Hebrews 10: Our Perfect Sacrifice
APPLICATION: Trust in Christ’s all-sufficient sacrifice and serve him by witnessing, assembling, and encouraging others.
THE 10TH CHAPTER OF HEBREWS HAS TWO MAIN DIVISIONS:
VERSES 1-20 SET FORTH THE SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE UNTO THOSE WHO BELIEVE.
VERSES 21-39 MAKING PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE LESSONS OF THE FIRST DIVISION UNTO FAITH, OBEDIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE.
WITHIN THESE LARGER DIVISIONS WE ALSO SEE SMALLER GROUPS OF VERSES THAT GUIDE US TO SEVERAL THEMES:
1-4 THE SACRIFICE
5-7 THE DIVINE INCARNATION
7-10 CHRIST’S DEDICATION
11-14 PERFECTING THE CHURCH
15-18 SANCTIFICATION
19-23 ACCESS TO GOD
23-24 CHRISTIAN PERSEVERANCE
25-27 APOSTASY
28-31 DOOM OF THOSE IN APOSTASY
32-34 THE PATH OF TRIBULATION
35-39 SAVING THE SOUL
SO WE SEE IN THIS ONE CHAPTER MANY OF THE MAIN PORTIONS OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE AND LIFE.
THIS CHAPTER ONCE MORE SETS THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE FORMER MEANS OF SACRIFICE FOUND TO BE INADEQUATE AND TEMPORARY AND THE PERMANENT SACRIFICE OF OUR LORD WHICH WAS SUFFICIENT FOR ALL BUT EFFECTIVE ONLY FOR SOME (THE ELECT).
THE CLOSING VERSE OF CHAPTER 9 JOINED TOGETHER THE CROSS OF CHRIST AND HIS SECOND COMING.
THE BEST QUESTION WE MIGHT ASK IS WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THESE TWO EVENTS, BETWEEN THE WORK AT CALVARY AND THE TAKING TO GLORY THOSE WHO WERE REDEEMED THERE?
THE ANSWER IS CHRISTIAN LIFE ON EARTH. THAT IS THE MAIN FOCUS OF OUR CHAPTER WE STUDY TODAY AND UNTIL THE END OF HEBREWS.
WE WILL SEE THE PRESENT STATUS, PRIVILEGES, WALK, DISCIPLINE, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD WHO REMAIN HERE TO FURTHER HIS KINGDOM.
1-10
THE TYPES AND SHADOWS & MANY ORDINANCES OF THE OLD COVENANT MADE AT SINAI WERE ONLY TYPES & SHADOWS OF THE GOSPEL TO COME.
THE SACRIFICES OF THE HIGH PRIESTS OFFERED EACH YEAR MANY TIMES COULD NOT MAKE WORSHIPPERS PERFECT (MEANING COMPLETE & FINISHED – NOT SINLESS) WITH RESPECT TO PARDON FROM SIN.
THERE WAS NO PURIFICATION OF THE CONSCIENCE OF THE BELIEVER.
BUT WHEN “GOD IN FLESH” BECAME THE SACRIFICE HE RANSOMED US BY HIS DEATH. THE ATONEMENT WAS EFFECTIVE BECAUSE HE CHOSE TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US (AND TOOK IT UP AGAIN) PLACING HIMSELF IN OUR PLACE.
NO MAN TOOK HIS LIFE. HE VOLUNTARILY GAVE IT FOR EACH OF US THAT WE MIGHT BE JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH IN HIM AND SHARE IN HIS VICTORY.
WE KNOW THAT HE ACCEPTED THE CUP AS THE WILL OF THE FATHER AND BY DOING SO ATONED FOR ALL SIN, MAKING THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO HIM MORE PERFECT THROUGH ACCEPTANCE AND THEN BY OBEDIENCE TO HIS GOSPEL.
NOW ARE WE TO PRESUME THAT ALL THOSE WHO LIVED AND DIED UNDER THE OLD COVENANT WERE PERHAPS WITHOUT STANDING BEFORE GOD?
AS PAUL TEACHES US SO WELL, GOD FORBID !!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHILE THE SACRIFICES OF THE LEVITES WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO SECURE THE BLESSINGS FOUND IN THE NEW COVENANT UNDER CHRIST, WE ARE TAUGHT CLEARLY THAT THERE WERE MANY FAITHFUL WHO BELONG TO “… THE REMNANT ACCORDING TO THE ELECTION OF GRACE” (ROMANS 11:5).
THEIR FAITH HAD ALLOWED THEM TO SEE BEYOND THE SHADOW TO THE REALITY OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE LORD’S WILL.
JOB 19:25 “FOR I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH, AND THAT HE SHALL STAND AT THE LATTER DAY UPON THE EARTH”.
PSALM 23:6 “... I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER”.
DANIEL 12:1 & 2 “AND AT THAT TIME SHALL MICHAEL STAND UP... AND MANY OF THEM THAT SLEEP IN THE DUST OF THE EARTH SHALL AWAKE, SOME TO EVERLASTING LIFE, AND SOME TO SHAME AND EVERLASTING CONTEMPT”.
(DANIEL'S PROPHECY IS ALMOST WORD FOR WORD THE TEACHING OF PAUL CONCERNING THE LAST DAY IN 1ST THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 4)
11-18
UNDER THE NEW COVENANT (BASED UPON THE GOSPEL) FULL & FINAL PARDON IS AVAILABLE.
THIS IS THE SUPREME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO PROMISES.
UNDER THE OLD PROMISE, REPETITIVE SACRIFICES BROUGHT ONLY TEMPORARY PARDON, AND WAS ONLY FOR THAT TIME AND ONLY FOR THOSE PRESENT AT THAT MOMENT.
UNDER THE NEW PROMISE, ONE SACRIFICE WAS SUFFICIENT FOR ALL TIME, FOR ALL AGES, FOR ALL NATIONS, UNTO ALL BELIEVERS.
ITS SPIRITUAL PARDON FREED FROM PUNISHMENT HERE AND IN THE LIFE TO COME (REMEMBER WE ARE TAUGHT THAT OUR SINS ARE FORGVEN AND WILL BE REMEMBERED NO MORE).
OUR OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THIS FREELY GIVEN GIFT OF GRACE IS THROUGH FAITH AND THE SEALING OF IT IN OUR HEARTS BY THE CONTINUAL WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES, BRINGING US ONWARD THROUGH OBEDIENCE.
WE ARE A NEW CREATION, JUSTIFIED BY THE EFFECTIVE SACRIFICE OF OUR LORD FOR EACH OF US.
WE MUST REMEMBER ALWAYS THAT JESUS WAS THE FIRSTFRUIT OF THE DEAD.
WHILE OTHERS AROSE BY HIS COMMAND AND THE COMMANDS OF HIS PROPHETS & APOSTLES, ONLY HE ROSE IN GLORY.
THE CHURCH WAS CHOSEN IN CHRIST. (EPHESIANS 4:1) (NOW EACH WHO BELIEVES IS THE PRISONER OF THE LORD).
THE CHURCH WAS GIVEN TO CHRIST. (HEBREWS 2:13) (WE ARE THE CHILDREN WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN HIM).
GOD THE SON WAS APPOINTED TO BE THE HEAD OF THE WHOLE ELECTION OF GRACE AND WE ARE MEMBERS OF HIS BODY. (EPHESIANS 1:22) ( ALL THINGS ARE UNDER HIS FEET AND GAVE HIM TO BE THE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH).
WE DID NOT CHOOSE HIM – HE CHOSE US. !!!!!!!!!!!!
19-25
THE ARGUMENT OF THE EARLY VERSES IS CONCLUDED NOW.
THE TEACHER TURNS TO THE RESULTS OF THE HOLY ARGUMENT MADE TO US.
NOW WE TURN TO THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF ALL THAT CAME BEFORE.
WE HAVE BOLDNESS TO ENTER INTO THE HOLIEST PLACE, ACCESS PROVIDED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY.
WE HAVE IN THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY A GREAT HIGH PRIEST OVER THE ENTIRE HOUSE OF GOD & HIS TRUE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST MADE UP OF ALL BELIEVERS.
ALL DIFFICULTIES AND OBSTACLES ARE NOW REMOVED FOREVER.
CHRIST IS BOTH OUR ACCESS AND OUR DESTINATION.
HE CONTINUES TO INTERCEDE FOR US FOREVER AS WE STRIVE HERE TO BECOME MORE OBEDIENT AND LESS SINFUL WHILE WE STRUGGLE WITH THE CARNAL NATURE THAT REMAINS A PART OF US AS LONG AS WE LIVE HERE.
HE IS OUR ALL SUFFICIENT MEDIATOR AND HAS, THROUGH SENDING THE COMFORTER, ARRANGED A PATH FOR BELIEVERS TO BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE TRIALS & TRIBULATIONS EVIDENT IN EACH LIFE.
ON THIS PERFECT FOUNDATION RESTS OUR CHALLENGE IN THREE PARTS:
LET US DRAW NEAR TO HIM WITH A TRUE HEART, IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH.
LET US HOLD FAST TO THE PROFESSION OF HOPE WITHOUT WAVERING.
LET US CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER, ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER UNTO LOVE AND GOOD WORKS.
FAITH – HOPE –LOVE
THE NEW COVENANT OF DIVINE GRACE.
26-31
“FOR IF WE SIN WILLINGLY AFTER WE HAVE RECEIVED THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH…”
NOW WE VIEW ONE OF THE MOST SOLEMN AND FEAR INSPIRING PASSAGES NOT ONLY OF HEBREWS BUT OF THE ENTIRE WORD OF GOD.
THESE VERSES ARE KNOWN AS “THE APOSTASY VERSES” OF HEBREWS.
THE WORD APOSTASY IS DEFINED AS REJECTION OF BELIEF.
WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SECTION IS INTENDED TO FOCUS UPON THOSE, THEN & NOW, WHO HAVE HEARD AND ACCEPTED, AND HAVE NOW REJECTED THE GOSPEL.
THE TRUE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE BEIEVE WE ARE THE BRANCHES AND HE IS THE ONE & ONLY TRUE VINE.
DO WE ACCEPT & ADMIT THAT WITHOUT HIM WE CAN DO NOTHING?
ARE WE READY TO PLACE OUR LIVES UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE LIVING GOD THOROUGH HIS BELOVED SON?
WILL WE DENY OURSELVES THE FRUITS & EFFECTS OF THE CARNAL NATURE, NOT YIELDING TO THE TEMPTATION THAT WILL NEVER END?
ARE WE READY TO CONCEDE OUR LIVES TO THE TEACHING OF 1 JOHN 5:4: “FOR WHATSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMETH THE WORLD…”.
APOSTASY IS A RETURN TO AND BEING OVERCOME BY THE WORLD AFTER HAVING UNDERSTOOD THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD AND SAVIOR.
THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC STEPS WHICH COME BEFORE IT:
LOOKING BACK – (LUKE 9:62) “NO MAN, HAVING PUT HIS HAND TO THE PLOW, AND LOOKING BACK, IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE WHO WAS CAREFULLY TOLD NOT TO LOOK BACK AT THE CITY WHERE HER HEART WAS & SHE FOUND HER DESTRUCTION BY HER DISOBEDIENCE.
DRAWING BACK - (HEBREWS 10:38) “NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH: BUT IF ANY MAN DRAW BACK, MY SOUL SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM”. THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHRIST ARE EXACTING AND IF ONE DRAWS BACK, THEY ARE NO LONG FIXED IN THE HEART.
TURNING BACK – (JOHN 6:66) “ FROM THAT TIME MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES WENT BACK AND WALKED NO MORE WITH HIM”. THE PATH THE BELIEVER MUST WALK IS NARROW AND DOES NOT SUIT THE WAY OF THE FLESH.
FALLING BACK – (ISAIAH 28:13) “… THAT THEY MIGHT GO, AND FALL BACKWARD AND BE TAKEN.”
NOTE THIS PHRASE: FOR IF WE SIN WILLINGLY - THIS USE OF THE WORD SIN IS ONE OF A PARTICULAR SENSE. IT IS NOT DESCRIBING SIN GENERALLY BUT A PARTICULAR KIND OF SIN, APOSTASY FROM FAITH & TRUTH.
VERSE 29 CAREFULLY EXPLAINS THAT THERE IS GREATER PUNISHMENT FOR THESE WHO HAVE COMMITED THIS SIN.
JESUS HIMSELF IN TEACHES US IN LUKE 12:47-48 AND AGAIN IN JOHN 19:11 THAT THERE IS GREATER AND LESSER SIN AND THAT THERE IS THEREFORE GREATER AND LESSER PUNISHMENT.
WE ALSO REMEMBER THAT THOSE ANGELS WHO FELL WERE FOREVER TO BE KNOWN AS THE “APOSTATE ANGELS”, AS THEY KNEW AND REJECTED THE TRUTH.
IT IS UP TO US TO HEAR AND RECEIVE THIS WARNING AND TO REFLECT UPON HOW SERIOUS IT IS TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN FOR US.
32-39
THE PATH OF TRIBULATION & SALVATION OF THE SOUL.
MANY AFFLICTIONS UNITED AGAINST THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, AND THEY WERE IN GREAT CONFLICT MUCH OF THEIR LIVES.
ALL THINGS HERE ARE BUT SHADOWS AND THE HAPPINESS OF THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN WILL BE FOREVER.
NO ENEMY CAN TAKE IT AWAY AS EARTHLY GOODS MAY BE STOLEN FROM US.
ALL THAT WE SACRIFICE HERE WILL BE MADE INTO RICH AMENDS IN THE ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM THAT AWAITS US.
HOWEVER, THE GREATEST PART OF OUR HAPPINESS IS STILL IN PROMISE.
THE TRIAL FOR THE BELIEVER IS TO LIVE IN HIS WORD HERE, REMAIN STEADFAST AND IN GOOD FAITH UNTIL THE CALL ARRIVES FOR US TO TRAVEL ONWARD.
BY HIS GRACE WE PERSEVERE, REMAINING FAITHFUL THROUGH ALL TRIALS, AND WISH TO MEET HIM FACE TO FACE BOTH LIVING AND DYING IN FAITH.
NOW WE TRAVEL ONWARD TO STUDY THE PRECIOUS WORDS OF HEBREWS 11, THAT WONDERFUL CHAPTER OF THE ROLL CALL OF FAITH, GIVING US MANY EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO LIVED FOR THE PROMISE AND RECEIVED A GOOD REPORT AND WERE LIKELY WELCOMED ABOVE WITH THE WORDS WE ALL WISH TO HEAR:
“WELCOME HOME, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT”.