Surprised by Grace (28): Once for all

It’s been well known.
Blood of bull and goat can’t cleanse sinners of sins.
If they could, those sacrifices would have stopped.
Because the person could offer the blood just once, the conscience would have become clean.

Truth is, sadly, there are still annual sacrifices.
Every year people will be reminded of their sins.
Because blood of bull and goat actually can’t remove sin.

It seems to be common sense.

That’s essentially the argument in Hebrews 10:2-4:
If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (NLT).

Basically they have no effect on sin.
If they had, sacrifices would have stopped ages ago.

But if blood of bulls and goats can’t, are humans hopeless?
Will they be forever saddled with irremovable sins and irrelievable guilt on the conscience?
Is there any sacrifice that could do the job?

But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy (Heb 10:12-14, NLT) .

If God is gracious, will He forgive?
And does it work, at conscience level?

We would have to take a gamble, weigh the pros and cons of do-nothing.

Or, leave room for a surprise.