The Time of Reformation 4
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The Time of Reformation 4
Hebrews 10:1-18
March 16, 2008
Series 3 Sermon 38
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead
of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that
are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise,
would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once
been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sin? 3 But
in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin every year. 4 For
it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Consequently, when Christ came
into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a
body have you prepared for me; 6in burnt offerings and sin
offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then
I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in
the scroll of the book.’ ” 8 When
he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and
offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according
to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have
come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.
10 And by that will we have been sanctified
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And
every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But
when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down
at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his
enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For
by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being
sanctified. 15 And
the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with
them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,” 17 then he adds, “I will remember
their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” 18 Where
there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Introduction
All great football coaches have at least one similarity. They have the ability to locate weaknesses in the opposing team’s offense and defense and then consistently exploit those weaknesses all the while masking and camouflaging their own team’s weaknesses. Great coaches know that some defenders, although big, fast, and strong, tend to make certain mistakes. They may take plays off, like second down. They may tend to overreact to an offensive player in motion. They may be overly aggressive and miss a fake pitch or a pump fake. An offensive player may have the tendency to give away a play by a certain body motion that he makes.
All of this is learned by hours and hours of careful film study. The great coach can spot these tendencies and then come Saturday they will expose them for the world to see. As we saw in this past Super Bowl even the so called greatest team ever had weaknesses on both sides of the ball.
Like a great coach the writer of Hebrews has been exposing weaknesses in the Old Covenant sacrificial system. Over and over he has shown us that the Old Covenant served to point us to the coming new and better covenant. You will notice this in the first four verses of chapter 10. Look at those with me.
For since the law has but a shadow (the word shadow here is in
the first or the emphatic position to call our attention to it. Therefore the Law was but a shadow…) of
the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can
never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make
perfect (remember our very important word telios?) those who draw near.(Then
the writer states in verse 2 what is obvious.
If the Levitical sacrifices could indeed perfect the worshiper in the
Old Covenant then we would need no other covenant. Look at verse 2.) 2 Otherwise,
would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once
been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sin?(Then we
have the writer tell us exactly what these sacrifices, done over and over,
again actually accomplish. Look at verse
3.)
3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder
of sin every year. (Why? Look at verse 4.)4 For
it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
What the writer has told us in this epistle thus far in comparing the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is as follows. The Old Covenant was merely a shadow of what the New Covenant would be. The Old Covenant could not make perfect the worshiper before God while the sacrifice of the New Covenant would make perfect for all time a group of people. The Old Covenant could not cleanse the conscience while the New Covenant has given those in it a purified conscience to serve the living God. And finally the writer has stated above that the Old Covenant could not take away sins precisely because the New Covenant would do that by Christ’s once for all death.
In verse 2 the writer asks a rhetorical question. Look at the question along with its context of verse 1.
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead
of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that
are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise,
would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once
been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sin?
The answer is that if the Old Covenant sacrifices were indeed sufficient to make one perfect unto eternal salvation then the sacrifices would have ceased after the very first one and would have been retroactive to all the elect before and after the sacrifice. Verses 3 and 4 tell us the truth about these sacrifices. Look at the verses.
3 But in these sacrifices there is
a reminder of sin every year. 4 For it is impossible for the
blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Thus the writer of Hebrews has the burden of proof laid upon him in proving that the New Covenant in the Lord Jesus Christ is a more perfect covenant and can do what the Old Covenant could not do. He lays that out by showing the accomplishments of the Lord Jesus Christ in His High Priestly role.
PNP
Over the last couple of weeks we have been looking at ten
accomplishments of the once for all sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ from
Hebrews chapter 9 and 10.
Context
Three weeks ago we saw from Hebrews 9:11-14 that Christ, as the New Covenant great High Priest, through His death, had accomplished and secured some very important promises that the Old Covenant could merely be a picture of. They were:
1. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished eternal redemption.
2. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished purification of our conscience.
Then two weeks ago we saw three more accomplishments of the once for all sacrifice the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Christ’s sacrifice
accomplished the promise of our eternal inheritance. (15-17)
4. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished the
promise of immediate access to God. (18-24)
5. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished the promise of putting away of sin. (25-26)
Last week we saw the sixth accomplishment of the once for all sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
6. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished salvation from this present sinful world.
Today I would like to take a look at the final four of ten accomplishments of the once for all sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ from Hebrews 10:1-18.
7. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished the establishing of the New Covenant and the abolishing of the Old Covenant.
8. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished eternal sanctification for those in the New Covenant.
9. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished eternal perfection for those in the New Covenant.
10. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished completed salvation
Purpose
My purpose in preaching this section of Hebrews is to show you what the writer says about the accomplishments of Christ as the priest and mediator of this New Covenant with the hopes that you will walk in freedom and joy in your salvation in Christ. And that you will be able, by looking to Christ, endure the hardships, struggles, temptations, and persecutions that come with living as an enemy of the world.
We need our salvation grounded in the bed rock of the truth of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. All other ground is shifting sand.
RPNP
So look with me at these final four of ten accomplishments of the once for all sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ from Hebrews 10:1-18.
7. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished the establishing of
the New Covenant and the abolishing of the Old Covenant.
In showing the establishing of the New Covenant and the abolishing of the Old the writer first shows the weakness of the old system and then he shows how the Lord Jesus Christ proved His superiority by His life and ministry. He quotes Psalm 40:6-8. Look with me at verses 5 through 9.
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ” 8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.
There is a textual difference that I would like to briefly address. Let me say that much has been written on the subject and no concrete solution has been found but I think the best one came from Jamieson-Faucett-Brown Bible Commentary. The difference in Hebrews 10:5 is the phrase “a body have you prepared for me.” Psalm 40:6 reads “my ear have you opened.” Let me read to you what the JFB Commentary states.
“In the Hebrew, Ps 40:6, it is "mine ears hast thou opened," or "dug." Perhaps this alludes to the custom of boring the ear of a slave who volunteers to remain under his master when he might be free. Christ's assuming a human body, in obedience to the Father's will, in order to die the death of a slave (Heb 2:14), was virtually the same act of voluntary submission to service as that of a slave suffering his ear to be bored by his master. His willing obedience to the Father's will is what is dwelt on as giving especial virtue to His sacrifice (Heb 10:7, 9, 10). The preparing, or fitting of a body for Him, is not with a view to His mere incarnation, but to His expiatory sacrifice (Heb 10:10), as the contrast to "sacrifice and offering" requires…”—Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
I think that statement is right on the money and does a better job explaining the difference in the reading than anything else I read. Plus we know that this book was accepted into the Canon of Scripture early so the people who read this passage would have been familiar with the rendering of this verse in this way. Probably, this was a common interpretation of this verse with a Messianic view and understanding of the Psalm.
The overall point is that Christ came to do the will of His Father and part of that will was to do what verse 9 says. Look at the verse.
9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.
Folks, this is the argument of the entire epistle. We are to hold fast our confession in Christ precisely because He is the only hope for salvation. God is no longer interested in the sacrificial system. Because of Christ and His sacrifice the Old Covenant is antiquated and done away with. Everything that God is now doing is happing in the context of the New and better covenant.
The Old Covenant is done away with precisely because of its inadequacies while the New Covenant is established because of its strength. The strength is not in the people in the covenant but rather the sacrifice that initiated and fulfilled the New Covenant promises.
Our second, third, and fourth points show this. I want you to keep in mind verse 9 before we move on. Look at the verse.
9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.(Whose will? God’s will! And God’s will is to establish the new and abolish the old and to do in the New Covenant what could not be done in the Old.)” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. So what is God’s will for us? I want you to see that in our second point.
8. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished eternal sanctification for those in the New Covenant.
Look with me at verse 10.
10 And by that will we have been
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
In the sovereign will and purpose of God the writer can make a very bold statement. Verse 10 is a declaration of the persistence of our heavenly Father. Notice the very first phrase of verse 10. And by that will… This will is the same that was spoken of Christ in the previous verses. The declaration is that Christ came to do the will of the Father and the will of the Father is to establish the New Covenant. Plus, in that will we have sanctification.
Notice verse 10.
And by that will we have been sanctified
The verb that is translated “we have been sanctified” is a perfect passive participle. The writer uses this tense to show us that within the New Covenant we are sanctified already in the will of God. And as the men saw this weekend this is in God’s vision to conform us to the image of Christ. The perfect tense is action happening in the past that carries on into the future. So by the sacrifice of Christ we have been, are being, and will be sanctified.
This is also a passive verb which shows that the subject, us in the New Covenant being that subject, are being acted upon. But notice in verse 10 how this is done. We have two very important prepositions in verse 10. The two words are “by” and “through.” By the will of God we have been sanctified but notice what the means of that sanctification is. Look at verse 10.
10 And by that will we have been
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The body is the body that is referenced from Psalm 47 in verse 5 that we saw earlier. This is the body that was broken for the redemption of many. And the writer uses that word “once for all” again that he has employed previously to describe the one time all sufficient sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of His elect people.
Folks, if we are going to have our theological feet firmly planted on the solid rock and not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine then we need this truth to be firmly planted in our hearts. God in His divine, sovereign election has willed the salvation of His people and He will personally and providentially see to that end. And there is absolutely nothing that will stop God’s purpose and plan to fully conform His people to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ and that includes our sanctification.
It’s probably a good idea at this point to be clear on the difference between sanctification and justification.
John McArthur has outlined five similarities between justification and sanctification.
1. Both arise from the free grace of God.
2. Both are part of Christ’s redemptive work of salvation.
3. Both will and must be present in the same person.
4. Both begin simultaneously.
5. Both are necessary to glorification.
He also has provided five ways justification and sanctification are different.
1. In justification a person is counted righteous because Christ’s righteousness is imputed to him. In sanctification a person is working out his or her salvation over time.
2. The righteousness of justification in not our own, but Christ’s. The righteousness of sanctification is ours, though wrought by the Spirit of God.
3. Our works play no part in justification but are critical in sanctification.
4. Justification is a completed work while sanctification, although spoken of in our passage as completed, is not completed in actuality until death and glorification.
5. Justification does not increase or develop or grow while sanctification is progressive as believers grow in their spiritual walk towards glorification.
The Bible can speak of sanctification as a completed work because Christ’s sacrificial death secures complete salvation in all of God’s elect. When a person is effectually called to salvation by God’s grace they are enabled and made willing by the Holy Spirit to receive the Gospel and because of this special work of grace that same person is made willing and able to pursue sanctification which God will work in that person.
We have seen so far this morning that Christ’s sacrifice accomplished the establishing of the New Covenant and the abolishing of the Old Covenant and Christ’s sacrifice accomplished eternal sanctification for those in the New Covenant. Now I want you to see that:
9. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished eternal perfection for those in the New Covenant.
Again to highlight the vast superiority of Christ’s salvation over the Old Covenant system the writer calls to mind the old system. Notice verse 12 and particularly the posture of the Old Covenant high priest. Look at verse 11.
11 And every priest stands
daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never
take away sins.
The priests serving in the
12 But (But is a
superordinating conjunction that sets what is about to be said in direct
opposition to what has just been said.
The priests stands, but…) when Christ had offered for all time a
single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
The work of salvation is complete. And the writer can go on to make a very bold claim. Look at verse 13.
13 waiting from that time until his
enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
Quoting Psalm 110 the writer states that the salvific work
of the Lord Jesus Christ is completed and now He is awaiting the completion of
the plan of God the Father to fully establish the New Covenant. And the reason for this is in verse 14 as
well as the benefit for us as New Covenant members. Look at verse 14.
14 For by a single offering (the single sacrifice offered by Christ which was His body) he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
The verb perfected is also a perfect verb from our word that
we are very familiar with at this point in our series, telos. Christ has perfected or saved to the uttermost
for all time a particular group of people.
Who are they? In the language of
the New Testament they are τοὺς ἁγιαζομένους.
….those who are being sanctified. There are two different tenses used in this section to speak of the ones in the New Covenant involved in sanctification. In verse 9 the verb is perfect and speaks of completed action in the past that carries on in the future. In verse 14 the verb is in the present tense but is also passive. The sanctification process although spoken of correctly as completed is ongoing in the lives of the believers that are presently alive. So we can speak as believer’s this way. We are sanctified, we are being sanctified, and we will be sanctified and still be correct. In God’s view if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you are going to go through the process of sanctification. You may go kicking and screaming but you are going. And everything that happens in your life and to you and around you is God working out His plan of conforming you to the image of Christ.
And what the men were reminded of this weekend and I will share it with you men that could not attend and you ladies is that everything that you endure in your life is evidence of God conforming you to the image of His Son and that often includes pain and discomfort. God’s will is our sanctification but often our will is our comfort and happiness. So when things happen to us it is for our sanctification and not for our harm. So we need to learn to rejoice in all things like the Apostle Paul told us to do. We live under the marching orders of Christ who told us that in this world we would have tribulation but in the midst of that tribulation we could be of good cheer because He had overcome the world.
So the question this morning is whether or not you are among the ones being sanctified. Are you growing in grace and maturing in the faith and in holiness? Is there evidence in your life of God cooking away the dross that is in you and making you more like Christ? Is there a hunger and thirst for righteousness? When you are made aware by the Holy Spirit of your sin do you cry out with the Apostle Paul, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Notice perfection right now is not the assurance of salvation. Ongoing sanctification is. The promise is that all those who are in Christ positionally now are perfected eternally but on earth are in the throws of sanctification.
Where we draw our comfort and security in this life is in the biblically established fact of Christ’s completed work of salvation on our parts apart from our righteousness and ability of sanctification.
I want you to make sure that you understand this. The quintessential Christian life is not the
life of a super Christian. It is like
one of the episodes of Gilligan’s
That is an illustration of the Christian life. We have bound ourselves to Christ and we know that He is our only hope of salvation and whatever happens in this life we must stay firmly rooted in Christ as the source of our salvation and sanctification lest we perish.
This is why Paul went into
We have already seen three accomplishments of Christ that we can hold on to. We have seen that Christ’s sacrifice accomplished the establishing of the New Covenant and the abolishing of the Old Covenant and Christ’s sacrifice accomplished eternal sanctification for those in the New Covenant. We have seen that Christ’s sacrifice has accomplished eternal perfection for those in the New Covenant. Now I want you to see that:
10. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished completed salvation for those in the New Covenant.
All of this is rooted in God’s declaration in the Old Testament, particularly Jeremiah 31, that a New Covenant was coming by which God would fully and finally complete salvation for all time for His elect people. Look with me at verses 15-17.
15 And
the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and
write them on their minds,” 17 then he adds, “I will remember
their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
In the summary of all that the writer has said from chapter
1 verse 1 until right now in chapter 10:17 the writer Hebrews lays the final
brick in the wall that completes the understanding of the New and better
Covenant which has done away with the Old Covenant. The statement is in verse 18. Look at it with me.
18 Where there is forgiveness of these (what are these? The sins and the lawless deeds of the people who have been placed in the New Covenant will no longer be remembered by God and because these sins are paid for the writer of Hebrews says in the rest of verse 18…), there is no longer any offering for sin.
In the Old Covenant the constant sacrifice served as a reminder of the ongoing pervasiveness of sin and that it had not been paid for. But the once for all, perfect, eternal sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross shows that what Christ said from the cross is true. What did He say? “Tetelestai!” It is finished! And folks when the Lord says it is finished it is finished and there is not a sacrifice left to be offered that would not be an offense and a stench in the nostrils of God.
Did you ever wonder why the Lord would allow His glorious
The first section of Hebrews, from 1:1 all the way to 10:18 is theological. The remainder of the letter is very practical and we are going to see how we are to conduct ourselves in a world in opposition to the New Covenant. We can call the first section of Hebrews reformation and the second section revival. The writer has written this intentionally. He has established for us the perfection that is Christ’s sacrifice and the security of our salvation and now through the writer the Holy Spirit is going to show us how to live out that faith in any situation.
Let’s pray.
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