Hebrews 10 and the Incarnation
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Today we are going to take a look at Hebrews 10, what it teaches us about how the Bible is pieced together, the significance of Jesus coming to Earth, and what this all means for us here today.
If you’ve ever wondered why there were sacrifices in the Old Testament or if we should still be doing them, we will hopefully answer that today. If you’ve wondered about your salvation and are sure that you believe that Jesus died for you, but you just feel concerned, hopefully we will answer that today as well. As we explore Hebrews 10, I will try to bring everything around to Hebrews 10:19-25 which shows us three things the incarnation and work of Jesus calls us to do. But before we get there, I want to quickly explore Hebrews 10:1-18 and I want to break that up into three parts which some of your Bible notes may have already done.
The Purpose of Animal Sacrifices
The Purpose of Animal Sacrifices
What is the purpose of the animal sacrifices that we find throughout the Old Testament? Did they save them or were they just worthless? Well, the answer to that is neither. The animal sacrifices didn’t forgive sins, but they weren’t worthless either.
Hebrews 10:1–2 (NKJV)
1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
Notice how the writer is arguing here? The first thing that he brings up for us is that these sacrifices couldn’t make the sacrificers pure. They couldn’t truly forgive the sins and cleanse the consciences of the people who gave them and in verse two he argues, “If that was the case, why do they keep going? If they could really forgive, then wouldn’t there be forgiveness and therefore no more sacrifices?” And in Hebrews 10:3-4, he answers that question by saying:
3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
So, these sacrifices could not take away the sins of those giving the sacrifices. But what was their purpose? Hebrews 10:1
Hebrews 10:1 (NKJV)
1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
This is where we find our answer. What was the purpose of the sacrifices? They served as an arrow pointing to something greater, something more full that was to come. *Lets pretend we’re playing hide and seek and you see a shadow…*
So, the OT sacrifices depicted a coming sacrifice that would truly forgive, but what or who was that? This is what leads us into our next section of Hebrews 10:5-10.
The Satisfying Work of Jesus
The Satisfying Work of Jesus
What this passage shows us is that God was not truly pleased with the sacrifices of the Old Testament, but that He would only be satisfied through the work of the Son and His sacrifice alone. Now, in Heb 10:9
9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second.
What do you think it means He takes away the first and establishes the second? I believe that this passage is referring to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament being fulfilled in Jesus and that through Jesus, we have the New Covenant. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. And Hebrews 10:10 tells us
10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
It is by this sacrifice, this one time sacrifice, that sinners are sanctified, or set apart from darkness and dedicated to God.
The Safety Found in Jesus Work
The Safety Found in Jesus Work
11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
In verse 11-18, we find that the writer broadens his scope again. In Hebrews 10:11, he brings out the OT Priests and says, “Those guys are sacrificing constantly and cannot find forgiveness for their sins.” And in verse 12-13 he says, “But Jesus, the One those sacrifices foreshadowed, has come and given Himself as a sacrifice one time and God is forever satisfied with Him.
14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Notice the tenses here? Perfected is past tense but being sanctified is present tense. This is referring to the fact that we who believe have been saved and forgiven of our sins but that throughout our Christian life we are being made more and more like the Lord.
Finally, in Hebrews 10:15-18, the writer brings out the OT prophesy that the Holy Spirit would write the Law of God on our hearts and mind, but he makes sure to inform us that it is not to crush us and to constantly remind us that we aren’t safe! Hebrews 10:17-18
17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
So, in the coming of Jesus there is peace because this is an acceptable, one time, forever settled sacrifice and through that, we have assurance and forgiveness forever. To put it simply, Jesus came to save sinners and to reunite them with God. This leads us to the final point of this lesson, which is:
Three Implications of this Work For Us
Three Implications of this Work For Us
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 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. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
What does all of this mean for us? What does believing this look like in our lives? First, it means:
We are Invited to Draw Near.
We are Invited to Draw Near.
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.
Now what does it mean to draw near? To draw near means that we find our hearts yearning for the presence of the glory of God. Drawing near is coming to God to be with Him, to behold His glory, and to fellowship with Him. To draw near is to come to Him knowing that He welcomes you, He hears you, and He will answer you.
He wants us to approach God with a sincere heart that is grounded in the gospel and that it is through this gospel that our consciences and our conducts are purified.
We are Encouraged to Stand Strong.
We are Encouraged to Stand Strong.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Notice, that believing in this work of Jesus results in us confessing this faith. One writer mentioned that a faith that is true is a faith that will be known among men. What the writer wants us to grab here is that although life is hard as a believer, we are to stand firmly upon the character and the promises of God. Guys, the best thing that you can do for your Christian walk is to grab a hold of the promises of God by faith and to nurture your heart with them because He is a promise keeping God.
This looks like reminding yourself that when your tempted to fall into sin, that God is greater and wiser than us and that we can trust Him even when we are seriously tempted to run astray.
We are Energized to Pursue Real Community.
We are Energized to Pursue Real Community.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
We should seek to know the needs of others.
Loving one another will not just happen, but should be worked at.
Love must have practical outworking.
The gathering of believers is for our encouragement during hardship.