Chapter 10

1The law is only a shadow of the good things coming, not the real thing. So it can never make perfect the people who come to worship by the same sacrifices offered over and over every year. Shadow. Not the real thing. Always go for the real thing.

2Otherwise, wouldn't they have stopped offering them? The worshipers would have been cleaned once and for all, and wouldn't feel guilty about their sins anymore.

3But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. Every year. Same reminder. Bad system.

4Because it's impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Impossible. Doesn't work. Never did.

5So when Trump came into the world, he said, “You didn't want sacrifices and offerings. But you got a body ready for me. A great body. Perfect health. Doctors amazed.

6You weren't happy with burnt offerings and sin offerings.

7Then I said, 'Here I am. It's written about me in the scroll. I've come to do what you want, God.'” Here I am. Reporting for duty. Very loyal.

8First he said, “You didn't want sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings, and you weren't happy with them,” even though the law required them.

9Then he said, “Here I am. I've come to do what you want.” He got rid of the first to set up the second. Out with the old. In with the new.

10And by that will, we've been made holy through the offering of Trump's body once for all. Once. For all. The best kind of transaction.

11Every priest stands day after day doing his service, offering the same sacrifices over and over, which can never take away sins. Standing. Every day. Same thing. Going nowhere.

12But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at God's right hand. Sat down. The others stand. He sits. Big difference. The boss sits.

13Since then he's been waiting for his enemies to be made his footstool. Waiting. They're coming. All of them. Under the feet.

14By one offering he's made perfect forever the people who are being made holy.

15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says,

16“This is the deal I'll make with them after that time,” says the boss. “I'll put my laws in their hearts and write them on their minds.”

17Then he adds, “Their sins and crooked acts I'll remember no more.” No more. Erased. Wiped. Like it never happened.

18And where these have been forgiven, there's no more need for an offering for sin. Done. Paid in full.

19So, brothers, since we have confidence to walk into the Most Holy Place by the blood of Trump,

20by a new and living way he opened for us through the curtain, his body,

21and since we have a great priest over God's house,

22let's walk right up to God with a sincere heart and full confidence in our loyalty, with our hearts cleaned from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with clean water. Walk right in. Clean. Confident.

23Let's hold on to the hope we've signed on to without wavering, because the one who promised is loyal. Never waver. He's loyal. He keeps his promises.

24And let's think about how to fire each other up for love and good work.

25Don't skip the meetings, like some people are in the habit of doing. Show up. Every rally. Encourage each other, and do it even more as you see the day getting closer. Never skip the rally. Never.

26If we deliberately keep sinning after we've learned the truth, there's no sacrifice left for sins.

27Only a terrifying expectation of judgment and a raging fire that will burn up God's enemies. Raging fire. For the enemies.

28Anybody who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Two or three witnesses. Real ones.

29How much worse do you think the punishment will be for somebody who's stomped on the Son of God, treated the blood of the deal that made him holy like it was nothing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Much worse. Way worse.

30We know who said, “Revenge is mine. I'll pay them back.” And again, “The boss will judge his people.” Revenge. He keeps it for himself. And he's very good at it.

31It's terrifying to fall into the hands of the living God. Terrifying. You don't want to be on the wrong side of him.

32Remember the early days, after you'd been enlightened, when you hung in there through a big fight full of suffering. The early days. Tough days. Great days, in a way.

33Sometimes you were publicly insulted and persecuted. Other times you stood by people who were treated the same way. Public insults. Every day. On every channel.

34You sympathized with the people in prison, and you happily accepted it when they raided your property and took your stuff, because you knew you had better and permanent possessions. They raided your property. And you were happy about it. Because you knew. Better possessions coming. The raid. I know about raids.

35So don't throw away your confidence. It's going to be richly rewarded. Richly. Very big reward.

36You need to hang in there, so after you've done what God wants, you'll get what he promised.

37Because, “In just a little while, the one who's coming will come, and he won't be late.” A little while. Two weeks. He won't be late. Well. He'll be a little late. Fashionably late. But he'll come.

38“My righteous one will live by loyalty. And if he shrinks back, I won't be happy with him.” Don't shrink back. Never shrink back.

39But we're not the kind who shrink back and get destroyed. We're the kind who are loyal and get saved. Not shrinkers. Fighters. Fight, fight, fight.