Hebrews 9:12 says, "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Hebrews 9:28 says, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Hebrews 10:12 tells us, "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God." Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

Under the Old Covenant, the blood of animals was offered every year on the Day of Atonement. This blood had to be offered every year to "cover" the sins of the people. That blood could not take away sins, it could only cover their sins. The blood of Jesus did not "cover" our sins. The blood of Jesus took away our sins and put an end to the age of sin's dominion over mankind! He offered himself ONCE for all of mankind's sin. Jesus does not have to be offered over and over again because his one sacrifice has finished the job! Once was enough! We don't need to celebrate the Day of Atonement every year because Jesus' blood took care of it all.

All of the Old Covenant holydays and feasts that Israel celebrated were types and shadows of the better sacrifice and covenant that was to come in Jesus. They were pictures of Jesus, but they were simply unable to do the job that the Father wanted done. They could not redeem mankind. Jesus by his sacrifice did what Old Covenant holydays and feasts could not do, he redeemed us and made us the Righteousness of God. All of the blessings of God are in Jesus. Let's keep our sight on the New Covenant and the finished work of Christ. That's where the blessings are! The Old Covenant was a picture of Jesus. I often ask people "Would you rather kiss a picture of your spouse or kiss the real thing?!" In Jesus, we have the real thing. Let's keep our perspectives correct and live in the New Covenant, not in the Old!

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