Choose Your Sacrifice

Hebrews 10:1-10

Hebrews 10:1–10 (NLT)

1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.

2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year.

4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer.

6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.

7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’ ”

8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).

9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.

10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

INTRODUCTION:

I. AN INSUFFICIENT SACRIFICE (Hebrews 10:1-4).

Hebrews 10:1–4 (NLT)

1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.

2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year.

4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

A. Some sacrifices cannot perfect the believer no matter how many times offered. (Hebrews 10:1-2).

Hebrews 10:1–2 (NLT)

1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.

2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

1 Σκιὰν γὰρ ἔχων ὁ νόμος τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν, οὐκ αὐτὴν τὴν εἰκόνα τῶν πραγμάτων, κατʼ ἐνιαυτὸν ταῖς αὐταῖς θυσίαις ἃς προσφέρουσιν εἰς τὸ διηνεκὲς οὐδέποτε δύναται τοὺς προσερχομένους τελειῶσαι·

2 ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἂν ἐπαύσαντο προσφερόμεναι, διὰ τὸ μηδεμίαν ἔχειν ἔτι συνείδησιν ἁμαρτιῶν τοὺς λατρεύοντας ἅπαξ κεκαθαρισμένους;

1. Annual sacrifice for atonement can not do the job.

a. Some folks think that by giving up something by way of sacrifice will help, but it does nothing for the guilt.

2. Sacrifices offered to erase guilt when the offence is committed do not avail.

B. Sacrifices that cannot cleanse the conscience of guilt are worthless. (Hebrews 10:3).

Hebrews 10:3 (NLT)

3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year.

3 ἀλλʼ ἐν αὐταῖς ἀνάμνησις ἁμαρτιῶν κατʼ ἐνιαυτόν,

1. Sacrifices and offerings cannot purge the consciousness of guilt for sin.

a. People many times will do wrong and then spend a lifetime trying to make up for that sin.

b. The doing of good works cannot avail to erase guilt for sin (Romans 3:20).

Romans 3:20 (NLT)

20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

c. Attempting to live the law or do enough good works to only leads to a deeper sense of failure and guilt. ( Romans 7:23-24)

Romans 7:23–24 (NLT)

23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

2. No matter what we give as an offering or sacrifice, it cannot erase the guilt we sense.

a. Martin Luther, following what he had been taught, thought he could be purged from his guilt through self-punishment. He had himself beaten daily and went to bed bloody. Still it did not erase his sense of guilt for his sin.

b. All of the best we can do will not erase our sense of guilt for sin (Isa. 64:6).

Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)

6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

c. The heart is desperately wicked, therefore not an accurate guide for us (Jeremiah 17:9)

Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)

9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

C. It is impossible for the sacrifice of created things to do away with our sins. (Hebrews 10:4).

Hebrews 10:4 (NLT)

4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

4 ἀδύνατον γὰρ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων ἀφαιρεῖν ἁμαρτίας.

1. All that is in creation is tainted with sin. (Romans 8:21-22)

Romans 8:21–22 (NLT)

21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

2. Even the old testament sacrifices did not wash away sin.

3. Our offerings of physical things cannot erase our guilt, only acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice can.(Acts 4:12)

Acts 4:12 (NLT)

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

II. AN INTELLIGENT SACRIFICE (Hebrews 10:5-10).

Hebrews 10:5–10 (NLT)

5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer.

6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.

7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’ ”

8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).

9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.

10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

A. An intelligent sacrifice begins with what God really wants. (Hebrews 10:5-7).

Hebrews 10:5–7 (NLT)

5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer.

6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.

7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’ ”

5 διὸ εἰσερχόμενος εἰς τὸν κόσμον λέγει· Θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας, σῶμα δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι·

6 ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ εὐδόκησας.

7 τότε εἶπον· Ἰδοὺ ἥκω, ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ, τοῦ ποιῆσαι, ὁ θεός, τὸ θέλημά σου.

1. The sacrifice of self is what God wants (Rom. 12:1-2).

Romans 12:1–2 (NLT)

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2. The yielding of the life to His will is what He desires.( Matthew 7:21; 1 John 2:17)

Matthew 7:21 (NLT)

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

1 John 2:17 (NLT)

17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

B. An intelligent sacrifice is the acceptance of the one made for us. (Hebrews 10:8-10).

Hebrews 10:8–10 (NLT)

8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).

9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.

10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

8 ἀνώτερον λέγων ὅτι Θυσίας καὶ προσφορὰς καὶ ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ ἠθέλησας οὐδὲ εὐδόκησας, αἵτινες κατὰ νόμον προσφέρονται,

9 τότε εἴρηκεν· Ἰδοὺ ἥκω τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημά σου· ἀναιρεῖ τὸ πρῶτον ἵνα τὸ δεύτερον στήσῃ.

10 ἐν ᾧ θελήματι ἡγιασμένοι ἐσμὲν διὰ τῆς προσφορᾶς τοῦ σώματος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐφάπαξ.

1. Jesus made the sacrifice that cleanses away our sins.

2. Jesus’ sacrifice makes possible the living sacrifice for our lives that pleases God. (Gal. 2:20)

Galatians 2:20 (NLT)

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

CONCLUSION: