the perfect sacrifice of god

“The Perfect

Sacrifice of God”Hebrews 10:1-18

Perfect Sacrifice…•Ever do anything over and over again and feel like your getting nowhere with the task?•For the Christian, voting seems to be one of those•When you have a job to do, and the materiel you have is inferior, the result is predictable•To present a sacrifice at the temple in the ancient Jerusalem, you needed three elements: priest, temple (or sanctuary), and sacrifice

Perfect Sacrifice…•In chapters 5-8, we learned that Jesus, our Chief High Priest was superior to any human priest, because He is High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron, another sinful man•In Ch 9, we learned that the heavenly sanctuary is far superior to the earthly one, because it is the real thing, not a copy•Now, the Author will explain how Jesus’ sacrifice was so superior to all the previous ones

“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. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the

world, He says,“SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE

NOT DESIRED,BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR

ME;6  IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE.7  “THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME

(IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME)

TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.’”8 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), 9 then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13 waiting from that time onward

UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,16  “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,”

He then says,17  “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS

I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

Hebrews 10:1-18, NASB

A. Limitations of Animal Sacrifice…•Vs 1-4,

“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. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Hebrews 10:1-4, NASB

A. Limitations of Animal Sacrifice…•Vs 1-4, Imagine that you haven’t eaten in days, and your plan for your first meal is from your favorite burger joint•Now imagine when you get there and order, they hand you the picture of your favorite meal and tell you, “Bon Appetit!”•Now you’re hungry, irritable, and angry•No matter how well the Priests did the tasks– not good enough to forgive sins

A. Limitations of Animal Sacrifice…•The underlined, “form”– Greek word is ‘ei-kon’– it means ‘a portrait, with a complete representation’•All the sacrifices they did in the OT, such as burnt offering, sin offering, trespass offering, meal offering, drink offering, and peace offering, typified the sacrifice of Christ and revealed some aspect of His work on the cross as they are described in the Book of Leviticus chapters 1 through 7

Why were they not good enough…?•There are two limitations to the O.T. Practice of animal sacrifice for sin remission

1. Mosaic Law couldn’t make anyone perfect•According to v1, cleansing was ceremonial; it worked only for outside conformity, but did nothing to the inner heart of the sinner

Why were they not good enough…?•There are two limitations to the O.T. Practice of animal sacrifice for sin remission

1. Mosaic Law couldn’t make anyone perfect2. Therefore, Mosaic Law could not keep the

person from sinning again; no permanence•According to V 4, the evidence of non-permanence is in the need to repeat the sacrifice annually

B. Fulfilled by Christ…•Vs 5-10,

5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says,

“SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED,

BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME;6  IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE.7  “THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME

(IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME)

TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.’”8 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), 9 then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:5-10, NASB

B. Fulfilled by Christ…•Vs 5-10, The author is quoting Psalm 40:6-8, obviously applying it to Jesus in His incarnation and that He is the One fulfilling the Old Covenant sacrifices•In v7, it says, “In the scroll of the book it is written of Me…” referring to all the things written of Jesus throughout the Scriptures…•Notice Vs 6,8, where it says “have not desired, nor taken pleasure in…” sacrifices

B. Fulfilled by Christ…•Now check the theology of ‘sanctification’, in vs 9-10– means ‘set apart’•Apart from what? Our own sinful will and worldly influences– insolation not isolation•Romans 12:1-2

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:1-2, NASB

B. Fulfilled by Christ…•Now check the theology of ‘sanctification’, in vs 9-10– means ‘set apart’•Apart from what? Our own sinful will and worldly influences– insolation not isolation•Romans 12:1-2•See now why Jesus’ sacrifice was so superior?•The animals had no choice, Jesus did!•He willingly died, and overcame death for us!

C. One, Once, Free for All…•Vs 11-14,

11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13 waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Hebrews 10:11-14, NASB

C. One, Once, Free for All…•Vs 11-14, instead of the thousands of sheep and bulls sacrificed during the Mosaic period, Jesus gave Himself as one atoning sacrifice for all mankind, once for all and free for all•Because He was the perfect Sacrifice, there is no more sacrifice for anyone to do anymore•“It is finished…”•Some will then question, “What good are works?”

“8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority…” Colossians 2:8-10, NASB

C. One, Once, Free for All…•Comparing what man says to God’s authority is futile•False teachers in Colossi weren’t winning the lost either, no more than cults do today– they all too often ‘spiritually kidnap” converts from churches•How is it possible that they “capture” people?•2 answers…

How can cults capture Christians?1. The “captives” are ignorant of the truths of the

Word of God•Hosea 4:6(a)

“My people are destroyed for lack of

knowledge…”

Hosea 4:6(a), NASB

How can cults capture Christians?1. The “captives” are ignorant of the truths of the

Word of God•Hosea 4:6(a)•Grounded, growing, grateful Believers cannot be led astray

If his spiritual roots are deep in Christ, he will not want any other soil.

If Christ is his sure foundation, he has no need to move.

If he is studying and growing in the Word, he will not be easily enticed by false doctrine.

If his heart is overflowing with thanksgiving to God, he will not even consider turning from the fullness he has in Christ.

How can cults capture Christians?1. The “captives” are ignorant of the truths of the

Word of God•Hosea 4:6(a)•Grounded, growing, grateful Believers cannot be led astray

2. Deep down, the “captives” thought they could somehow earn salvation– pride

•Just like Lucifer, pride bites us everytine

D. Benefits to the Believers…•Vs 15-18,

15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,16  “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,”He then says,17  “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS

I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

Hebrews 10:1-18, NASB

D. Benefits to the Believers…

•Vs 15-18, the author is quoting Jeremiah 31•We can serve our Lord out of a cringing feeling of failure to measure up…•Or we can serve Him out of gratitude for the work of grace He has done in our lives•Grace, by far, is a superior motivation to guilt!

Take Home… •The power of God’s Spirit residing within us (the Believer) is sufficient for us to live life fully, fruitfully, and freely from the shackles of sin and the bondage of legalism