Theology of the Cross

Hebrews 10:1–18 NASB95

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, But a body You have prepared for Me; In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure. “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the book it is written of Me) To do Your will, O God.’ ” After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,” He then says, “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

INTRO: As we’ve mentioned before, today is Palm Sunday. It’s a significant day in the history of Christianity, as it marks the first day of Jesus’ final week on this earth. After 3 years in ministry, Jesus returned to Jerusalem to fulfill the will of God through the offering of Himself on the cross.

I imagine many of you are familiar with the account of Palm Sunday found in the Gospels. Luke tells us that on this day Jesus was celebrated as he rode into town on a young colt. You might remember hearing how the people shouted “Hosanna, Hosanna! Glory to God in the Highest!” The crowds were excited because they thought Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman oppression.

Yet Jesus would weep over this city for He knew that they had still not grasped His purpose. You see, the citizens there were much like many today. Jesus didn’t do what they thought He should and thus they failed to see WHO HE is. Jesus is more than just a teacher with great wisdom. He is more than just a moral example. He came to deliver mankind from bonds that are far more ruinous than an oppressive government.

And even as we look back upon the ministry of Christ with the perspective of what was accomplished through Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, it is important that we take time to develop an understanding of the cross.

Was there not some other way that salvation could be accomplished?

Was this just a demonstration of love and sacrifice? Or is there more to it than that?

Over the next couple weeks, we are taking a detour from our study in 1 Corinthians in order to intentionally examine and celebrate the single-most pivotal event in all history.

As we approach Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday which is next week, I am asking you to personally invite someone to come with you to church. Next week, we will be looking at why and how we are to respond to the resurrection. Friends, if you care about the eternity of your family, neighbors, and friends, you should desire for them to hear the truth of the Gospel… next Sunday will be a great opportunity for just that. Maybe invite them over for lunch afterwards as well.

This morning, we look to the cross. So, if you picked up a bulletin, I invite you to make use of the enclosed sermon guide as we walk through a biblical understanding or Theology of the Cross.

Admittedly, this will not be a comprehensive study as there is much more to discover than time allows for today. However, I encourage you to take this teaching as a starting point, and truly make use of this week leading into Easter to lean into God’s Word. You will be blessed in doing so.

Let us begin. The first component of our theology is:

The Necessity of the Cross (1-4)

Let’s read verses 1-4 again (READ)

It’s important to note that the previous chapters (5-9) are all laying the groundwork for this piece of understanding: The cross was absolutely necessary.

In verse 1, the writer states that the Law, that is the OT sacrificial system that included the tabernacle/ temple, the incense, the candles, the showbread, and the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies, is only a shadow of what would be accomplished through the Cross.

Think with me for a minute: How much detail do you see in a shadow? You get the basic outline- you can usually tell what the shadow belongs to, right? But it’s still just a shadow - a faint copy of the original.

The OT law had super impressive ceremonies that preserved an awareness of God’s holiness and revealed the need for atonement. Yet, the repeated offerings and sacrifices never brought the people into a permanent relationship with God. These sacrifices reminded people of their sin, but could not remove it.

They were a shadow of what Christ came to accomplish through the cross. (1)

Each offering simply announced how inadequate the offerings before had been. Though they had brought in sacrifices, their root sin was still present.

ILL: I want you to think about a leaky roof. Every time it rains, you find yourself saying, “I need to do something about that leak!” Yet, the only thing you can seem to do is put out a bucket.

The OT sacrifices were not able to fix the root problem that separates man from God. In Heb 9, the author explains using temple imagery. The temple had an outer court where people could come in. BUT it was in the inner sanctuary- that Holy of Holies where only the priest could go to atone for sins. These point forward to Christ and His work as necessary.

He says that we had been in that outer court (9:9), but let me just read

Hebrews 9:11–12 NASB95

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Christ went to the throne of Heaven and offered the perfect sacrifice (Himself) that would once for all put away sin (26). The animal sacrifices were never intended to take away sin, but to point to Jesus. Friends, Only Jesus could accomplish the necessary work of atonement. And He did that for you and for me through His death on the cross.

Discuss: What exactly did Jesus accomplish in His death on the cross?

We cannot earn forgiveness. We cannot buy our salvation. However, Jesus’s death on the cross paid the price. In order for us to be redeemed, there is the Necessity of the Cross. But next, I want us to look at that old Roman instrument of torture and pain and see:

The Delight of the Cross (5-10)

I recognize that to say “Delight of the Cross” might sound a bit odd to you. But let’s read v. 5-10 and I’ll explain what I mean by this. (READ)

The writer of Hebrews points us to the OT telling us is what the Psalmist and the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah wrote. Let me read

Isaiah 1:11–17 NASB95

“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. “When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.

God was not pleased or delighted with the sacrifices and rituals being put on. Of course, God was not really looking for an animal sacrifices or feasts. What God wanted was One devoted to fulfilling His will.

These practices began as a reminder of God’s holiness and worth, yet were now just events on a calendar. These sacrifices became a ritual and an end in themselves. They did not take away sin and those who offered them were not doing God’s will, because what God desired was that these would be a demonstration of a broken and contrite heart. What God wanted was whole-hearted obedience.

This perfect obedience could only be accomplished by Christ. Christ’s incarnation, that is when He became man (we call this Christmas) was to fulfill the will of God in taking the sin of man upon Himself. We see again the prophet Isaiah foretell of this

Isaiah 53:6 NASB95

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

It was the will of God that our sins be placed upon Christ. Thus, Jesus prayed to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane , “Not my will, but yours...” which demonstrated his submission and perfect fulfillment of God’s will. Therefore, the cross was a delight in God’s eyes.

Isaiah 53:10 NASB95

But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

The infinite value of God’s glory was demonstrated in Christ’s death on that old cross. It was God’s delight to pay the highest price so that, as v. 10 says, we would be sanctified - set apart as visual markers of God’s Kingdom. He reigns and has made His name great in those who receive His offer of salvation.

Discuss: How and why was God pleased with Christ’s crucifixion?

The cross was necessary for our redemption and was a delight to God as His glory was proclaimed through it. Finally, the writer shows us

The Sufficiency of the Cross (11-18)

Folks, you and I need to grasp this. If our Catholic friends could grasp this, they would do away with many of their rituals.

Listen to v. 11-13 again (READ)

There is a sense of futility in these sacrifices. You can offer sacrifice after sacrifice, but that will not take away your sins. You can say Hail Mary’s and light candles, you can pay penitence every day, but friends, this is not sufficient. The very best we can offer is like dirty rags!

ILL: It’s kinda like this fella here- watch this brief video clip

That poor guy will never be able to mop up the ocean. And we will never be able to atone for our own sin.

However, Jesus offered one sacrifice which was so great that it satisfied fully the debt of our sins. In fact, we see that He has taken His seat at the Right Hand of God- a description that shows His work is complete and His authority is sure. In fact, the only thing left to happen is for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet.

This waiting is actually a picture of God’s patience, as Peter says:

2 Peter 3:9 NASB95

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

What Christ accomplished at the cross is sufficient in 2 specific ways:

It is sufficient to Glorify God.

John 17:4 NASB95

“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.

We talked about God’s delight a minute ago. The fact that Jesus accomplished what He came to do and took the seat at the throne shows that He is exalted and victorious. He won. Period! God is glorified through the cross.

2. It is sufficient to Save Sinners.

Jesus told Zaccheus that He came to seek and save the lost. That was accomplished on the cross.

Heb. 10:14 says that He has perfected for all time those who were sanctified. In other words, He has given believers the promise of the full realization of God’s saving purpose.

You see, the old covenant was intended to remind us of sin. The New Covenant which Christ initiated is that we will have God’s law in our heart and our sins will be remembered no more!

The answer to the world’s problem of universal sin- our problem, our neighbor’s problem- is Jesus Christ. (READ v. 18) His single offering on that old cross erases our sin and thus takes away the necessity for any offering for sin (18).

So what?

Folks, we can celebrate this week as we look back on the Cross of Christ. It was necessary for our salvation. God was pleased to place our sins on Jesus in order to offer the free gift of salvation to you and to me.

The question I leave you with this morning is: “Have you received God’s gift of salvation?” Are you still trying to earn what Christ has freely offered? Are you weighed down by your sin? Folks, Jesus paid that bill. Won’t you lay them down?

This morning, we are going to close our time by observing the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper which signifies this New Covenant that believers have in Christ through His death on the cross.

To partake of this is an act that testifies to our ongoing status as Kingdom Citizens. As we eat the bread and take of the cup, we are saying that we are a unified body in the Lord Jesus- that He is in us, and we in Him. That our lives are under His Lordship and our commitment is to His purpose and mission.

If you are here and have not professed faith in Jesus, you can use this time of prayer to respond to the Cross of Jesus. Just come forward.

[PRAY]

Discuss: How do we respond to the theology of the cross? (Hint: Read Hebrews 10:19-25)