'The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshippers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins... First he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them’– though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, ‘Here I am, I have come to do your will.’ He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all' (Hebrews 10.1-10, NIV).
Following chapters 8&9, Hebrews chapter 10 concentrates on one major issue: Jewish (Old Testament) law is only a shadow of the better things coming (the New Testament). Jesus is the fulfilment of the law; He Himself said, 'Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose' (Matthew 5.17, NLT).
So many churches have ritual and repetition; again and again they repeat the same ceremonies, much like the High Priest would do in the Old Testament. This endless repetition of sacrifices (v2) is proof that the law was imperfect - if the worshippers were cleansed, they would not still have a guilty conscience.
Jesus came to do the Will of God (v7). The Old Testament prophesied the coming of Christ who would put aside the old and establish a new, better and permanent way. Christ offered one sacrifice for sin, providing forgiveness for sins of the past, present and future. The only work required of us today is to believe in the One God sent (John 6.29).
Christ’s one offering is accepted by God - it’s enough! He’s made us perfect forever, we who are being made holy (v14). The problem with many church rituals which are enacted in the eucharist, is that they believe the bread and wine become the literal body of Christ (transubstantiation), thereby Christ is crucified each week for the forgiveness of sin. But ‘Christ died for sins once for all, the Just and Righteous for the unjust and unrighteous [the Innocent for the guilty] so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit’ (1 Peter 3.18, AMP).
'Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, 'In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.' And, 'But my righteous one will live by faith.' We do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved' (Hebrews 10.22-39, NIV).