HEBREWS HEB10

Christ the final sacrifice Hebrews 10:1-18

Introduction:

If Ch. 9 majors on Christ as High Priest, offering an atoning sacrifice – blood sprinkled before the mercy seat – His own blood, Ch. 10:1-18 presents Him as the sacrifice itself: His body is given (5,10).

A comparison is drawn between animal sacrifices and the sacrifice of Christ (1-11). And the effects of that sacrifice are set out (12-18).

1. The animal sacrifices can never accomplish God’s ultimate purpose (1-4).

a. Why was the law only a ‘shadow’; who was the reality? (Gal 3:24)

b. So the law’s sacrifices point ahead. What evidence is there of their ultimate inadequacy? (1b, 2, 4). This underlines the statements of 8:9, 10, 13.

c. What further function did the sacrifices have? (3) Why is such a reminder valuable?

2. The Divine sacrifice achieves God’s perfect purpose (5-12).

a. Verses 5-7 state the basic principle that God requires obedience rather than sacrifice. Sacrifice became necessary because of man’s initial disobedience and rebellion. And the situation was further worsened when the Jews offered sacrifices, not with true repentance for sin, but out of cold and corrupt formality.

We saw this when studying Amos (5:21-24). See also 1 Sam 15:22.

But what is the prime characteristic of Christ? (Heb 10:7,9)

How could the total sacrifice of Christ’s will to the Father make Him a worthy sacrifice for our sins?

Think about the obedience of Jesus and its relation to becoming a sacrifice for our sins: John 4:34; 8:29; Matt 26:39, 42; Phil 2:8.

b. What does the fact that Christ sits down at the right hand of God signify: (12). See how the idea recurs in Hebrews 1:3, 13; 8:1; 12:2.

What impression are you left with?

3. There are lasting effects from Christ’s obedience (13-18)

Think about:

a. The effect on His enemies (13; see also 10:26; Matt 25:41)

b. The effect on His people (14; see 2:11, 14-18). Note: NIV ‘being made holy’ – it’s a process.

c. The effect of the covenant in our lives (16; how is this worked out in practice?) Think about the implications of Ps. 119:9-16.

d. The effect of God’s attitude to us (17); think about the absolute nature of God’s forgiveness – Ps 103:11, 12; Micah 7:19; Is. 38:17.

e. The effect on me of total forgiveness (18). Not only does Christ not have to offer Himself again as a sacrifice for sin, but I am not required to bring endless sacrifices (10:1b). I am eternally accepted through faith. That’s the message of the rest of

Ch. 10.

Postscript:

The significance of Christ’s all-sufficient sacrifice has griped many hymn writers. Think about:

‘No blood, no altar now:

The sacrifice is o’er;

No flame, no smoke ascends on high,

The lamb is slain no more:

But richer blood has flowed form nobler veins

To purge the soul from guilt and cleanse the reddest stains’

Horatius Bonar. H of F 266

(The rest of the hymn is worth reading.)

Also:

‘Not all the blood of beasts

On Jewish altars slain,

Could give this guilty conscience peace,

Or wash away its stain.

But Christ the heavenly Lamb,

Takes all our sins away;

A sacrifice of nobler name,

And richer blood than they.

My faith would lay her hand

On that dear head of Thine,

While like a penitent I stand,

And there confess my sin.’

Isaac Watts H of F 315