Defeating Guilt
Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (NKJV)
The early Eastern Church (Dionysius and Clement, both of Alexandria), from the second century, claimed Paul was the writer of Hebrews. The Western Church later agreed.
Luke translated the letter to the Hebrews into Greek, according to Clement in the second century. Luke was with Paul during his second Roman imprisonment and was his amanuensis during Paul’s final days (2 Timothy 4:11).
It is likely that Luke was also Paul’s amanuensis for this letter. My conclusion is that this was Paul’s last writing, written in late 67-early 68 A.D.
In this letter, Paul is writing to Hebrews who have converted to Christianity from Judaism. Family and friends are pulling at them to return to Judaism, so Paul is ministering to these Hebrew Christians of the superiority of Christ.
Paul begins this passage by writing “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things” (v. 1a). The law, the Old Testament regulations, is merely a “shadow of the good things” that are coming.
This is a reference to the shadow of reality, “the very image” of what is to come. The law was never intended to be the whole story. It was simply a harbinger of things to come.
Paul continues with “can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect” (v. 1b). The Law was always pointing to the coming of Christ.
Since it is not reality, but a shadow, its sacrificial system is powerless to make perfect those who draw near to worship. The word translated “perfect” is the Greek word “teleioo” which means “complete”. We are never perfect this side of Heaven, but we can be made complete.
Next, Paul writes “For then would they not have ceased to be offered?” (v. 2a). Just the fact that the animal sacrifices to atone for sin had to be made every year proves that it had no power to make the worshipers complete. If it had power, once would be enough.
Paul continues with “For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins” (v. 2b). The guilt subsides when we are “purified” once and for all of our sin.
Animal sacrifice only covers sin. It does not remove sin.
We can only be “purified”, made complete, when the sin itself is completely removed. When we are complete, we no longer feel “guilty” for our sins.
Paul continues “But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year” (v.3). Even worse, those animal sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, which leads to even more guilt.
Paul concludes this passage with “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (v.4). It is impossible for “the blood of bulls and goats” to take away sins. It is impossible for animal sacrifice to remove sin.
So, what does this passage tell us about the nature of guilt? The root of all guilt is sin.
When we are caught up in a lifestyle of sin, we repeat the same sins day after day after day. There is no respite from our sin because it is our lifestyle. It comes as naturally as breathing.
Therefore, our soul is constantly being barraged with guilt. Satan piles on by constantly reminding us of our sin, just as the annual sacrifice constantly reminded the Israelites of their sin.
This is not what God wants for His people. This is why He did away with the sacrificial system and why he will someday do away with Satan.
For now, He makes Satan powerless in the lives of Christians, those who have committed their lifestyle to following Jesus Christ. Satan has no power when we are near to God.
The nearer we draw to God, the more Satan tries to pull us away. He does not want to lose his power.
Satan is called the great deceiver, and the one who comes to steal and destroy. He wants to steal our peace and joy, through guilt.
He will lie to us. He will tell us that we are worthless, all the time renewing that guilt within our soul.
He will tell us that we will never amount to anything, so that we never reach our full potential. Worse yet, he uses people, sometimes people we love, to tell us these things.
But Jesus Christ has defeated guilt, and the one who brings it, Satan. When we are in relationship with Jesus Christ, He permanently removes our sin, and the guilt that goes with it.
He wants us to live a life of victory. He wants us to live a life that He, and He alone, can give.
“If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." (Ro. 10:9-11).
We will never regret putting our faith, and hope, and trust in Jesus.
Art Toombs Ministries
Online Bible Commentary