He was Conceived By The Holy Spirit

The author of Hebrews makes a point that law is only a means to the end. Not the end itself. It is just a shadow of the good things to come. Bringing the blood of lambs and goats and rams does not perfect anyone. It can’t take away sin, or the guilt of sin. It can’t clean your conscience. It can’t fully deal with your guilt. It’s just a band aid to stop the bleeding until proper surgery can be made. 

The writer here is speaking to Jewish believers. And he’s saying, You make your way to the tabernacle, bringing your little lamb with you. Watching the blood flow as it is offered as a sacrifice, you’re reminded once again that you’re still a sinner in rebellion against God, still a sinner year after year after year. When Jesus came on the scene, however, what did He say? “Do this in remembrance of Me.” In other words, He didn’t say, “Remember your sin.” He said, “Remember your Savior” (Luke 22:19).

The sacrificial system that God set up as a temporary way to deal with sin, to keep His people close, and to look forward to when God would reconcile man’s sinfulness to God’s justice and righteousness through the cross. The system is weak. Even the Lord, who set this system up, did not desire the sacrifice of goats and rams. Bulls and lambs. For it says in Isaiah 1:11 - ' “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.” Yes, God did forgive those who brought sacrifices (See Lev. 4:20, 26, 31, 35). But this was a “Judicial Forgiveness”. This did not fully cleanse the heart of guilt and shame. 

So, the annual Day of Atonement did not accomplish “remission of sin” but only “reminder of sin.” The annual repetition of the ceremony was evidence that the previous year’s sacrifices had not done the job. True, the nation’s sins were covered; but they were not cleansed. Nor did the people have God’s inward witness of forgiveness and acceptance.

I tend to set up the same sacrificial systems in my own life. I focus on what I’m doing rather than what Christ has done. I ask myself, “Did I read my Bible enough? Did I pray enough? Did I tell someone about Jesus today? I live out of a performance mindset to try and justify my existence because I know that I am a failure. So I continually make my own sacrificial system, day after day, to try and please God. To try and assuage His anger.” 

But, His requirement to please Him is simply to believe Him. Your sacrifice will fail in removing your guilt; cleansing your conscience and bringing you freedom. God is pleased with Jesus sacrifice which by faith in you believing that His sacrifice removed all your guilt, cleansed your conscience and brought you freedom. His purpose is for you to enjoy that freedom in Him! My sacrifice at best is filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags; Do you know what “Filthy Rags” means in the Hebrew? It means “used menstrual cloths”. That’s how effective our little sacrificial system is.  But, His desire is for you to receive by faith that He “Gladly” assuaged God’s justice on your behalf. That He loves you so much that His will is to pour grace over you by faith through His work on Calvary. A body was prepared for you; conceived for you so that you will stop your little sacrificial system and start receiving grace by faith because the price has been paid. He has justified you. That is pardoned, accepted and brought you into His family by faith. Faith is what pleases Him. Not your little sacrificial system. 

King Cyrus - It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn't Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn't notice. I could only keep my eyes on you- -the one who was willing to give himself for me."

In verse 1 The author of Hebrews says that the sacrifices offered can’t make perfect those who draw near. He is not saying sinless perfection as the following verses clearly show. He’s saying the effectual nature of the cross removes the guilt of the person to allow free access to God in union and relationship to Him.