Pearls of the Word

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of sins

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"Otherwise, would they (sacrifices) not have ceased being offered, since the worshippers, cleansed once for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?" (Hebrews 10:2 NRSV).

According to the dictionary, consciousness is man's knowledge of his condition, of his actions and of their moral value. In the First Covenant, the blood of animals sprinkled for sins obtained God's forgiveness but did not erase sins of human consciousness.

Jesus came on earth to change the sacrificial service of atonement for the sins of Leviticus by offering His body, once for all, to sanctify us (Hebrew 10:10). Because Jesus fulfilled God's will, our sins are forgiven (Hebrew 10:17), the reminder of sin is erased, our heart is purified from any evil conscience (Hebrew 10:22) and there is no longer any need to offer sacrifices for our sins (Hebrew 10:18).