Balancing The Scales
Perseverance, Conscience, Faith
Not even one more offering for sin!
“But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God…. For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified… and I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts. Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin… …let us draw near in full assurance of faith… And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works.” – Hebrews 10:12,14,17-18,22,24, CSB
He has already done it
Today’s reading goes hand-in-hand with the question we asked yesterday: “What are you trying to prove?” The follow-up question today is very similar: “What are you trying to atone for?” Are you trying to balance the scales of God’s divine justice to make up for something in your past, large or small? The short answer is… you can’t. None of us can. Why? Because, if our faith is in Jesus, then he has already done that for us. (And besides, no amount of our own good works could ever atone for our sin. That’s Sunday School 101, or at least it should be.)
“What are you even talking about?”
Jesus, through His once-for-all-time sacrifice, has perfected forever those who are sanctified – made holy and set apart for God – through faith in Him. God has gone even farther, choosing and covenanting to “never again remember their sins.” God can look at each of us – even you! – with a twinkle in His eye and say, “What are you even talking about? You have already turned to Me from your sin. You are forgiven! There is no offering or further atonement needed. It’s done.”
Come. Find faith. Join the mission.
We can stop trying to achieve something in order to earn the right to draw near to God. We can just come. We can come in full assurance of faith in Jesus’ own finished and final sacrifice on our behalf. From that secure place, we can encourage and provoke one another to good works – great works, even! – done from hearts that are powered and motivated by love rather than trying to earn some kind of greater forgiveness. We can stop attempting to earn an invitation into God’s presence and favor; we already have that! As approved sons and daughters, part of our Father’s family mission, let’s take full advantage of His invitation to draw near to Him together and to find all the strength we need for all that God has planned for us to do.
Think:
Do you ever find yourself asking for forgiveness for the same things over and over, as if God didn’t actually forgive you already? How do the words from Hebrews 10, “I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts,” challenge and encourage your heart?
Is there anything from your past for which, if you’re being honest, you know you’re still trying to atone? What is it, or what are those things that still bother your conscience?
If your conscience is bothered, confess that conscience-hampering sin to Jesus, then thank Him for His promise to forgive you, and thank Him for the truths that “there is no longer an offering for sin” and that He “will never again remember [your] sins.” Next, thank Him for His perfecting work that is at work in your life!
If you still find yourself struggling to believe you are truly forgiven, or thinking you somehow have to earn your acceptance with God or your place in His kingdom, seek out a trusted leader who can pray with you and speak the truth of the gospel to you.
Note the order in Hebrews 10:12-24: Good news/truth. Relationship. Faith-filled action.
First, gospel truth: understanding the gospel, and declaring the benefits of what Jesus has done.
Second, relationship: drawing near to God in full assurance that the gospel is true and Jesus is enough.
Third, active faith in community: watching out for one another and provoking one another to loving action and good works that flow from faith rather than striving.
In what ways does your own family/work/ministry environment similar to this? In what ways is it different?
What would healthy, energetic, and fruitfully productive faith look like in your family, team, or ministry environment? What is one thing you can do to encourage this?
Prayer:
“Lord, thank You for full, finished, and final sacrifice on my behalf! Teach me to better enjoy the benefits of drawing near to You, finding my life-work fueled and directed from that secure place of freedom, relationship, sonship/daughtership, and faith! In that full-to-overflowing faith, I trust You to accomplish great things in and through me. I’m up for it!”