice once to take away the sins of many. He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are waiting for him.

For the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins.

For this reason, when Christ was about to come into the world, he said to God: "You do not want sacrifices and offerings, but you have prepared a body for me.

Because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do, we are all purified from sin by the offering that he made of his own body once and for all.

Christ, however, offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective forever, and then he sat down at the right side of God.

He opened for us a new way, a living way, through the curtain—that is, through his own body.

Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good.

For there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sins if we purposely go on sinning after the truth has been made known to us.

Instead, all that is left is to wait in fear for the coming Judgment and the fierce fire which will destroy those who oppose God!

For we know who said, "I will take revenge, I will repay"; and who also said, "The Lord will judge his people."

For, as the scripture says, "Just a little while longer, and he who is coming will come; he will not delay.

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.

No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.

For Abraham was waiting for the city which God has designed and built, the city with permanent foundations.