Marsha's Musings: Can Ritual Save or Forgive Sin? (Hebrews 10:1-4 NKJV)

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4 NKJV)

Modern day religions in the civilized world don't as a general rule have blood sacrifices today. Of course there are exceptions to this.  When I lived in Skagit County it was known that there were some covens up river that did blood sacrifice and the Sheriff was constantly keeping them on their radar.  

Most religions in the civilized world do various rituals that they believe absolves them of sins committed and gains them merit with God.  At best, it gains them temporary relief from guilt. At the worst, it blinds them to the fact that Jesus' sacrifice on their behalf is the only

sacrifice that will cleanse them of the penalty of sin, which is eternal death forever separated from God. 

You see, man can't stand the idea that he has no control over how God forgives sin.  Man wants to do something to earn his way to God's favor. It hurts his pride to have to admit he is helpless before God and so he participates in all these religious rituals make him feel better. None of these things have any power to save him or forgive sins. It is not possible.  The sacrifices of old (Old Testament) were only shadows of the perfect, once for all sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf. Since He came and offered Himself there is no more need for the vain repetition of ritual and sacrifice. We only need to trust in Him to save us and believe God's Word on the matter.  This is true freedom!