4 ways to live in the cleansing forgiveness of Christ’s sacrifice
I. Don’t Mistake a Shadow for the Real Thing
A. Our efforts cannot bring us closer to God
Hebrews 10:1-2 - For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?
B. Continual sacrifices were intended to remind and foreshadow
Hebrews 10:3-4 - But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
II. Marvel at God’s Amazing Plan
Hebrews 10:5-8 - Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, but a body You have prepared for Me; in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the book it is written of Me) to do Your will, O God.’” After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law)…
A. He would come in bodily form
Psalm 40:6-8 - Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; my ears You have opened; burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”
i. In humility
ii. With purpose
iii. In submission
iv. In preparation
III. Don’t Go Back to the Temple
A. The Law has been replaced by God’s Will
Hebrews 10:9 - …then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second.
B. The work is totally done
Hebrews 10:11-12 - Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.
C. We are perfectly sanctified in Jesus
Hebrews 10:10, 14 - By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all… For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
IV. Rejoice that His Spirit is Now in Us
A. His internal presence imprints a better law
Hebrews 10:15-16a - And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, and on their mind I will write them.”
B. He doesn’t remember our sin
Hebrews 10:16b-17 - He then says, “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
Authors
