A message

[Yahya Sharif]

There are sacrifices for sins in the Hebrew Bible and a need for cleansing from sins (Ps. 51 among many others).  I can't get my head around it that these ideas seem  out of reach in Judaism today. Maybe people are much better today than they were back then.

You may not believe it, but "work out your salvation" (Philippians 2) is also part of the Christian teaching

I'm not sure why you think it is out of reach in Judaism today. 

It's not about the psychical sacrifice, it's about returning to G-d. That's why Psalm 51 says G-d does not desire our psychical sacrifices.

It is repeated over and over again in the Hebrew bible that we are to return to G-d and He will forgive us, without a sacrifice.

Teshuvah

Why did they offer sin offerings in a physical form in 2. Chronicles 29, Ezra 6; Ezra 8, Nehemia 10, Ezekiel in Chapters 40, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46? Wasn't it on the basis of Moses' s word and command?

It is worth quoting from Psalm 51:

“You do not want me to bring sacrifices;
You do not desire burnt offerings.
The true sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 51:18)



Yet, by the end of the psalm, a shift appears:

“Then You will desire sacrifices offered in righteousness,
burnt offerings and whole offerings;
then bulls will be offered on Your altar.” (Psalm 51:20)

The value of a sacrifice is contingent upon clean intent and righteousness.