Perfecting The Saints

TEXT: Hebrews 10:11-18

Hebrews 10:11–18 (NLT)

11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.

12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet.

14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

16 “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”

18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

INTRODUCTION:

I. THE PLAN (Hebrews 10:11-14).

Hebrews 10:11–14 (NLT)

11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.

12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet.

14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

A- Jesus offered the final sacrifice for sins. (Hebrews 10:11-12).

Hebrews 10:11–12 (NLT)

11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.

12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

11 Καὶ πᾶς μὲν ἱερεὺς ἕστηκεν καθʼ ἡμέραν λειτουργῶν καὶ τὰς αὐτὰς πολλάκις προσφέρων θυσίας, αἵτινες οὐδέποτε δύνανται περιελεῖν ἁμαρτίας.

12 οὗτος δὲ μίαν ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν προσενέγκας θυσίαν εἰς τὸ διηνεκὲς ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ,

1- The priests in the Old Covenant offered sacrifices that could not take away sin.

a. οὐδέποτε = ‘never, not ever, at no time.’

2- Jesus offered one sacrifice that is good for ever to take away our sins.

a. εἰς τὸ διηνεκὲς = unlimited duration of time, with particular focus upon the future—‘always, forever, forever and ever, eternally.’

B- Jesus ascended to His place as Lord. (Hebrews 10:12b).

Hebrews 10:12b (NLT)

12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

12 οὗτος δὲ μίαν ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν προσενέγκας θυσίαν εἰς τὸ διηνεκὲς ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ,

1- Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father.

a- ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ: (an idiom, literally ‘to cause to sit at the right hand’) to seat at the right hand of someone as an expression of assigning special importance or high status to such an individual—‘to seat at the right side, to give a special place of honor to.’

b- Stephen saw Jesus (Acts 7:55)

Acts 7:55 (NLT)

55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

2- Jesus has been given the position of Lord. (Phil. 2:9-11).

Philippians 2:9–11 (NLT)

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

C- Jesus awaits the fulfillment of God’s plan for the world. (Hebrews 10:13).

Hebrews 10:13 (NLT)

13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet.

13 τὸ λοιπὸν ἐκδεχόμενος ἕως τεθῶσιν οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτοῦ ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ,

1- One day Jesus will have victory over all of His enemies.(Rev. 19:11-16; Revelation 2:27)

Revelation 19:11–16 (NLT)

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.

12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.

13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.

14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.

15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.

16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Revelation 2:27 (NLT)

27 They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.

D- Jesus has sealed the outcome of the process of salvation. (Hebrews 10:14).

Hebrews 10:14 (NLT)

14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

14 μιᾷ γὰρ προσφορᾷ τετελείωκεν εἰς τὸ διηνεκὲς τοὺς ἁγιαζομένους.

1- The process of salvation is a present reality for us. (Romans 8:1)

Romans 8:1 (NLT)

1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

2- The outcome of the process has been sealed by Jesus’ sacrifice. (Eph. 1:13-14)

Ephesians 1:13–14 (NLT)

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.

14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

a- τετελείωκεν (τελειόω)= to make perfect in the moral sense—‘to make perfect, to perfect, causing perfection.

II. THE PROCESS (Hebrews 10:15-16).

Hebrews 10:15–16 (NLT)

15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

16 “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

A- The Holy Spirit witnesses to us about Christ. (Hebrews 10:15).

Hebrews 10:15 (NLT)

15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

15 μαρτυρεῖ δὲ ἡμῖν καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, μετὰ γὰρ τὸ εἰρηκέναι·

1- He convicts of sin, righteousness and Judgment (John 16:8 )

John 16:8 (NLT)

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

2- He convinces us about the testimony of Jesus.

a- μαρτυρεῖ = bear witness, testify, bear record

B- The new Covenant is established with individuals. (Hebrews 10:16a).

Hebrews 10:16a (NLT)

16 “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

16 Αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη ἣν διαθήσομαι πρὸς αὐτοὺς μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας, λέγει κύριος, διδοὺς νόμους μου ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν ἐπιγράψω αὐτούς,

1- God’s covenant is made with us on an individual basis.

(Titus 3:4-5)

Titus 3:4–5 (NLT)

4 But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,

5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

C- The Holy Spirit changes the heart of the believing individual. (Hebrews 10:16b).

Hebrews 10:16b (NLT)

16 “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

16 Αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη ἣν διαθήσομαι πρὸς αὐτοὺς μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας, λέγει κύριος, διδοὺς νόμους μου ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν ἐπιγράψω αὐτούς,

1- The Holy Spirit changes the heart from one of rebellion to one of obedience. (2 Cor. 5:17)

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2- The Holy Spirit renews the mind into a Christ-like mind. (Rom. 12:2)

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

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.

III. THE PERFECTION (Hebrews 10:17-18).

Hebrews 10:17–18 (NLT)

17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”

18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

A- Total cleansing of sins accomplished through the sacrifice of Christ perfects the believer forever. (Hebrews 10:17).

Hebrews 10:17 (NLT)

17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”

17 καὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἀνομιῶν αὐτῶν οὐ μὴ μνησθήσομαι ἔτι·

1- When we are forgiven, God chooses to forget our sins and lawlessness completely.

(Psalms 103:12)

Psalm 103:12 (NLT)

12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

(Isaiah 43:25)

Isaiah 43:25 (NLT)

25 “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.

(1 John 1:7)

1 John 1:7 (NLT)

7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

B- No more atonement for sin is ever needed, for the believer is totally clean. (Hebrews 10:18).

Hebrews 10:18 (NLT)

18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

18 ὅπου δὲ ἄφεσις τούτων, οὐκέτι προσφορὰ περὶ ἁμαρτίας.

1- When our sins are remitted, no more offering for sin exists… none is needed!

(John 19:30)

John 19:30 (NLT)

30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

(Hebrews 12:2)

Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)

2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

CONCLUSION: