Greater Than (10)
Notes
Transcript
Greater Than
Greater Than
Good morning. I hope we all had a good week. I have a 6lb 11 oz grandson as of this week. I appreciate all the prayers and I should have my wife back next week. There is only so many ways you can make a hm sandwich.
I am so glad your here today and for all of you online please like, subscribe, and share.
Please turn in your Bibles or apps to Hebrews 10.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Nine: The Superior Sacrifice (Hebrews 10)
A teenage boy, whose mother was away on a visit, found himself with time on his hands. He decided to read a book from the family library. His mother was a devout Christian, so the boy knew there would be a sermon at the beginning and an application at the end of the book, but there would also be some interesting stories in between.
While reading the book, he came across the phrase “the finished work of Christ.” It struck him with unusual power. “The finished work of Christ.”
“Why does the author use this expression?” he asked himself. “Why not say the atoning or the propitiatory work of Christ?” (You see, he knew all the biblical terms. He just did not know the Saviour!) Then the words, “It is finished,” flashed into his mind, and he realized afresh that the work of salvation was accomplished.
“If the whole work was finished and the whole debt paid, what is there left for me to do?” He knew the answer and fell to his knees to receive the Saviour and full forgiveness of sins. That is how J. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, was saved.
That is what I want to dive into today.
The idea we can spend a life of doing good things. Offering ourselves and our stuff to everyone and everything, only to find it will never be enough.
Only though Christ and what He did can we truly be freed and redeemed.
We may have a:
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
Please stand with me as we read and hear the only words that matter today.
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 sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins 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; 6 in 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 does away with 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.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Let’s pray
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
We have seen over the last few weeks that Jesus; priesthood is greater than any before, His ministry is based on a greater covenant, the new covenant, and it is carried out through a greater sanctuary, the eternal sanctuary.
But all of this depends on a better sacrifice.
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
We heard last week:
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
We are going to be jumping around this chapter today, and I encourage you to take time and read it through this week.
My prayer is you will see the hope, assurance, and truth of this chapter as we discover the following 3 things about the superiority and finality of Christ’s sacrifice over any offering that could ever be brought to God.
Christ’s sacrifice takes away sin, not just cover it up.
Sin is not a word we like to use or hear anymore, but it is real and it comes natural.
If you don’t believe it is out there watch the news. Ask yourself who taught you to lie?
No matter what your belief or what you do, if it does not deal with sin it is of no value.
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 sins?
Christ’s sacrifice takes away sin, not just cover it up.
If it worked, they would not need to keep doing it. There needed to a better sacrifice.
These sacrifices and any other we could offer can’t remove sin, they only remind us of our sin.
What we couldn't do, God provided.
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; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
Christ’s sacrifice takes away sin, not just cover it up.
The OT sacrifices were never meant to satisfy the cost of sin, thye only pointed to the coming greater sacrifice.
THis greater sacrifice was effective and satisfied the debt of sin.
10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Because it was effective:
Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be repeated.
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,
Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be repeated.
I pointed this out last week.
It says Christ was seated - this is proof the task was completed.
The OT priests was never done and never different. They had to keep sacrificing because it was not permanent.
14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be repeated.
Quick side note look at v 13
13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be repeated.
Not only is Christ finished, He is victorious
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be repeated.
How do we know? The Holy Spirit bears witness
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.”
Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be repeated.
Forgiven and forgotten.
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be repeated.
East to west always traveling - infinity
Christ’s sacrifice opens the way to God.
Remember no Jew would dare enter the Holies of Holies. Even the High Priest only went once a year.
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
Christ’s sacrifice opens the way to God.
We have confidence to enter and not fear. Not only do we have confidence, we are invited to come.
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Christ’s sacrifice opens the way to God.
We come clean and purified because Christ cleaned and purified us.
We come with assurance.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Christ’s sacrifice opens the way to God.
We hold on to hope knowing it was enough and knowing He is coming back for us.
We come not alone.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Christ’s sacrifice opens the way to God.
We strengthen and encourage each other. Every time I stand up here and see your faces or hear your singing I know I can make it another week.
Anyone who says going to church is not important is a person who is struggling in their ability to hold onto hope.
It is together we experience and share the love of God greater.
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
The author of Hebrews closes this chapter with the fourth of five exhortations.
We have already seen we can start by drifting from the Word, move to doubting the Word, we wil then become dull to the Word (lazy), and now we would move to despising the Word.
The evidence of despising the Word - willful sin.
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
This is not a act of sin but rather a continuous attitude that leads to repeated sin.
28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
Called to turn back to Christ.
35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
John Wesley once preached a sermon entitle the “Almost Christian”
He had done so many things in obedience to the Bible. H served the poor, ministered to those in prison,
gave away his things, lived a holy and upright life in his dealings and actions with others, and he was moral but he was only almost a Christian
He had never surrendered and allowed his heart to be Christ‘s throne. He was never born again by accepting the gift of God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice. He was almost a Christian.
Then he became the altogether Christian.
The love of God enveloped his heart which led to loving all he came in contact with and faith guided his steps.
Correct belief of facts is not enough. Correct doctrinal positions are not enough.
I close with Wesley’s call and questions:
Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart Can you cry out, ‘My God, and my All?’ Do you desire nothing but him? Are you happy in God? Is he your glory, your delight, your crown of rejoicing? And is this commandment written in your heart, ‘That he who loveth God love his brother also?’ Do you then love your neighbour as yourself? Do you love every man, even your enemies, even the enemies of God, as your own soul as Christ loved you?
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
Great Offering / Greater Sacrifice
That's what the ultimate absolute sacrifice of Christ does to us.
Are you almost or altogether Christian?
Let’s pray.
