There is a story of a college basketball team that had stopped at a restaurant to get something to eat on the way to one of their games. When they went to pay the bill, their credit card didn’t work. The bill was sizable, and no one had that much cash to cover it. Another patron of the restaurant noticed what was happening and realized that the college was his wife’s alma mater. On the way out, he quietly paid his bill and the team’s tab. The waiter told the coach your bill had been paid in full. Jesus Christ paid the debt of sin once and for all.
Hebrews 7:27
He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do — first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself.”
The Old System
If you read through the first five books of the Bible, you will see the institution of the sacrificial system. Animal sacrifice was a payment for a person’s sins. When the priests were ordained, they were to offer a sacrifice for themselves first and then for the people. When Jesus came, He offered Himself as a sacrifice, and that was enough for the rest of time. His death paid the penalty for us all.
No Need for Penance
If you look at some of the world religions today, there is still a system where you have to pay the penalty for your sins. I’ve seen pilgrims walk hundreds of miles towards their shrine as they flogged themselves along the way. Christians can get into the mentality that they deserve to pay for their sins, and so they must put themselves through some kind of suffering for the guilt to be taken away, That is the farthest from the truth. Guilt and shame are common byproducts of our sins, but there is no condemnation from the Lord because He took our place.
Once and For All
Walk in the freedom of your forgiveness. Jesus paid the debt of sin once and for all. We don’t need to offer sacrifices to appease God. Jesus’ death was enough. Instead, live a life of worship and service in gratitude for what he has done. That is the greatest testimony to the work that has been done in your heart.