2 Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ

Brethren, 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 purged, 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 should take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not desire, but a body hast Thou prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, ‘Behold, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me) to do Thy will, O God.’ ” Now when He said, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin Thou wouldest not, neither had pleasure in them” (which are offered by the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God;” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily ministering and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one Sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God; from that time waiting until His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever them that are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them,” and “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Now where the remission of these is, there is no longer an offering for sin.