Definition: Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].
Explanation: Okay, letās break down this really important verse from Hebrews 9:12. Itās a pretty complex idea, so we'll go through it step-by-step. Hereās what it means in simple terms: Jesus Christ is the only way to be redeemed (saved) from sin and death. He entered into the āholy placeā ā which is essentially Heaven ā by willingly giving his life as a sacrifice. Let's unpack that: āNeither by the blood of goats and calvesā¦ā - This means it wasnāt through animal sacrifices, like those offered to God in the Old Testament. Goats and calves were used for atonement (making things right) but werenāt sufficient on their own to atone for humanity's sins. āā¦but by his own bloodā¦ā ā This is the key! It emphasizes that Jesusās blood was the payment for our sins. It wasnāt just any blood; it was the blood of a perfect, divine being. āHe entered in once into the holy placeā¦ā - The āholy placeā is Heaven ā Godās home and sanctuary. Entering into it means fulfilling a special promise or purpose. āHaving obtained eternal redemption [for us].ā - This is the big takeaway! Because Jesus willingly gave his blood, he earned the right to enter Heaven and to be with God forever. He didnāt just receive redemption; he obtained it . This means he's offered forgiveness for our sins and gives us a way to never fall again. In short: Jesusās sacrifice on the cross is the only way we can be forgiven and saved from sin, and that act of sacrifice is what earns us eternal life with God. Why is this important? It's a fundamental belief in Christianity ā that Jesus Christ is uniquely divine and that his death and resurrection are the means by which humans can be reconciled with God. --- Do you want me to: Explain any of these parts in more detail? Give you an analogy to help you understand it better?