Sermon for 12/19/21 14 Minutes "4th Week of Advent - Peace"

Hebrews 10:5-10

This morning I'll be reading Hebrews chapter 10 verses 5 through 10. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Hebrews 10:5–10 Paul was named as the author of Hebrews in the King James Bible but some scholars believe that it was someone else,,, someone that is actually unknown. Various authors have been named,,, but none with documentation that can be proven. We also know that there isn't conclusive evidence to prove that Paul wasn't the author. The writers identity,,, whether it's Paul,,, or someone else,,, doesn't change any of the message in Hebrews and maybe that's why the author isn't clearly identified. Simply because it doesn’t matter.

Hebrews 10:5–10 (HCSB) — 5 Therefore, as He was coming into the world, He said: You did not want sacrifice and offering, but You prepared a body for Me. 6 You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings. 7 Then I said, “See— it is written about Me in the volume of the scroll— I have come to do Your will, God!” 8 After He says above, You did not want or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law ), 9 He then says, See, I have come to do Your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ----------------------------------------------------------- Today begins our 4th week of Advent as we continue our journey towards the celebration of our Savior's birth!

The first Sunday of Advent we lit the candle of "Hope".

This "Hope" is definite,,, sure,,, without any questions,,, all because of Jesus Christ.

The second Sunday of Advent,,, we lit the candle of "Faith".

We saw that just as the Israelites that Malachi wrote to,,, and about,,, were faithfully waiting and looking forward to Jesus' birth,,, we,,, today,,, thousands of years later,,, are waiting in "Faith" for Jesus Christ to return!

We are also waiting in "Faith" as the day's get closer to celebrating our Savior's birth.

Last Sunday,,, beginning the third week of Advent,,, we lit the candle of “Joy”.

And we learned that joy,,, the way that we tend to think of it,,, is usually associated with whatever we are going through at the moment,,, or what we are wanting,,, a feeling that can change,,, but really,,, true joy is not a feeling that changes,,, because God never changes.

He is the same yesterday,,, today,,, and tomorrow!

True “Joy” is given to us through our faith in Jesus Christ that allows us to have that personal relationship with God.

And it’s that relationship that gives us true “Joy”.

A joy that helps us through anything that this world can throw at us.

No matter how bad we feel,,, how bad our trial,,, or situation,,, the “Joy” that God gives us is there because of our hope and faith of Jesus Christ.

And that’s true “Joy”,,, that can only come,,, from Jesus Christ,,, our Savior,,, our reason for “Hope”,,, “Faith”,,, “Joy”,,, and,,, “Peace”,,, which is from the candle that we lit this morning.

And so we will look at in these verses this morning,,, to see how they will help us in our walk with God this week,,, and see what is so important about the “Peace” that is talked about almost anytime that Jesus’ name is mentioned,,, as we continue looking forward,,, to the celebration of Jesus’ birth,,, this Christmas season!

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 5 and 6 say: 5 Therefore, as He was coming into the world, He said: You did not want sacrifice and offering, but You prepared a body for Me. 6 You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.

When God prepared the sacrificial system,,, it was intended to be a copy of what was coming.

And a much better sacrifice was made when Jesus was crucified for the sins of all.

In contrast to the weakness of the Levitical offerings,,, we come now to the strength of the superior sacrifice of Christ.(1)

The author,,, through this introduction,,, is referring to a quote in Psalm 40:6-8 “You do not delight in sacrifice and offering; You open my ears to listen. You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering. Then I said, “See, I have come; it is written about me in the volume of the scroll. I delight to do Your will, my God; Your instruction lives within me.”

This is what David wrote,,, about obedience to God being preferred to sacrifices,,, and we know that Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice,,, and He was obedient,,, as it says in Philippians 2:8 “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.”

So this helps add to the image of the superiority of Jesus’ sacrifice and the great gift that He gave to us!

Another reason for God’s dissatisfaction is that the people thought they were pleasing Him by going through ceremonies while their inward lives were sinful and corrupt.

We have that still today.

We are told over and over that God loves us,,, even while we were still sinners,,, that some forget that once we accept Jesus as our Savior,,, that their will be change in our life,,, we won’t stay the same.

Our walk must match our talk,,, we can’t just go through the motions and truly have a relationship with God.

That’s what the Israelites were doing.

Their hearts weren’t matching their actions and God was not pleased.

So that’s why David wrote these words,,, and why that they are important to us today as well.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 7 says: 7 Then I said, “See— it is written about Me in the volume of the scroll— I have come to do Your will, God!”

The main thing that God took pleasure in,,, is obedience,,, and Jesus proved His willingness to do the will of God by offering Himself as a sacrifice for us.

And it was this act that proves,,, what is pleasing to God.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 8 and 9 say: 8 After He says above, You did not want or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law ), 9 He then says, See, I have come to do Your will. He takes away the first to establish the second.

Once again the author repeats the words about the sacrifices and offerings,,, offered according to the law,,, and then he says that,,, He takes away the first to establish the second.

that is, He abolishes the old system of offerings that were required by law, and introduces His own great sacrifice for sin.(3)

The legal covenant is being retired as the New Covenant takes over to make it possible for us to carry on an actual relationship with God instead of relying on sacrifices and offerings by men that might not have their heart in the right place.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 10 says: 10 By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.

This has been accomplished through the will of God,,, and,,, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

And unlike the previous sacrificial offerings,,, it does not have to be repeated over and over again.

Jesus’ perfect sacrifice was sufficient,,, once and for all,,, for the sins of everyone,,, before us,,, and after us,,, unless Jesus returns before that time.

----------------------------------------------------------- So now we see that Jesus is the superior sacrifice for us all.

And what a marvelous feeling that is!

Because it’s through everything that Jesus has done for us that brings us “Peace” all throughout the Christmas season,,, and,,, all through the year as well!

As we carry on into this 4th week of Advent,,, we need to remember that all of the “Peace” that we do have,,, is possible because God loves us.

We must remember to do our part and make sure that our walk matches our talk,,, and we aren’t just going through the motions.

Because we’ve already seen that God doesn’t like that type of attitude,,, and we will pay the price one day if we don’t change.

But,,, we’ve also seen that if we truly put our faith in Jesus Christ,,, and live the way that God intends for us to live,,, God will take care of us through anything that we go through.

It doesn’t mean that we won’t have troubles any more,,, but it does mean that they will be easier to handle with God helping us along,,, each and every day.

----------------------------------------------------------- So as we head our separate ways this week,,, some may not have any where to go,,, or anyone to visit,,, some may be staying home with friends and family visiting,,, some going on vacations,,, some to visit family and friends,,, whatever the case may be,,, remember these verses going forward.

Remember that it’s through everything that Jesus did for us,,, that allows us to have the “Hope”,,, “Faith”,,, “Joy”,,, and,,, “Peace”,,, this Christmas season,,, and forever going forward,,, each day of our life,,, as we continue in our walk with God,,, each week!

And may we remember them going forward each day this fourth week of Advent,,, as we continue our journey,,, towards the celebration of our Lord and Savior’s birth,,, this Christmas season!

----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- (1) MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Ed. Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995. Print.

(2) MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Ed. Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995. Print.

(3) Believer’s Bible Commentary (C. Christ’s Offering Superior to Old Testament Sacrifices (9:1–10:18))