"... For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more," (Jer. 31:34, ESV).
Now the Law was only a shadow of good things to come (cf. Heb. 10:1) in Christ and Christ fulfilled it to the letter as well as the spirit of the Law. But before a person is saved, there is a huge gap between them and God--a chasm only transversed only bridged Jesus through the cross. In the Old Testament, this was represented by the huge curtain that separated the Holy of Holies and the fact that only the high priest could enter it once daily on the day of atonement. But when Christ died, this curtain was torn in two and entree had been granted to the believer in Christ. Now we can boldly enter the throne of grace into God's presence via the blood of the Lamb shed on our behalf. That's the good news: God is now approachable as it says in James 4:8, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
Thus only Christianity makes full atonement for our sins and thus provides complete propitiation or payment for our sins so that we can be saved by grace through faith. The problem with the sacrifices before Christ was that they were not perfect and had to be offered yearly and only gave a reminder of sin with no permanent forgiveness. Now we can boldly approach God in prayer (cf. Heb. 4:16) and don't need an earthly high priest. Jesus is our permanent High Priest who intercedes for us when we sin, sympathizes with us in our needs (cf. Heb. 5:14), mediates for us in life (cf. 1 John 2:2), and has offered Himself as the ultimate, perfect sacrifice that satisfies God's wrath against sin. "For by one offering He hath perfected forever those who are sanctified," (cf. Heb. 10:14, HCSB). NB: He doesn't need to sacrifice daily for sins, but offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice once for all.
For the Law stated that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (cf. Heb. 9:22; Lev. 17:11). We now enter God's sanctuary by the blood of Jesus and draw near to God in a heart of faith. There is no need for any further sacrifice! The work of Jesus is done as He pronounced on the cross in toto: "Tetelestai," or "Paid in Full," i.e., salvation is a done deal.] We ought not to worry about a bill or debt that's already paid! Jesus is not to be compared to any other priest for He is --superior to Aaron and the Levites, also to Melchizedek who was the priest that blessed Abraham. We don't compare, we contrast and see that Jesus is one of a kind and not to be surpassed or equaled. God the Father has declared Christ a priest forever "after the order of Melchizedek."
The chief benefit of having a personal High Priest in Christ is that He always lives to make intercession for us (cf. Heb. 7:25) whenever we do sin and making our case before the Father so that we are never judged or condemned. Therefore, since we have this access to God's throne and the right to boldness, we ought to live our lives in full assurance without a doubt about our relationship with God and position in Christ that cannot be altered but is sealed in His blood. In short, He's now the Mediator of a New Covenant (cf. Heb.9:15) in His blood that we are partakers of through faith--we're free from the penalty of our sins and can freely enter God's presence as royal members of His family.
We must reckon Christ's penal substitution as efficacious enough to atone or make final payment for all our sins once for all, with no need for further sacrifice. Jesus didn't offer a bull or goat or any animal but offered Himself, and He was perfect because He was without blemish with no sin living under the Law. And He didn't do this in Jerusalem's temple but before God's Holy of Holies. Therefore, "Since then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession...." (cf. Heb. 4:14).
In closing, let me mention in passing that our righteousness is God's gift to us, to our gift to God (cf. Isaiah 45:24) and that it is real and forensic, as God declares us just, not making us just till we reach glory, and not that it is in God's perfect righteousness and justice that He is both just and the justifier. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (cf. Gen. 18:15), "For God is just, and His justice will not sleep forever." ---Thomas Jefferson Soli Deo Gloria!
Now the Law was only a shadow of good things to come (cf. Heb. 10:1) in Christ and Christ fulfilled it to the letter as well as the spirit of the Law. But before a person is saved, there is a huge gap between them and God--a chasm only transversed only bridged Jesus through the cross. In the Old Testament, this was represented by the huge curtain that separated the Holy of Holies and the fact that only the high priest could enter it once daily on the day of atonement. But when Christ died, this curtain was torn in two and entree had been granted to the believer in Christ. Now we can boldly enter the throne of grace into God's presence via the blood of the Lamb shed on our behalf. That's the good news: God is now approachable as it says in James 4:8, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
Thus only Christianity makes full atonement for our sins and thus provides complete propitiation or payment for our sins so that we can be saved by grace through faith. The problem with the sacrifices before Christ was that they were not perfect and had to be offered yearly and only gave a reminder of sin with no permanent forgiveness. Now we can boldly approach God in prayer (cf. Heb. 4:16) and don't need an earthly high priest. Jesus is our permanent High Priest who intercedes for us when we sin, sympathizes with us in our needs (cf. Heb. 5:14), mediates for us in life (cf. 1 John 2:2), and has offered Himself as the ultimate, perfect sacrifice that satisfies God's wrath against sin. "For by one offering He hath perfected forever those who are sanctified," (cf. Heb. 10:14, HCSB). NB: He doesn't need to sacrifice daily for sins, but offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice once for all.
For the Law stated that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (cf. Heb. 9:22; Lev. 17:11). We now enter God's sanctuary by the blood of Jesus and draw near to God in a heart of faith. There is no need for any further sacrifice! The work of Jesus is done as He pronounced on the cross in toto: "Tetelestai," or "Paid in Full," i.e., salvation is a done deal.] We ought not to worry about a bill or debt that's already paid! Jesus is not to be compared to any other priest for He is --superior to Aaron and the Levites, also to Melchizedek who was the priest that blessed Abraham. We don't compare, we contrast and see that Jesus is one of a kind and not to be surpassed or equaled. God the Father has declared Christ a priest forever "after the order of Melchizedek."
The chief benefit of having a personal High Priest in Christ is that He always lives to make intercession for us (cf. Heb. 7:25) whenever we do sin and making our case before the Father so that we are never judged or condemned. Therefore, since we have this access to God's throne and the right to boldness, we ought to live our lives in full assurance without a doubt about our relationship with God and position in Christ that cannot be altered but is sealed in His blood. In short, He's now the Mediator of a New Covenant (cf. Heb.9:15) in His blood that we are partakers of through faith--we're free from the penalty of our sins and can freely enter God's presence as royal members of His family.
We must reckon Christ's penal substitution as efficacious enough to atone or make final payment for all our sins once for all, with no need for further sacrifice. Jesus didn't offer a bull or goat or any animal but offered Himself, and He was perfect because He was without blemish with no sin living under the Law. And He didn't do this in Jerusalem's temple but before God's Holy of Holies. Therefore, "Since then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession...." (cf. Heb. 4:14).
In closing, let me mention in passing that our righteousness is God's gift to us, to our gift to God (cf. Isaiah 45:24) and that it is real and forensic, as God declares us just, not making us just till we reach glory, and not that it is in God's perfect righteousness and justice that He is both just and the justifier. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (cf. Gen. 18:15), "For God is just, and His justice will not sleep forever." ---Thomas Jefferson Soli Deo Gloria!