Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. (Hebrews 10:11)

There appears to be confusion over what the New Testament is speaking of when it mentions the removal of sin. The general understanding seems to be that the removal of sin under the new covenant means the removal of the guilt of sin. While the new covenant includes the removal of the guilt of our sin its main purpose is to remove the compulsion and the presence of the sin itself.

Sometimes the thought is expressed that the passages above mean the blood of bulls and goats could not actually take away the guilt of sin but the sacrifice of Christ really does take away the guilt of sin.

We do not think this is accurate. While it no doubt is true that all forgiveness ultimately is based on the blood of Calvary, we would venture that the blood of bulls and goats offered under the Levitical law actually removed the guilt of sin while the new covenant by several operations kills the compulsive fires of sin and finally removes from us the very presence of sin.

And do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven. (Leviticus 4:20)

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. (Romans 6:18)

So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28)

As we understand the Scriptures there are three domains of Divine judgment.

The first domain has to do with the guilt of our sins. The guilt of our sins is forgiven through the blood atonement made on the cross of Calvary. Whoever comes to Jesus and receives the atonement by faith is forgiven his or her sins no matter how great the sin may have been. He now can come to God in prayer and be heard because he is without condemnation.

As long as we are abiding in Christ, walking in the light of God's will, obeying the Holy Spirit, we are without condemnation. The current teaching that we remain forever without condemnation no matter how we behave is not scriptural and will bring the careless believer into the fires of Divine judgment. The new covenant does not permit us to continue in known sin, for if we do we walk out from under the covenant.

We cannot bring our sins into the Kingdom of God!

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (I Corinthians 6:9,10—NIV)

To be continued.