There Should Be No More Conscience of Sins

"For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins." (Hebrews 10: 2)

In this verse, the writer of Hebrews is referring to the inefficacy of blood sacrifices under the Old Covenant.

The blood of bulls and goats could only cover sin, but never wash them away. The conscience, the knowledge within of sin did not go away.

Relying on this fact in every human being, even the most self-righteous among us, we find out why Jesus could dispel the Pharisees and redeem the woman caught in adultery:

"7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst." (John 8: 7-9)

Our conscience cannot be removed, but God has sent His Son, that through His blood our conscience would be purged from all sins.

The writer of Hebrews spoke about this truth at the beginning:

"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (Hebrews 1: 3)

He purged our sins, He put them away, not just covering them.

Yet for many Christians, there is still a sense of sin, a sense of shame pervasive in our lives.

Why?

Because they are mixing the Old and New Covenants. Yes, Jesus died for our sins, but we have to keep the law still.

That is wrong.

First, Jesus was clear that He came to fulfill the law (not to help us to do it):

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." (Matthew 5: 17)

Paul then explains to the Colossians what Jesus accomplished at the Cross:

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; " (Ephesians 2:14-15)

and also

"13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)

As long as we still hold onto the law, as though the ordinances have not been fulfilled and put away, there will still be a sense of sin.

Yet the blood of Jesus has washed away all our sins, fulfilling the Old Covenant, and has established the New Covenant:

"10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

 

11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

 

12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)

 

Then:

 

13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."

 

Because of this New Covenant, we are now perfected forever before God, too:

 

"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 14)

 

This perfection speaks to our conscience today  because of all that Jesus has done for us, and is doing for us today at His Father's right hand (Romans 8:31-34)