Jesus Christ, Our Perfect Sacrifice
Book of Hebrews Chapter 10
It is Our God that instituted the sacrifice!
The very first sacrifice was to make clothes for Adam and Eve. This sacrifice of an animal proved that animal sacrifices could only cover sin and not remove sin!
Let's learn what we can about the only perfect sacrifice that could remove all sin.
The sacrifice of Christ Jesus was at the will of God!
Christ Jesus freely volunteered to be that sacrifice!
Gal 1:4 [Who gave himself for our sins], that he might deliver us from this present evil world, [according to the will of God and our Father]:
There could be only "one" sacrifice that was acceptable to God!
When Our Lord Jesus had finished what God had sent Him to do, He proudly prayed to His Father in Heaven.
Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: [I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do].
Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
The work that Jesus had to do was to be that perfect sacrifice!
Above all else, our sin would remain if not for the perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Sin is mankind's greatest problem!
It does not matter what religion a man has, if it cannot deal with the sin of man, it has no value!
We are not sinners because we sin! We sin because we are sinners!
There was only one way to take sin out from between man and God!
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 [For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.]
It is the love of God that brings salvation to all that believe!
It is the God sent Son of God, Jesus Christ Our Lord, that is the instrument of that love!
*****Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
We have read over and over again that Moral Laws cannot make men perfect!
We have read that the ordinances of the Jewish worship system could not cause the perfect sacrifice!
That word "Shadow" is used in this verse to teach us the difference between the Jewish worship system and Christianity.
The Jewish worship system was just a "Shadow" of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the True Image!
1.) A "shadow" does not have any substance.
A "shadow" is the result of what happens when another image has caught all the light!
Jesus said:
Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, [I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life].
Jesus tells us we cannot walk in the "shadow" of Jewish traditions and Moral Laws but we are to only walk in "His Light".
2.) A "shadow" has only the appearance of what is real.!
All those Laws of Moses were merely a pale or dimmed reflection of what we know is the the truth of Jesus Christ!
The opposite of this "shadow" is "God's Grace".
3.) A "shadow" can be a likeness or a resemblance, BUT a shadow can never be the true image!
All those animals that were sacrificed throughout the time of the Tabernacle and the Temple, could never make a sinner free.
Those sacrifices were also only a "shadow" of our True Sacrifice, which was Jesus Christ, God in the flesh!
What is "Atonement"?
Atonement is being reconciled to God.
Atonement is not the cause of God's love but it is the consequence of God's love!
What is "Redemption"?
The purchase back of something that had been lost!
Redemption is the paying of a "Ransom"!
To be redeemed is to be rescued from the bondage to those old laws.
We can see there is a difference between being redeemed and being atoned.
We cannot be atoned until we have been redeemed!
We can see that those sacrifices that were made year after year could never bring redemption!
There is no amount of repetition that can transform a "shadow" into the real thing!
Until Jesus Christ paid the price of the "ransom" on that cross, no one in this world could be "redeemed"!
*****Heb 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
When we take a bath, we get that squeaky clean feeling for awhile and then we feel dirty again.
When those old laws were followed and an animal sacrifice was made for sin. that person felt cleansed for a period of time.
We can be sure by the time that 10th or 11th month came around again, that person would be searching their flocks for that perfect animal that could be sacrificed to bring atonement again for a another year.
To be honest many would begin the next day looking for a sacrifice for the next year.
This same mentality exist today!
If they had been truly cleansed that one year of time would have made no difference and they would have had no more conscience of their sin!
But when the Perfect Sacrifice was offered on the cross:
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, [that he might redeem us from all iniquity], and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
What does being a peculiar people mean?
Isa 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and [will not remember thy sins].
Again
Psa 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, [so far hath he removed our transgressions from us].
And one more:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, [and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin].
We are still sinners even after being washed in the blood of Jesus BUT not one of those sins can ever make us filthy in the eyes of God ever again!
Act 11:9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, [What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common].
We should still seek repentance for any sin we commit but we can never be "unredeemed".
The Blood of Christ Jesus has enough cleansing to keep us clean forever!
*****Heb 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
Instead of cleansing, the continual slaying of innocent animals could only be a reminder of sin year after year!
Animal sacrifices cannot deal with human guilt!
The day of atonement for the Jew became a day of "reminding them of their sin" and not of their "remission of sin"!
There is a great difference in the two!
When Jesus says these things are finished, He meant that they are finished!
*****Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
What possible connection can there be between human guilt and the senseless death of some innocent animal!
The conscience cannot be cleansed, nor sin removed by the slaughter of animals!
For sin to be truly atoned the sacrifice must be able to consent to being that sacrifice and must volunteer to substitute himself for the sinner.
We have our substitute, who volunteered to be the sacrifice for "all" our sin!
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
and:
1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; [and in him is no sin]
God got no pleasure in the sacrifice of innocent animals for the sin of man.
Only Christ Jesus could do the impossible!
*****Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Heb 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
There should be no doubt that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrifices because the entire Old Testament was written about His coming!
The word "Sacrifice" refers to animal sacrifices.
The word "Offering" refers to the meal offerings and the drink offerings.
We have already learned from our studies of Leviticus that these offerings were in fact "Types" of the work of Christ Jesus on the cross.
God poured Himself in a body of flesh.
In other words God gave His Son a prepared body that the Son might fulfill His will on this Earth!
What was that will of God?
Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
"Opened ears" then means a body ready for service!
Our ears have to be opened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ before we can ever be a true servant!
God had no delight in the sacrifice of innocent animals!
God was looking into the hearts of all those that brought those sacrifices!
No amount of sacrifice can substitute for obedience!
Hos 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
It is God's will that that Old Covenant be replace with a New Covenant and this was prophesied in the Old Testament!
Jesus Christ was on this Earth to fulfill this will of God!
God told Adam and Eve these words:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
And Jesus' answer to that was:
Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Joh 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Jesus Christ is the end of the Law to all those that believe!
Jesus Christ is also the end of all sacrifices because He sacrificed Himself in the fulfillment of the "Will Of God"!
*****Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ [once for all].
Sanctification means, we can approach God to worship Him!
Jesus had to come to this Earth because His offering is the final will of God on sacrifice.
Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, at the perfect time and was the perfect fulfillment of "God's Will"!
God delights in His Son.
God delights in those that have faith in His Son:
Psa 16:1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
Psa 16:2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
Psa 16:3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
*****Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Why did Our Lord sit down?
There was no furniture in the Tabernacle for the priests to sit upon.
In the time of Samuel, Eli carried his own seat into the Tabernacle, because I believe he was also a judge and the only judge to also be High Priest in the Bible.
In fact Eli judged Hannah before he used his office of priest.
God did not want his priest to be a judge. Their purpose was to offer the sacrifice. God wanted his priest to be a witness of His commandments.
Every priest was to stand daily at his service.
This standing meant that the priests was always ready for the work which was daily and repeatable!
In contrast Our Lord sat down because His Work of sacrifice was finished!
Why is Our Lord waiting?
The Apostle Peter put it this way:
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God is waiting for all His human family to come to Him!
This scripture also shows us that Jesus has been exalted to a place of unrivaled honor.
He is now in His position as Head of the Church:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
God's plan of salvation is working at full force during this time of the Church Age, The time of "Grace"!
When Christ returns He will overcome every enemy and establish righteousness in His Kingdom.
How could these things happen?
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified"
*****Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
How do we know we have a personal relationship with Our God?
Because the Holy Spirit comes to live within us!
It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the love of God and for one another.
These are the fruit of the Spirit!
It is the Holy Spirit that makes us aware of sin and temptation in our conscience.
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
*****Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
When we rest assured that our sins are forgiven and we are washed in the "blood" of Jesus, we will not try to offer any other sacrifice, nor try to work our way to Heaven.
If we try to bring additional sacrifice for our sin, "it is an insult to a Holy God!"
Where the "Blood of Jesus" has been applied there can be no greater offering for sin!
*****Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
We know that in the Jewish system there was always a dividing wall which amounted to a barrier between man and God.
But Jesus made a way for the believer!
To be "bold" is not to be "arrogant"!
This boldness is our freedom to speak to God on a personal level!
Our prayers are the greatest weapon the Christian has in this world but sometimes God just wants us to talk to Him. He already knows what we need.
We can talk to Him just like Adam did. Maybe not face to face but Adam did not have the Holy Spirit living inside of him either.
The Holy Spirit is always face to face with God the Father and His Son!
We cannot make demands of God!
This verse plainly states that the brethren, [all those that know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior] can only enter into the throne room of God because of the "Blood of Jesus"!
We must to go to God the Father in the name of His Son!
*****Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
We have an open invitation to come to the God the Father at any time.
There is no bad time to pray, there is only bad times when we do not pray!
Through the death of Jesus Christ we have the absolute privilege to worship God in prayer.
We can know our prayers will reach Heaven because we are redeemed by the 'blood of Jesus" and our sin forgiven!
When we have not reached this point in our lives, we are unable to pray for that mom or dad in need or that family matter or that nation in need for God will not hear us.
Psa 66:18 [If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:]
But when He hears us:
Psa 66:19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Psa 66:20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
It is because of the blood that we are now priest with the ability to go beyond the veil.
Not once a year but at any hour of any day!
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
That ability comes because we have the Holy Spirit that abides in every believer.
*****Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
When Christ sacrificed Himself on the cross, He was acting like a priest.
When Christ Jesus intercedes for every believer, He is the High Priest.
What is the House of God?
We learned this in an earlier lesson:
Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; [whose house are we], if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
But this also means the "Body of Christ":
Col 1:18 And he is the [head of the body, the church]: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.
In fact it means the world-wide Body of Christ:
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, [and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body]: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
*****Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
"Let us" not only means those early Jewish believers but the "brethren", the entire world-wide Body of Christ.
We must prepare ourselves spiritually to fellowship with God! The Old Testament priest had to go through various washings and the applying of the blood of animals on the "Day of Atonement".
BUT the New Testament Christian must come to God with a pure heart and a clean conscience!
Fellowship with God demands purity and that purity comes through the purity of Christ Jesus.
We must have full assurance of our faith!
Christianity is not a religion!
Christianity is just the TRUTH!
Only true believers can live in that state of "Grace" offered by the Lord Jesus Christ through Our Father in Heaven!
*****Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Not only are we to draw near to God but we are to hold fast to Him!
We should also notice that these believers were not told to hold on to their salvation.
We simply cannot loose our salvation! Our salvation is in the hands of Our Great High Priest!
Our faith should be based on the truth of God and His Word.
2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath [from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth]:
Faith is the theme of chapter 11 and we can get deeper in that then but we cannot be saved without "faith"!
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
God is faithful and will deliver what He has promised!
Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
*****Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Fellowship with God must never become selfish!
We must always fellowship with other Christians in the local assembly!
It takes the full "Body Of Christ" to gather, "faithfully attending", encourages others to do the same.
We cannot show love for one another in separation!
We are to "provoke" or to "fervently" urge one another to get involved in the House of God and in the activities in which Christian love can be shown to one another.
*****Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Assembling means to gather together!
We need to study the Word of God together.
We need to fellowship together.
God gives things to groups that He will not give on an individual basis.
Jesus said He would bring His flock together to hear His voice.
Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: [them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice]; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
All believers belong together. We will all be together when we reach Heaven and we need to fellowship together as much as possible while we are still on this Earth!
The Apostle Paul wrote:
Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Every believer is a member of the Body of Christ and [we need to act like one body] BUT it must be of Jesus Christ!
1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Not too long after the Book of Hebrews was presented to these of the early church, the Temple was destroyed. There was no place to offer up animal sacrifices.
BUT The Body of Christ continued to grow and it does today.
We should not not try to hold onto any old way of our past.
When we are saved old things pass away.
We must become that new creature in Christ Jesus and embrace the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.
We show that love when we love one another!
The remainder of this chapter deals with becoming lazy Christians and despising the Word of God and are not part of this lesson but I will try to high light some of it.
It should be noted that any despising of the Word of God is "willful sin".
It should be noted that, ant believer that drifts away from the Word of God, will soon doubt the Word of God!
We must not be arrogant to the Word of God because God will view this as trodding on the work of His Son!
The "Blood of Jesus" is very precious to His Father in Heaven!
A backslider, who remains that way, is a disgrace to the name of Jesus Christ and to the Church!
God will deal with every rebellious believer in a severe way!
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
We must not forget, the greater theme of this Book of Hebrews is the fact that God has spoken to this world through His Son Jesus.
Our answer is, "How will we respond to what He says"?
The secret of victory is our "faith"!
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
The believer that lives by "faith" will go on to perfection!
The believer that lives by "sight" will draw back unto perdition!
In other words, if we do not live by "faith" we will sink back into our old life and this time of "grace" will be wasted!
The saving of the soul is the opposite of a wasted life!
The saving of the soul is to live our lives for Jesus sake!
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
This is the purpose of the Bema Seat of Christ!
What did we do with Jesus once we knew Him as our Savior!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
Book of Hebrews Chapter 10
It is Our God that instituted the sacrifice!
The very first sacrifice was to make clothes for Adam and Eve. This sacrifice of an animal proved that animal sacrifices could only cover sin and not remove sin!
Let's learn what we can about the only perfect sacrifice that could remove all sin.
The sacrifice of Christ Jesus was at the will of God!
Christ Jesus freely volunteered to be that sacrifice!
Gal 1:4 [Who gave himself for our sins], that he might deliver us from this present evil world, [according to the will of God and our Father]:
There could be only "one" sacrifice that was acceptable to God!
When Our Lord Jesus had finished what God had sent Him to do, He proudly prayed to His Father in Heaven.
Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: [I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do].
Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
The work that Jesus had to do was to be that perfect sacrifice!
Above all else, our sin would remain if not for the perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Sin is mankind's greatest problem!
It does not matter what religion a man has, if it cannot deal with the sin of man, it has no value!
We are not sinners because we sin! We sin because we are sinners!
There was only one way to take sin out from between man and God!
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 [For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.]
It is the love of God that brings salvation to all that believe!
It is the God sent Son of God, Jesus Christ Our Lord, that is the instrument of that love!
*****Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
We have read over and over again that Moral Laws cannot make men perfect!
We have read that the ordinances of the Jewish worship system could not cause the perfect sacrifice!
That word "Shadow" is used in this verse to teach us the difference between the Jewish worship system and Christianity.
The Jewish worship system was just a "Shadow" of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the True Image!
1.) A "shadow" does not have any substance.
A "shadow" is the result of what happens when another image has caught all the light!
Jesus said:
Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, [I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life].
Jesus tells us we cannot walk in the "shadow" of Jewish traditions and Moral Laws but we are to only walk in "His Light".
2.) A "shadow" has only the appearance of what is real.!
All those Laws of Moses were merely a pale or dimmed reflection of what we know is the the truth of Jesus Christ!
The opposite of this "shadow" is "God's Grace".
3.) A "shadow" can be a likeness or a resemblance, BUT a shadow can never be the true image!
All those animals that were sacrificed throughout the time of the Tabernacle and the Temple, could never make a sinner free.
Those sacrifices were also only a "shadow" of our True Sacrifice, which was Jesus Christ, God in the flesh!
What is "Atonement"?
Atonement is being reconciled to God.
Atonement is not the cause of God's love but it is the consequence of God's love!
What is "Redemption"?
The purchase back of something that had been lost!
Redemption is the paying of a "Ransom"!
To be redeemed is to be rescued from the bondage to those old laws.
We can see there is a difference between being redeemed and being atoned.
We cannot be atoned until we have been redeemed!
We can see that those sacrifices that were made year after year could never bring redemption!
There is no amount of repetition that can transform a "shadow" into the real thing!
Until Jesus Christ paid the price of the "ransom" on that cross, no one in this world could be "redeemed"!
*****Heb 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
When we take a bath, we get that squeaky clean feeling for awhile and then we feel dirty again.
When those old laws were followed and an animal sacrifice was made for sin. that person felt cleansed for a period of time.
We can be sure by the time that 10th or 11th month came around again, that person would be searching their flocks for that perfect animal that could be sacrificed to bring atonement again for a another year.
To be honest many would begin the next day looking for a sacrifice for the next year.
This same mentality exist today!
If they had been truly cleansed that one year of time would have made no difference and they would have had no more conscience of their sin!
But when the Perfect Sacrifice was offered on the cross:
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, [that he might redeem us from all iniquity], and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
What does being a peculiar people mean?
Isa 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and [will not remember thy sins].
Again
Psa 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, [so far hath he removed our transgressions from us].
And one more:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, [and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin].
We are still sinners even after being washed in the blood of Jesus BUT not one of those sins can ever make us filthy in the eyes of God ever again!
Act 11:9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, [What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common].
We should still seek repentance for any sin we commit but we can never be "unredeemed".
The Blood of Christ Jesus has enough cleansing to keep us clean forever!
*****Heb 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
Instead of cleansing, the continual slaying of innocent animals could only be a reminder of sin year after year!
Animal sacrifices cannot deal with human guilt!
The day of atonement for the Jew became a day of "reminding them of their sin" and not of their "remission of sin"!
There is a great difference in the two!
When Jesus says these things are finished, He meant that they are finished!
*****Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
What possible connection can there be between human guilt and the senseless death of some innocent animal!
The conscience cannot be cleansed, nor sin removed by the slaughter of animals!
For sin to be truly atoned the sacrifice must be able to consent to being that sacrifice and must volunteer to substitute himself for the sinner.
We have our substitute, who volunteered to be the sacrifice for "all" our sin!
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
and:
1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; [and in him is no sin]
God got no pleasure in the sacrifice of innocent animals for the sin of man.
Only Christ Jesus could do the impossible!
*****Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Heb 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
There should be no doubt that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrifices because the entire Old Testament was written about His coming!
The word "Sacrifice" refers to animal sacrifices.
The word "Offering" refers to the meal offerings and the drink offerings.
We have already learned from our studies of Leviticus that these offerings were in fact "Types" of the work of Christ Jesus on the cross.
God poured Himself in a body of flesh.
In other words God gave His Son a prepared body that the Son might fulfill His will on this Earth!
What was that will of God?
Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
"Opened ears" then means a body ready for service!
Our ears have to be opened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ before we can ever be a true servant!
God had no delight in the sacrifice of innocent animals!
God was looking into the hearts of all those that brought those sacrifices!
No amount of sacrifice can substitute for obedience!
Hos 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
It is God's will that that Old Covenant be replace with a New Covenant and this was prophesied in the Old Testament!
Jesus Christ was on this Earth to fulfill this will of God!
God told Adam and Eve these words:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
And Jesus' answer to that was:
Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Joh 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Jesus Christ is the end of the Law to all those that believe!
Jesus Christ is also the end of all sacrifices because He sacrificed Himself in the fulfillment of the "Will Of God"!
*****Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ [once for all].
Sanctification means, we can approach God to worship Him!
Jesus had to come to this Earth because His offering is the final will of God on sacrifice.
Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, at the perfect time and was the perfect fulfillment of "God's Will"!
God delights in His Son.
God delights in those that have faith in His Son:
Psa 16:1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
Psa 16:2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
Psa 16:3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
*****Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Why did Our Lord sit down?
There was no furniture in the Tabernacle for the priests to sit upon.
In the time of Samuel, Eli carried his own seat into the Tabernacle, because I believe he was also a judge and the only judge to also be High Priest in the Bible.
In fact Eli judged Hannah before he used his office of priest.
God did not want his priest to be a judge. Their purpose was to offer the sacrifice. God wanted his priest to be a witness of His commandments.
Every priest was to stand daily at his service.
This standing meant that the priests was always ready for the work which was daily and repeatable!
In contrast Our Lord sat down because His Work of sacrifice was finished!
Why is Our Lord waiting?
The Apostle Peter put it this way:
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God is waiting for all His human family to come to Him!
This scripture also shows us that Jesus has been exalted to a place of unrivaled honor.
He is now in His position as Head of the Church:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
God's plan of salvation is working at full force during this time of the Church Age, The time of "Grace"!
When Christ returns He will overcome every enemy and establish righteousness in His Kingdom.
How could these things happen?
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified"
*****Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
How do we know we have a personal relationship with Our God?
Because the Holy Spirit comes to live within us!
It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the love of God and for one another.
These are the fruit of the Spirit!
It is the Holy Spirit that makes us aware of sin and temptation in our conscience.
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
*****Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
When we rest assured that our sins are forgiven and we are washed in the "blood" of Jesus, we will not try to offer any other sacrifice, nor try to work our way to Heaven.
If we try to bring additional sacrifice for our sin, "it is an insult to a Holy God!"
Where the "Blood of Jesus" has been applied there can be no greater offering for sin!
*****Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
We know that in the Jewish system there was always a dividing wall which amounted to a barrier between man and God.
But Jesus made a way for the believer!
To be "bold" is not to be "arrogant"!
This boldness is our freedom to speak to God on a personal level!
Our prayers are the greatest weapon the Christian has in this world but sometimes God just wants us to talk to Him. He already knows what we need.
We can talk to Him just like Adam did. Maybe not face to face but Adam did not have the Holy Spirit living inside of him either.
The Holy Spirit is always face to face with God the Father and His Son!
We cannot make demands of God!
This verse plainly states that the brethren, [all those that know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior] can only enter into the throne room of God because of the "Blood of Jesus"!
We must to go to God the Father in the name of His Son!
*****Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
We have an open invitation to come to the God the Father at any time.
There is no bad time to pray, there is only bad times when we do not pray!
Through the death of Jesus Christ we have the absolute privilege to worship God in prayer.
We can know our prayers will reach Heaven because we are redeemed by the 'blood of Jesus" and our sin forgiven!
When we have not reached this point in our lives, we are unable to pray for that mom or dad in need or that family matter or that nation in need for God will not hear us.
Psa 66:18 [If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:]
But when He hears us:
Psa 66:19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Psa 66:20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
It is because of the blood that we are now priest with the ability to go beyond the veil.
Not once a year but at any hour of any day!
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
That ability comes because we have the Holy Spirit that abides in every believer.
*****Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
When Christ sacrificed Himself on the cross, He was acting like a priest.
When Christ Jesus intercedes for every believer, He is the High Priest.
What is the House of God?
We learned this in an earlier lesson:
Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; [whose house are we], if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
But this also means the "Body of Christ":
Col 1:18 And he is the [head of the body, the church]: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.
In fact it means the world-wide Body of Christ:
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, [and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body]: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
*****Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
"Let us" not only means those early Jewish believers but the "brethren", the entire world-wide Body of Christ.
We must prepare ourselves spiritually to fellowship with God! The Old Testament priest had to go through various washings and the applying of the blood of animals on the "Day of Atonement".
BUT the New Testament Christian must come to God with a pure heart and a clean conscience!
Fellowship with God demands purity and that purity comes through the purity of Christ Jesus.
We must have full assurance of our faith!
Christianity is not a religion!
Christianity is just the TRUTH!
Only true believers can live in that state of "Grace" offered by the Lord Jesus Christ through Our Father in Heaven!
*****Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Not only are we to draw near to God but we are to hold fast to Him!
We should also notice that these believers were not told to hold on to their salvation.
We simply cannot loose our salvation! Our salvation is in the hands of Our Great High Priest!
Our faith should be based on the truth of God and His Word.
2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath [from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth]:
Faith is the theme of chapter 11 and we can get deeper in that then but we cannot be saved without "faith"!
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
God is faithful and will deliver what He has promised!
Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
*****Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Fellowship with God must never become selfish!
We must always fellowship with other Christians in the local assembly!
It takes the full "Body Of Christ" to gather, "faithfully attending", encourages others to do the same.
We cannot show love for one another in separation!
We are to "provoke" or to "fervently" urge one another to get involved in the House of God and in the activities in which Christian love can be shown to one another.
*****Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Assembling means to gather together!
We need to study the Word of God together.
We need to fellowship together.
God gives things to groups that He will not give on an individual basis.
Jesus said He would bring His flock together to hear His voice.
Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: [them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice]; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
All believers belong together. We will all be together when we reach Heaven and we need to fellowship together as much as possible while we are still on this Earth!
The Apostle Paul wrote:
Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Every believer is a member of the Body of Christ and [we need to act like one body] BUT it must be of Jesus Christ!
1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Not too long after the Book of Hebrews was presented to these of the early church, the Temple was destroyed. There was no place to offer up animal sacrifices.
BUT The Body of Christ continued to grow and it does today.
We should not not try to hold onto any old way of our past.
When we are saved old things pass away.
We must become that new creature in Christ Jesus and embrace the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.
We show that love when we love one another!
The remainder of this chapter deals with becoming lazy Christians and despising the Word of God and are not part of this lesson but I will try to high light some of it.
It should be noted that any despising of the Word of God is "willful sin".
It should be noted that, ant believer that drifts away from the Word of God, will soon doubt the Word of God!
We must not be arrogant to the Word of God because God will view this as trodding on the work of His Son!
The "Blood of Jesus" is very precious to His Father in Heaven!
A backslider, who remains that way, is a disgrace to the name of Jesus Christ and to the Church!
God will deal with every rebellious believer in a severe way!
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
We must not forget, the greater theme of this Book of Hebrews is the fact that God has spoken to this world through His Son Jesus.
Our answer is, "How will we respond to what He says"?
The secret of victory is our "faith"!
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
The believer that lives by "faith" will go on to perfection!
The believer that lives by "sight" will draw back unto perdition!
In other words, if we do not live by "faith" we will sink back into our old life and this time of "grace" will be wasted!
The saving of the soul is the opposite of a wasted life!
The saving of the soul is to live our lives for Jesus sake!
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
This is the purpose of the Bema Seat of Christ!
What did we do with Jesus once we knew Him as our Savior!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
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