Choice One: Hebrews 8-10. The Atonement is Greater Than All of the Sacrifices of the Old Testament

1.    Throughout the book of Hebrews, Paul taught the superiority of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Melchizedek Priesthood over the Law of Moses and the Aaronic Priesthood. From your study of Hebrews 8:1-3; 9:22-28; 10:1-4, 10-17; Alma 34:10, 13-14, write a paragraph describing how the Atonement of Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses. Include in your paragraph what these verses say about the following questions: What was the purpose of the Law of Moses? What does the Atonement of Jesus Christ do for us?
          In Hebrews 10:1 it mentions how the Law of Moses has "having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things". This means that the Law of Moses was a similitude of what Christ would do. The Law of Moses was set forth to precede the sacrifice Christ would willingly give. It mentions in Hebrews 10:4 that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin and in chapter 9 verse 23 that heavenly things are "better sacrifices than these". Alma 34:10 explains that Christ will give "the last sacrifice" that will be "infinite and eternal" and this in this sacrifice "the law of Moses [will] be fulfilled". 
          It is through the Atonement of Christ that we can be saved to overcome justice through grace. In Hebrews 9:24 we learn that because of Christ's Atonement He will "appear in the presence of God for us". We also learn in Hebrews 10:16-17 that He will put "[His] laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them", meaning that if we make and keep covenants with Him then He will "their sins and iniquities... I will remember no more". It is through His Atonement and our faithfulness that we can be forgiven for our sins and transgressions.

2.    In the book of Hebrews, Paul referred to Jesus Christ as a “high priest” (see Hebrews 9:11). Read Hebrews 9:11-28; the institute student manual commentary for Hebrews 9:1-10, “What Do We Know Concerning the Ancient Tabernacles and Its Services?” (pp. 390-91); commentary for Hebrews 9:11-15, 23-28, “The Role of Jesus Christ as High Priest Mediator of the New Testament” (p. 391). Write a paragraph that shows how the labors of the high priests in the temple were like what the Savior did for us in the Garden of Gethsemane.
          The high priests of the Old Testament symbolically, through the sacrifice of animals, took away the sins of Israel. However, Christ was the willing sacrifice, to literally take upon Himself the sins of everyone. Christ not only took on the role of the High Priest for making the offering but also that of the offering. Being the "Lamb of God" He was the only one worthy to become the offering to atone for all the sins of man. 
3.    Write a paragraph on why the title “high priest of good things to come” (Hebrews 9:11) is an appropriate title for Jesus Christ.
          This title is appropriate for Christ because it is through His teachings that we learn how we are to act and to come closer to our Heavenly Father. He was/is the Great Teacher and teaches us how to better love our brothers and sisters. It is through His Atonement that we can look forward to eternal life. Without His intercession we would not be able to overcome our physical or spiritual death. He shows us the truth and gives us the light to look forward to and sometimes even cling on to. It is through Christ that we know that we have the ability to return to our Father in Heaven and to have the knowledge of the Gospel.