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The Mass: the book of
Hebrews
Question I was
wondering if you could explain Hebrews 10:26 in light of your statement,
"In Biblical Christianity there are no more sacrifices for sin
because Christians are assured that all their sins are forgiven
forever." In Hebrews 10:26 we read, "For if we sin wilfully
after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth
no more sacrifice for sins." What sacrifice is the letter of the
Hebrews talking about here? Wasn't Hebrews written after the death and
resurrection of our Lord? Sounds like there is a sacrifice for sin. I
suggest it is the Mass. Remember, Hebrews was written to Jews who
converted to Christianity and who were being challenged by Jews to come
back to Judaism. The Epistle to the Hebrews was providing these converts
with support and telling them not to go back to the Old Testament
sacrifices.
Answer Let us follow the argument of the tenth chapter of
Hebrews. (I suggest that you read the entire chapter).
HEBREWS CHAPTER 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.
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.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he
cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 ¶ Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy
will, O God.
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;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he
may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But
this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the
Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
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;
17 And their sins and iniquities
will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 ¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through
the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold
fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one
another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which
shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the
covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly,
whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your
confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live
by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
The author first said that
the Old Testament sacrifices could not take away sins. God has done away
with the old sacrificial system and established the sacrifice of His Son as
the only basis for forgiveness of His people. Christ offered one perfect
sacrifice, and having finished His glorious work, He is now sitting down
at the right hand of God. Since His sacrifice has truly accomplished its
purpose, God declares that their sins are forgiven.
Furthermore, since the believer's sins are forgiven, there is no need
for any more offerings for sin. "Now where there is remission of
these, there is no longer any offering for sin" (10:18).
Now what happens to someone who received this knowledge of the
Gospel,
but continues to sin wilfully, without repentance and without faith in
Christ?
The Bible warns him that "there is no longer remains a sacrifice
for sins." The Old Testament sacrifices have been taken away and
this obstinate person had rejected the sacrifice of Christ. What will happen to
him? Since THERE REMAINS NO OTHER SACRIFICE FOR SIN, all he can expect
is God's dreadful judgment and indignation.
You asked: What sacrifice is the letter of the Hebrews talking about
here? The answer is clear: a sacrifice that DOES NOT EXIST, for there no
longer remains a sacrifice for sin!
There is no alternative to Christ's unique and finished sacrifice.
Either you approach God through that one and perfect sacrifice, or else
there is no hope for you, or me, or anyone else.
Interestingly you mention the Mass, which according to Roman Catholic
theology is a sacrifice for sin, a re-presentation of the sacrifice of
Christ on Calvary in an unbloody manner. The problem with the Jewish
converts was that they were used to daily and yearly sacrifices, but now
in Christianity, there were no similar sacrifices. If the theology of
the Mass was true, the author could have argued that in the Church there
is a daily sacrifice of the Mass. But instead he argues that the daily,
inefficient sacrifices of the old system were superseded by the once for
all sacrifice of Christ. "Who does not need daily, as those high
priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the
people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself"
(7:27).
I urge you to consider your position before God. Are you resting for
forgiveness on the once for all sacrifice of Jesus on the cross; or are
you resting, at least in part, on some other sacrifice (whether it's the
Mass or your own sufferings in the world or in purgatory?). Remember
God's Word: "There is no longer an offering for sin" (10:17).
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