Hebrews 9:11-14. But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Many believers today silently suffer under the heavy burden of self-condemnation. Trapped in cycles of remorse, guilt, and shame, they find themselves unable to break free from the weight of their past. No matter how much time passes, they cannot seem to forgive themselves for their mistakes or stop blaming themselves for their failures in life.
In their desperation, some shift the blame outward—blaming others for their misery—yet deep inside, they still feel powerless against the recurring patterns of sin that haunt them. Like those described in Ephesians 2:3, they remain enslaved to “gratifying the cravings of the flesh and following its desires and thoughts,” unable to overcome their sinful nature on their own.
Even their moments of repentance feel fleeting and ineffective—like the sacrifices of goats and calves under the old covenant, offering only temporary, external cleansing (Hebrews 9:13). Their efforts to live righteously seem hollow and insufficient, like the man-made Tabernacle that could never truly bring access to God (Hebrews 9:11). As a result, they lose sight of the peace and rest that Jesus came to give.
But here is the good news: when Jesus becomes your True Priest, there is now no condemnation for you (Romans 8:1). You have been completely set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). So stop obeying the voice of condemnation. Guilt, shame, and self-hatred do not come from God—they are the echoes of a law that Jesus has already fulfilled and finished on your behalf.
As your True Priest, Jesus entered the Most Holy Place once and for all—not with the blood of animals, but with His own blood—and obtained eternal redemption for you (Hebrews 9:12). That redemption isn’t partial. It isn’t temporary. It is eternal. The gift of eternal life is now yours, sealed forever.
God has fully accepted you as His beloved child. He does not see you through the lens of your failures; He sees you through the perfect blood of His Son. “I have loved you with an everlasting love,” God says (Jeremiah 31:3). You were bought at a great price (1 Corinthians 7:23), and you now belong to Him—precious, chosen, and secure.
The blood of your True Priest, who now dwells in you by His Spirit, is powerful beyond measure. Through His sacrifice, every disaster and curse brought by original sin, generational sin, and personal sin has been removed. Once and for all, Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). So don’t try to fix what Christ has already resolved. Don’t keep revisiting what He has buried. The problem of sin is not something you can undo—it required the blood of the Lamb.
Instead, take your place at the foot of the cross. Make Calvary your daily destination. There, behold the love of your True Priest who died for you, not when you were worthy, but while you were still a sinner. There, your new identity is secured, not in your performance but in His perfection.
When you experience Jesus as your True Priest, and rely on His eternal sacrifice through the Spirit, your entire outlook changes. You begin to see God’s hand over your life—not with fear, but with hope. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). In Christ, there is no longer harm, no longer disaster—only purpose and mission. The Triune God will empower you to go to the ends of the earth to save lives (Acts 1:8).
So stop trying to prove yourself through your own righteousness or by living a religious lifestyle that exhausts your soul. Instead, rely on the blood of Christ. Let His blood cleanse your conscience from dead works so that you may serve the living God with joy and freedom (Hebrews 9:14). You are no longer condemned—you are called.
Prayer. Lord Jesus, You are my True Priest. You entered the Most Holy Place once for all by Your own blood and obtained eternal redemption for me. Because You now live in me through the eternal Spirit, I boldly confess that I am forever free from the law of sin and death. Cleanse my heart and conscience from every weight and lie, and empower me to serve You with joy and purpose. Let me carry this freedom to others who are still bound by guilt and shame. In Your mighty name, Amen.