The Permanence of Christ’s Sacrifice (Hebrews 10: 1–18)

1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’ ” 8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

The Old Testament law had impressive ceremonies supported by centuries of tradition. It preserved an awareness of divine holiness and revealed the need for atonement. Nevertheless, the repetition of offerings and sacrifices on the annual Day of Atonement never brought the worshipers into a permanent relationship with God. Why? Old Testament sacrifices reminded of sin but did not remove it.Hebrews emphasizes that the Law was only a shadow of God’s good blessings and not the reality. A shadow can never reveal its object, but it can provide an outline of reality. Whenever the reality comes, the shadow is irrelevant. Because the Law was only a faint outline of the glories of the coming gospel, it was a temporary element in God’s plan.

I. Permanent in Contrast to Old Testament Sacrifices (vv. 1–4)

1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

A. Every offering announced the inadequacy of the previous offerings.

If the offerings had reached their goals, they would have stopped. These sacrifices dealt only with infractions committed since the last offerings. They left the root cause, sin untouched. Their repetition showed their inadequacy.

Every offering announced the inadequacy of the previous offerings. It reminded the worshipers to get ready for the next annual offering. Only the sacrifice of Christ could abolish the consequences of sin permanently.

B. Why were the animal sacrifices so ineffective in removing sin?

Animal sacrifices could never remove sin because they were never intended to take away sin. They were intended to foreshadow Jesus, who would later come to die to take away the sins of believers.

Only the death of the perfect God-man could take away sin. An annual reminder of sin could only produce people who could say, “We’ve got to do something about this sin problem.” But nothing was ever done. When Christ came to die for sin, believers were blessed by an experience with a God who no longer remembered their sins

II. Permanent Based on Obedience (vv. 5–10)

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’ ” 8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

A. The failure of animal sacrifices to secure forgiveness led to the explanation of a better approach.

The answer comes from Psalm 40:6–8 and applies to our situation. The words of the psalm express Christ’s mission after he entered the world in the incarnation. Christ’s sacrifice lasted because it showed a commitment to do God’s will.

God was not really seeking any type of animal sacrifice. What God desired was a person devoted to fulfilling his will. The thoughtless slaughtering of animals did not remove sin. Those who offered them had failed to do God’s will. He was pleased only when the sacrifices were a demonstration of a broken and contrite heart.

Wholehearted obedience was the only sacrifice God really wanted, and he found this response supremely in Jesus Christ.

B. When Christ came, he willingly committed his life to the plan of God.

When Christ came, he willingly committed his life to the plan of God. Christ came to earth with the passion of doing the will of God. Christ came to give perfect obedience to the divine will. In so doing, he abolished the first covenant to establish the second or the new covenant.

The only complete fulfillment of the will of God appeared in Christ’s perfect obedience. Because we who have trusted Christ are identified with him, we also have fulfilled the will of God. God received us on the basis of Jesus’ complete fulfillment of God’s will.

In Christ believers receive complete cleansing of their sin. They are equipped to enter God’s presence. They can offer acceptable worship to him. They are accepted!

III. Permanent Because It Secured Forgiveness (vv. 11–18)

11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

A.Christ’s sacrifice lasted because it offered permanent pardon to those who had offended God.

Priests presided over an endless round of ineffective sacrifices. Some sacrifices were offered annually at the Day of Atonement. Priests also officiated at the daily sacrifices.

The work of the priest was ineffective, offering repetitious sacrifices which could never take away sins. By contrast, Christ’s single offering effectively removed sins for all time.

Standing was a position of continuous work. Sitting was a position of accomplishment. The priests continued to stand because their work was never done. Christ sat (v. 12) because he had made payment for the price of sin.

B. The present era is a waiting period as Christ anticipates a final victory over his enemies.

We have been living in this era since the time of Jesus’ exaltation to heaven. Christ has already won the victory, but we do not yet see the complete defeat of Christ’s spiritual enemies.

Rather than complaining about the delay, we should see this time as a day of grace to allow outsiders to experience God’s mercy and forgiveness. We have no doubt or question about the ultimate outcome.

C. God has written his law within us and will no longer remember our sins and lawless acts.

The old covenant had provided for an annual remembrance of sin (v. 3). The new covenant promised no more remembrance of sin. We can receive complete forgiveness, for Jesus’ death gives freedom from the penalty of sin.

Christ’s new covenant makes Old Testament sacrifices obsolete. When God erases our sins, we no longer need a sin offering. The entire sacrificial system is unnecessary. The single offering of Christ has wiped out the need for the old sacrificial system and has introduced a new era.

Conclusion

Anyone who wants forgiveness of sin can find access by placing a repentant faith in the completed work of Christ. Christ’s sacrifice was God’s final answer to the universal problem of human sin. God has no need to speak a word beyond Jesus.