¹⁸ Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Forgiveness—one of the great benefits of being right with God. It is a necessary condition for becoming right with God. It is also a benefit, for it is a result of being reconciled with God. Theologians may debate where in the sequence of doctrinal priorities we assign forgiveness, but whatever the answer, it is a desperately needed thing and is absolutely wonderful for the person who experiences it

Forgiveness has fallen on tough ground lately, for it implies that a person is in the wrong. We can understand the concept of forgiving people for the small things, (which in reality just means overlooking another person’s inconvenience to us), used as a synonym of patience, forbearance or graciousness. All are good things, but forgiveness goes deeper.

People sin against each other seriously, where there is deliberate offense given, boldface deceit, malicious behavior, self-centered callousness or theft of character. Confronted with these, forgiveness moves to a different level, to the stratosphere (if experienced) or the deepest trenches (if refused). While we wrestle with forgiving others, we also struggle with being forgiven—for it requires humility of the highest (or should we say, lowest) order. Individually, it means humbly embracing that my sin against God can only be dealt with adequately by His forgiveness. Nothing I can do can make up for it, no amount of rationalization can minimize it. I must admit that the cause of my sin can not be blamed on anything outside of me, not Satan, not circumstances, not someone else’s instigation. It is caused by my own sinful heart (Jeremiah 17:9). So any efforts on my part to clean up my heart and my act, are tainted from the start. No sacrifices that I perform can even remotely change my heart. I need outside help, and that is what forgiveness from God is all about.

In Christ, we have been given a renewed heart (Jer 31:33). And now with forgiven hearts, there is no longer any need for sin offerings—this is the case that the writer of Hebrews has been making all along. This forgiveness is complete, and by its nature cannot be undone. Like a butterfly that never goes back to being a caterpillar, we who are forgiven can never go back to the life of unforgiveness. Like giving snorkel equipment to a fish, or taking John Wayne back to horse riding school, it is a ridiculous thing for a Christian to go back to life in the Jewish sacrificial system.

Lord, thank You for the complete forgiveness for all my sin, through the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of the Lamb of God who takes away sin!