Once for All

Hebrews 10:11-39

I. Christ’s death and resurrection inaugurated a New Covenant

A. The Old Covenant (aka—“The Law”) was insufficient to pardon sins (v. 11).

1. “Day after day”—The Law was in effect for over 2,000 years. Every day sacrifices and offerings had to be made.

2. “Priest stands”—there is no place to sit in the temple because the job is never finished.

3. “Religious duties/ministering and offering/performing his service”—a close, personal relationship with God was not possible under this system.

a) Temple/Tabernacle was set up so that only Jews could enter

b) Hebrews 9:6-10—Only priests could enter the Holy Place, and the High Priest could only enter the Most Holy Place (where God’s Spirit dwelled) once a year on a certain day after performing certain rituals.

4. “The same sacrifices, which can never take away sins”—at the end of the day, the people still stood guilty before God.

a) Hebrews 9:9 “This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.”

b) There were never enough offerings given, there was never enough blood spilt. It was never enough.

B. The New Covenant through Christ perfectly covers sin.

1. “For all time/forever” (v. 12)—Christ’s sacrifice applied to all sins past, present, and future.

a) Past: Romans 3:25-26 “in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished…”

b) Present: Luke 23:34"Father, forgive them…”

c) Future: Hebrews 10:14

2. “One sacrifice for sins” (v. 12)—while the blood of bulls and goats could never forgive sins, the blood of Christ perfectly covered all sins. Only something of infinite worth could cover sins of an infinite multitude.

3. “He sat down” (v. 12)—the work was finished. The sacrifice was enough.

C. Testimony of Dennis Cochrane and the 2,000 Duna people who came to Christ after learning of his sacrifice.

II. The New Covenant inaugurated by Christ’s death and resurrection perfectly restores what was broken by sin

A. The Holy Spirit is given to believers (vv. 15-16)

1. The Old Covenant told people what they had to do to enjoy fellowship with God, but did not enable them to do so.

2. The Holy Spirit “put[s] my laws in their hearts, and…write[s] them on their minds” enabling us to carry out God’s will.

B. The barrier between us and God is torn down (vv. 19-21)

1. The tearing of the veil to the Most Holy Place during Jesus’ crucifixion symbolizes the spiritual reality that his death brought about.

2. We can now “have confidence to enter” into God’s presence.

a) We often take for granted the privilege of being able to approach God in prayer and the gift of the Holy Spirit living within us

b) Contrast with God’s warning to the Hebrews not to set foot on Mt. Sinai lest they be killed.

III. Knowing what God has done for us ought to impassion us for God’s Kingdom.

A. As believers:

1. We need to stop living as if grace saves us and works sustain us.

a) The same grace that saved us is the same grace that sustains us

b) Test for your attitude towards salvation—when you sin, do you run away from or towards God?

c) The only reason we can approach God at all is because of Christ’s righteousness. It doesn’t depend on us to sustain our standing before God.

2. “Let us draw near to God” (v 22)—stop performing religious duties and have a relationship with God!

3. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” (v 23)—knowing what God has done for us leaves no room for faithlessness. Romans 8:31-39

4. “Let us…spur one another on to good deeds” (v 24-25)—Imagine the excitement the disciples must have felt knowing Jesus, who had just been killed, was alive again! You couldn’t keep them from meeting together and proclaiming the gospel!

5. Let us count all things loss but Christ (vv 32-36)

B. Those who don’t know or believe in Christ:

1. Belief is not merely believing a set of facts—but placing your trust in Jesus; it is relationship based, not factbased. There are many religious people who don’t know Christ. (Jer 31:34–“they will know me”, not “about me”)

2. Unbelief is not a petty sin—it is a rejection of God himself; reckoning Christ’s sacrifice as either insufficient or unnecessaryto pardon your sins.

3. Ultimate display of God’s love—he gave his only Son to pardon your sins and give you eternal life.

4. Ultimate display of wrath and justice—he will avenge his Son’s death on your behalf.