Hebrews 10:2-3 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.
If the law had worked as a permanent solution, then the sacrifice only needed to be done once. The very fact that it was repeated yearly shows that it was not a permanent solution. Something greater needed to happen. A better sacrifice needed to be given. The logic of the author here is clear. He offers a number of proofs that show that the old system will not work. There is value in the sacrificial system set up in the old covenant. Verse 3 indicates one of those positive things: it reminds people of sin and the need for it to be cleansed away. The need for Jesus should be clear to the readers by this point. If they were Jews and part of the old covenant, they should be able to see the value of what they have believed in but also see the great need and advantage of putting their trust in Jesus. This way of argumentation is creative form of evangelism that connects the past history of a group of people with what Jesus did by offering his life on the cross for humanity. The author adds a significant idea in verse 2: a feeling of guilt for sin. Those who have this sense will seek a solution. A sense of guilt comes as the Holy Spirit brings conviction. I believe this happens to all people, but many will reject this and harden their hearts. This conviction may come early in life, even in childhood. For some people, because of their upbringing and even from being victims of abuse and hardship, this conviction may be overshadowed by other things and soon lost. It will come and go throughout life as the light shines in. But sin is deceitful and will dampen this feeling. If the great Deceiver, Satan, can get us to suppress this guilty feeling, then the option of hope for something better will be removed. This idea may be in the back of the author’s mind in ch. 6. When we are convicted of sin, we must act in confession and faith (1 John 1:9) and not ignore the Holy Spirit.
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