Are we holy? Are we sinless? Are we perfect?

Hebrews {10:1} For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.


The law having a shadow of good things to come.


When we think of the law of God we don't often think of the good things to come from it do we? The law to us in general subjects us to rules that we need to follow to please God, and they are for our own good. The law was a shadow of good things to come. The law tells us that we sin and we need an advocate, a way to be forgiven of those sins. The system given to Moses was but a shadow, an image of things. The system couldn't make anyone perfect.


{10:2} For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. {10:3} But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year. {10:4} For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.


Moses was given the figure of what was to come, the image, but the figure isn't the true, the image not the real. The blood of animals could never completely take away the sins of the people, never.


{10:5} Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: {10:6} In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure. {10:7} Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. {10:8} Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein;] which are offered by the law; {10:9} Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.


The sacrifice of animals was done away with because it was just an image, just a figure of what was to come. Jesus said He came to do God's will. He came to take away the first so the He could establish the second. He came to do away with the old imperfect system, a system that pointed to the perfect system to come.


{10:10} By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all.]
{10:11} And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
{10:12} But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God
{10:13} From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
{10:14} For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
{10:15} [Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
{10:16} This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
{10:17} And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
{10:18} Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin.


We are made holy through the offering of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, after He died for our sins sat down on the right hand of God.
By His offering He gave a perfect sacrifice! No lamb, no doves, no heifers, no animal sacrificed was a perfect sacrifice. They were a substitute for the actual until the time that the perfect sacrifice could be made and that perfect sacrifice was and is Jesus. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice able to make us holy in Him taking away our sinfulness, something no animal could ever do.
God's laws are in our hearts and minds He puts them there, those who wish to serve Him, to love Him, to accept His sacrifice for them.
Our sins are forgiven by Christ the ultimate sacrifice.


Are we holy? Are we sinless? Are we perfect? No, no, no. Christ is and we have the promise from Christ Himself that He will forgive us and send us the Holy Spirit, that Christ will dwell in us and us in Him and He in the Father. We will be one in love, a pure love that is holy, right, and good. It is Christ's righteousness which saves us now and forever no righteousness of our own, not a wit. By the Grace and Mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.


Amen.