Gifts and Sacrifices for Sin
Do gifts and sacrifices still need to be offered for our sins?
Through the Catholic Catechism, the Catholic Church states that,
“The priests are ‘appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins’ ” (para. 1539).
Furthermore, the Church claims to carry out
“...this command of the Lord by celebrating the memorial of his sacrifice. In so doing, we offer to the Father what he has himself given us: the gifts of his creation, bread and wine which, by the power of the Holy Spirit and by the words of Christ, have become the body and blood of Christ” (para. 1357; italics in original).
The Church identifies the Eucharist as
“...a sacrifice because it re-presents (makes present) the sacrifice of the cross...” (para. 1366; italics in original).
However, this is not what the Bible teaches:
“But this one [Jesus] offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until His enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated [set apart from the evil of this world]” (Hebrews 10:12–14).
“This one offered one sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins” is in the past tense and is therefore over.
“Where there is forgiveness of these [sins], there is no longer offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:18).
Since Jesus offered Himself as the one sacrifice for our sins and since there is no longer offering for sin, there is no need for priests “to offer gifts and sacrifices” on behalf of men and women, as the Catholic Church continues to do.
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