Once For All

Introduction

Throughout our study of the book of Hebrews, the author has been showing the difference between the Old Covenant and the New. The author has worked hard to show how much better the New Covenant really is.

You know when I was a kid, There were times when I loved the shadows. Like when I was playing a rousing game of hide-n-seek, or when I was trying to torment my sister and her boyfriend.

But there were times when I was afraid of the shadows. Like at night, in the dark, when I thought I saw something move, or when the shadows looked like something other than what they really are.

Today, we come to the tenth chapter of the book of Hebrews. In verse the author says that the that the law—the law of God—is only a shadow of the good things to come.

If you have your Bibles, turn with me to Hebrews chapter 10.

Hebrews 10:1–4 NIV84

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

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A Shadow

There you have it. The law that God—the Old Covenant—was made by God to show the realities of the future.

The Old Covenant, the law had several problems:

First, the person (and priests) had to offer the same sacrifice over and over again.

Secondly, the law never make the worshiper perfect.

If it could make the worshiper perfect, then there would not need to be another sacrifice. Once the person was made perfect there wouldn’t have been a need to offer the sacrifice over and over again, because the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all.

Not only that, but if the person had been cleansed they would not continue to feel the guilt of their sins.

KEY—Followers of Jesus have been freed. We have been freed from our sins, and we have been freed from our guilt.

says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me [and every believer] free from the law of sin and death.”

The author says those sacrifices of the Old Covenant were reminders of the sins of the people. It was a reminder because the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins.

Therefore Christ

Hebrews 10:5–7 NIV84

Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, O God.’ ”

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The author roughly quotes from .

First, God never desired sacrifice and offerings. Instead, God prepared a body for Jesus.

Secondly, (a repeat) God is not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. All God ever wanted was for His people to live in obedience to Him so that He could fellowship with them.

Third, Jesus came to do the will of God the Father just like it was prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus did just that. Remember the garden of Gethsemane? ()

Explanation

Hebrews 10:8–10 NIV84

First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:8-

I love it when Scripture explains Scripture. That’s the case here.

Even though God required sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, sin offerings He really did not desire them, nor was He pleased with them.

Jesus then said, “Here I am.” The Greek can be translated, behold, but I like the way the NIV translated wording. I am is the name that God used to identify Himself to Moses.

The sole purpose of Jesus’ coming was to do the will of the Father. That will was to set aside the Old Covenant and establish the New Covenant.

In verse 10 we are told the reason for this move by God. This change happened because of God’s will. That will was for us to be made holy through the sacrifice of Jesus. That holiness was done ONCE FOR ALL.

Now, after completing the will of God the Father, Jesus has sat down at the right hand of God. The right hand is the place of honor.

Remember the disciples? Jesus is on His way to the cross, and James and John are arguing about who will sit on Jesus’ right side and left side. Jesus said that it was not His to give. Now we read that Jesus is seated on the Father’s right hand—the place of honor.

One of the biggest difference between the first covenant and the second. Since Jesus is/was the sacrifice. Now His word was “finished” that’s why He sat down.

So far, the author has built his argument and in doing so he has appealed to logic and reason; he has used Old Testament passages; and now beginning in verse 15 he is going to use the testimony of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit

Hebrews 10:15–17 NIV84

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

Hebrews 10:15-

The NIV uses the word “testifies” which is not an uncommon translation for this passage, but the passage has the idea that the Holy Spirit confirms, or bears witness to the truth of verses 16 and 17. He does this by quoting and 34. In these verses the Holy Spirit confirms to us several things.

First, the Lord will make a different covenant with them. It will be made at the appropriate time.

Secondly, God will put His laws in the hearts of His people. And He will write them on their minds.

Thirdly, God will no longer remember the sins of His people and their lawless acts.

These three points are key for those who follow Jesus. All of them depend on God.

God sent Jesus at the appropriate time to become our once for all sacrifice.

God installs His moral compass in us by putting His laws in our hearts, and writing His commands on our minds. It is no longer a list of unobtainable does and don’ts, but by putting His commands inside us, through the Holy Spirit He gives us the ability to live out those commands. ()

And God forgives our sins and lawless acts and remembers them no more! They’re gone! If they are gone this frees us from guilt and shame.

Now don’t miss this next part. Look at verse 18.

Hebrews 10:18 NIV84

And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

When true forgiveness comes there is no need for another sacrifice.

So What

This morning I want to ask you a couple of questions:

Have you experienced God’s forgiveness and the freedom that comes with it? Freedom from guilt and shame.

Are you using the moral compass that God has placed inside you to lead you and guide you?

Lords Supper

This morning we are going to conclude our service by celebrating what we call the Lord’s Supper.

The night before the crucifixion of Jesus, He gathered in the upper room with is disciples. He had one last shot to share with them. In that context He instituted this act and told His disciples to participate in it remembering all He had done and was about to do.

In we read that before we participate in the Lord’s Supper, “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick and a number of you have fallen asleep.”

LORD’S SUPPER