The Grand Plan Completed

Introduction

Good morning please open in your Bible’s to Hebrews 10:1-18 that is Hebrews 10:1-18. If you are using a Bible scattered throughout the chairs that is on page 946. As we have walked through the book of Hebrews we have to see that in Jesus we have a better sacrifice, offered by a better high priest, in a better temple, according to a better covenant. The old sacrifice of goats and bulls, the old high priest from the tribe of Levi, the old temple were all a part of the old covenant. The first covenant or promise that God made with man that declared if man were to obey God’s law, worship him alone, then they would live. He would be their God and they would be His people. But if they failed to keep this covenant they would die. This didn’t happen. God’s people worshiped false idols and broke God’s covenant. God determined to make a new covenant with man in Jeremiah 31 he promised to one day write his law on man’s heart and remember their sins no more. That promised was fulfilled when Jesus lived the perfect life, died for sins of mankind on the cross, and rose from the dead. Now, through faith in Jesus, not obedience to the law, we can live. God will be our God and He we are his people. Through faith not through works. This is the new covenant. The story’s unfolding can almost make it seem like the new covenant was “plan b”, the backup plan, but that just is not true. The author of Hebrews helps us see that while the Old Covenant was not capable of making us perfect like the New Covenant. The Old Covenant was still always a part of God’s plan. God has always had a grand plan to save His people from their sins to the praise of His glory. There was never a plan b. Just one plan that entailed two covenants. That’s the big take for the morning, God always had a plan. He is in total control. Let’s read Hebrews 10:1-18

God’s Plan to Save Us v. 1-4

Hebrews 10:1 “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.”

The Old Covenant was not plan A and the new covenant plan b. Rather the Old Covenant existed to point us to the new. It was a necessary part of God’s plan to save his people from their sins and prove that He is just and the justified of sin as Paul explains in Romans 3:23–26 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” The author of Hebrews explains this reality to the Christian Jews he writes to by stating that the Old Covenant was a shadow of the good things to come. He explains that this shadow (the sacrifices of goats and bulls, the priesthood, the tabernacle) can never make perfect those who draw near to God through it. William Lindsay explains it like this, “They were like the shadow of food to a hungry man. They were like the painting of a life-boat to mariners sinking in the sea. They spoke of pardon, but they could not bestow it. They indicated the need of it, but they could not supply the want.” The shadow can point toward the real thing, but it is not the real thing. Yet, the shadow does have a purpose. It testifies to the real thing, you cannot have a shadow without the object that cast the shadow. The shadow cannot contradict the object it reflects, instead it finds its shape and its existence because of the original. The Old Covenant is evidence that the New covenant was coming. It could only cleanse men ceremonially and temporarily, but only the sacrifice of Christ could perfect a man. And the presence of the OC was always an indication of the coming of the NC.

Now, when I reference the temporal nature of the Old Covenant sacrifices I fear I have accidentally implied an inaccuracy. That inaccuracy would be the idea that the sacrifices of Israel on atoned for past sin. Specifically, the annual sacrifice on the Day of Atonement. I don’t to imply that it only covered the sins of the people for the past year. This is never stated in the OT, but rather this annual sacrifice was done each year on behalf of all of the people sins, unintentional sins, intentional sins, past sins, and future sins. The sacrifice was meant to atone for all the sin of the people of God. But it was sacrificed each year as an annual reminder of their need for true atonement. It made the people ceremonially clean and the sacrifice had to repeated each year. It did not cleanse the conscience of the people like Jesus’ sacrifice does. Which is why it needed to be done each year. Not because new sins needed to be atoned for, but because the sacrifice itself was not sufficient to cleanse the conscience of man. It could not make us perfect or complete. This is why our writer writes Hebrews 10:2–3 “Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.” If the OC could make a man’s conscience, the internal, perfect then those sacrifices would not need to be repeated. If the shadow could save, it would have. But since it could not, it needed to be repeated to remind the people of sin, and to remind them a better sacrifice was coming. Their ineffectiveness necessitated repeated sacrifice. It is Hebrews 10:4 “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” The only thing that can take away sins is the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus.

So, why does this matter for us? Why do we even need to be aware of the OC? If Jesus’ blood is enough and we live after that perfect sacrifice then why should we care about the OC sacrifices?

One reason is because it shows us that our salvation was not improvised. God isn’t just making this up as He goes. Our salvation is planned. And plans, planning, indicate love. In Ephesians 1:3–6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Do you hear why God predestined us, pre-planned our salvation? In love.. He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons. The purpose of his will is to glorify himself through his display of love. The blessing of salvation through Christ is a precious pre-planned act of love by our heavenly Father.

Imagine ladies if you were to go on a date with your husband. And as you got into the car and asked him, where we going tonight? And he turned and looked at you and said, “I don’t know, I thought we just figure it out.” Would you feel very loved? It’s date night, and he just wants to wing it… Or imagine if he said, “I have been thinking a lot about this and you I remember you saying you really wanted to try out that new restaurant. So, I called ahead we have reservations at 6. Then I thought we could go walk over that bridge you like… I checked, the weather is going to be great! And at the end of the night we I found a late night bakery where we grab dessert to eat once the kids are asleep at home. I have it all planned out. Would know he loves you, feel his love for you?

As we read about the meticulous nature of the construction of the tabernacle in Exodus, the specificity in the book of Leviticus about each sacrifice to make the people clean, the detailed accounts of who could be a priest and what the high priest was to wear we need to hear the voice of our heavenly groom telling us, look I have it all planned out. It’s all setting the stage for something that will be truly perfect… something that can make you perfect.

T/S- And this is what Christ did. He made a plan and then brought it to fulfillment in order to complete and perfect our salvation.

God’s Plan Fulfilled v. 5-10

Because the OC could not make God’s people perfect we read Hebrews 10:5–10 “Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 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.’ ” 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), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Our author quotes from Psalm 40:6-8 and puts the words in the mouth of Christ. The Psalm recognizes that even in the OC the sacrifices and offerings were not the central point. But rather God desired worshipers who had faith in God. A faith manifested in a genuine love of God. The sacrifices are not the desire, but the body of Christ prepared by God is his desire. The body necessary for Christ’s obedience. What God loves is the one who does his will, not the one who forsakes his will and then just tries to make up for it by offering sacrifices. Jesus does not offer sacrifice for his own sin. He perfectly obeyed the will of God and then offered a sacrifice of his own body as a means of continued obedience to the will of the Father. The Father planned for Christ to take on flesh, Christ did what the Father planned. The Father planned for Christ to die for sins, the Son did just that. And in Jesus dying for sin and offering his body as a sacrifice for sin he does away with the OC and establishes the NC. And the setting aside of the OC and establishing the New is according to the will of God. This was always the plan.

And because this was the plan that the OC pointed to, once the plan was completed the need for sacrifice was no longer. Hebrews 10:10 “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Once Jesus died, the last blood sacrifice was given. There is no more need for blood to be spilled because Christ sacrifice was perfect just as God’s plan. Jesus took on a human body, was fully man and full God, lived a perfect life in that body, then offered his body as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Jesus, and only Jesus, brings together the real and perfect sacrifice for sin and the right heart, and heart of obedience that does the Father’s will.

Thus, only Jesus is needed to be sacrificed for sin. The original audience of this letter is being told, you no longer need to sacrifice animals for your sins. Those animals pointed to Jesus, but they could not take away sin (verse 4).

T/S- Jesus fulfilled God’s plan in Him the plan was made perfect.

God’s Plan Is Perfect v. 11-14

Hebrews 10:11–14 “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

The priest would stand daily and offering sacrifices, and annually the high priest would offer the sacrifice of atonement for the people. But Jesus offered one single sacrifice for sins, and once he did the work was finished. He sat down at the right of God because the job was complete. When see this word perfect in our text we might only think of moral perfection. Now, of course Jesus was morally perfect, he never sinned. And of course when we are in Christ we are seen by God as obtaining the righteousness, the moral perfection of Christ. But it also refers to the completion of our salvation. There is no longer a need for blood sacrifices because all of the our sin is taken away in Christ perfect sacrifice. The plan is completed. All sin is taken away in the sacrifice of Jesus.

FCF: Now, why do you and I need to hear that today? Functioning in Dysfunctional ways: one: Fear Future Failure. is that you and I function as if all of our past sins are forgiven, but we don’t really believe our future ones are covered. So we live fearful that God will drop us if we mess up too much.

We join the scoffer who says, “God loves you now, but just if you do “it” again… He’ll be done with you.” You don’t believe that your future sin is covered in the blood of Jesus. We operate in a way that says, past mistakes are ok, but present struggles are damning, and future sins we need a “new” sacrifice.

two: we can function with a guilty conscience. We live like it is still the OC. We gives our “sacrifices” (church attendance, give extra money to the church, make yourself feel really bad) because we still live with a consciousness of sin. Our past failures plague us and we still live with shame and guilt. This shapes of view of God and God’s people. If they really knew just how bad it is, if they really knew how much I doubted, if could see your thoughts then these church people, they’d run.” This is exactly where Satan wants you, not confiding in God’s people and getting help. Instead, living isolated and miserable.

Third: Unmotivated to Change. You continue to struggle with the same sin or sins and you think what’s the point. I can’t ever move past this. Dear brothers and sisters this is the counterintuitive but good news of the Gospel. All of your sin past, present, and future sin is covered in the blood of Jesus. Past sin no longer condemns you, present sin is not your master, and future sin will not disqualify you from his grace. And the guttural fleshly and dysfunctional response to that is.. well if that’s true why obey at all. But God says, it’s only because that is true that you obey at all.

Grace empowers obedience. It frees us to get help, it motivates us to change because only by it is change even possible, and gives us the right kind of fear and sorrow. A fear of sin, not a fear of God’s response to our sin. Only when we know that God will not punish us because we are in Christ, will we go to Him with our sin. We need a fear a reverance that reasons, if I really believe in Jesus then I must seek a way to change. Rather than a fear that says, if I believed in Jesus I wouldn’t have done this, I must not be truly saved. Or a fear that says, I can’t let anyone know about this because then they will judge me. Fear that leads to change is good.

In Jesus your salvation is complete, in Jesus you are being sanctified. You are becoming more and more holy. This process is progressive in that is happening in the here and now. The end is not yet here, but it is guaranteed. You will one day in glory be a finished product. Why? Hebrews 10:14 “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

T/S-God’s plan is fulfilled and it is perfect and complete. And I want to close with one final point it is still effective for us.

God’s Plan Is Still Effective v. 15-18

As you deal with the temptation to function in dysfunctional ways. I want to encourage that God’s plan is still in full effect. It is complete in the death and resurrection of Christ, but through his Holy Spirit it still being applied today. Hebrews 10:15–18 “And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “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,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

A man named Jeremiah wrote those words originally, but the author of Hebrews states that the Holy Spirit bears witness and says these things. Because the author of Hebrews knows that while God used many human authors, the true author of Scripture is God himself. 2 Peter 1:20–21 “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” And if there is one divine author of Scripture using mortal men to pen His words then we can be sure that there really is one divine plan to save sinners from the wrath of God. And that divine plan was set forth at the foundation of the world and is being completed step by step throughout the course of human history. Yes, the death and resurrection of Jesus was a past event. But the plan of God is still effective today because Jesus today, sits at the right of God waiting for his enemies to be a footstool at his feet. Jesus is waiting to bring the plan to its consummation, or final completion at His return. Jesus is coming back, not to deal with sin like we read last week, but to save those who are His.

But in his waiting, he is not passive. He is working by interceding on our behalf before his Father. Jesus is still at work to bring sinners home, and to keep those who belong to him until the final day. He hasn’t just left us hanging. He has given us His Spirit, His Church, and Himself to ensure that we make it to the day of judgement still in Christ. He has made a new covenant with us, that does not say obey or die. Instead, it says believe and live. He will cleanse us not just on the outside, but on the inside as well. He will write his law on our hearts, change our minds so that we long to obey him. In Christ, we are changed people. Titus 2:11–13 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” We are saved and changed from the inside out, people who live with God’s law written on our hearts and minds. And we are people are given a promise to sustain us. The promise that our sins are no longer remembered by God. And that in Christ there is no longer a need for a offering for sin.

Conclusion

Jesus died once and for all for sin. And because he did you and I can live. Free from the fear of future failure, free from a guilty conscience for past sin, and free to change and obey. That’s really good news. It’s the best news. If you are here today and you don’t know Christ then I want to invite you to come to him today. Grab me, a CG leader, or the friend that brought you and ask them what it means to follow Jesus.