SATURDAY February 7, 2026

Good Things to Come

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
Hebrews 10:1

Notice, the Jewish ceremonial laws were only a shadow of good things to come. It only foreshadowed the work that was to be accomplished through Jesus Christ’s death and Resurrection. What are some of the good things that came through Jesus Christ? Think about it. Through His death and Resurrection, we have good things, such as: salvation, redemption, justification, sanctification and glorification.

Ceremonial laws of sacrificing animals were only temporary coverings for sin. The imagery we see in animal sacrifices could never completely atone for sin. Continually, year by year, the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood of animals on the Mercy Seat for his own sin and for that of the people, but this failed to make the High Priest or the people perfect before a holy God.

Yet what good things did the law do for us? The law made us guilty before God and became the schoolmaster to lead us to Jesus Christ:

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith (Galatians 3:22-24 KJV).

Listen, if it was not for the law, then we would not be convicted by sin. But because of the law, our conscience is convicted. In this regard, the law is good. The Apostle Paul concluded: Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good (Romans 7:12). Jesus did not rid us of the law; He fulfilled it: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). It is all because of Jesus Christ that good things have now come.

Our sins are forgiven and we are accepted as righteous by God because of both the sinless life and sin-bearing death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
~Jerry Bridges~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!