Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 16: Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 16:

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org | Online Audio Files

SERMON INTRODUCTION

The “official” writer of this epistle is unknown. However, I obviously believe it is Paul since I have included it in the “Paul’s Epistles” Sermon Series.

I believe there is enough evidence from early scholars to agree this was more than likely Paul’s work.

We have already seen in Hebrews so far;

·        Jesus is greater than angels

·        And that we are to pay the most careful attention to Jesus and His way so we do not stray

·        And how Jesus (New Covenant) is greater than Moses (Old Covenant)

·        Paul’s warning about unbelief

·        A Sabbath Rest for the People of God

·        Jesus the Great High Priest

·        Jesus the Perfect High Priest

·        Therefore, It is Time to Grow Up

·        The Certainty of God’s Promise

·        Melchizedek the Priest

·        Jesus like Melchizedek

·        The High Priest of the New Covenant

·        Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

·        The Blood of Christ

TODAY’S SERMON

“Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All”

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Hebrews 10:1-18

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. ² Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. ³ But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. ⁴ It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
    but a body you prepared for me;
⁶ with burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you were not pleased.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
    I have come to do your will, my God.’”^[a]

⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹ Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ¹² But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. ¹⁴ For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

¹⁶ “This is the covenant I will make with them
    after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”^[b]

¹⁷ Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts
    I will remember no more.”^[c]

¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

“The Cure for Lacking Boldness or Courage in your Christian Faith and Backsliding is a Right beginning for the Glory and Work of Christ”

I. THE SHADOW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (WILL, COVENANT)

a. The Law is only a shadow of good things to come

                                                                 i. not the realities themselves

                                                              ii. Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

                                                           iii. Life is the valley with the shadow of death looming over it.

                                                            iv. However, to those who belong to the Lord, that shadow does not bring fear, but casts a reminder of where we are destined for the Lord is with us, His rod (defense) and staff (discipline and correction) give us comfort, because we know that the Lord corrects those He loves, those who belong to Him.

b. Because the Law is a shadow, it can never make us perfect

                                                                 i. It was a teaching tool, an illustration of what was coming

                                                              ii. If it were the “real” thing, the sacrifices would not have had to take place year after year, but they resolved nothing.

c. those sacrifices were not to take away sin, but an annual reminder of sins

II.      THE FIRST WAS TO PREPARE PEOPLE FOR THE SECOND

a. Christ Said;

                                                                 i. Sacrifices and offerings you did not desire (speaking to the Father in Heaven)

1. God did not desire them, because they were a teaching tool

2. A shadow of what He did desire, Christ

                                                              ii. But a body you prepared for me (Melchezidek, the Word, made flesh in the body of Jesus, which God prepared for Him)

b. With burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased (satisfied)

                                                                 i. though they were offered in accordance to the Law

c. Then I (Jesus) said, Here I am

                                                                 i. It is written about me in the scroll

                                                              ii. He set aside the first to establish the second

                                                           iii. Psalm 40:6-8

                                                            iv. And by that will (contract) we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all

III.   THE HOLY SPIRIT TESTIFIES ABOUT THIS

a. This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord

                                                                 i. Jeremiah 31:33

                                                              ii. I will put my laws in their hearts

                                                           iii. and I will write them on their minds

b. Then He adds;

                                                                 i. Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more - Jeremiah 31:34

c. And where sins have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary

CONCLUSION – TO BE PART OF A WILL (CONTRACT) YOU MUST QUALIFY

To be part of a will (contract) you must qualify for participation.

You must be a sinner - Paul says all have sinned

You must acknowledge Jesus purchased this contract with His blood through His death on the cross and resurrection for sin, once for all.

You must put your trust in Him as your Lord, Savior, Master, because if He is not your Master, you can never serve Him.

Confess your sins, repent or turn away from them so that you may receive forgiveness, and then you will be counted among those who will take part of the contract, the will, this New Testament.

Then to remain in the contract, you must not break the contract, through willfully sinning, turning your back on Christ.

Is this possible?  Yes!

James 5:19-20

 My brothers and sisters (saved believers), if one of you (saved believers) should wander from the truth (turn back on Christ, willfully sin, live in sin, etc...) and someone should bring that person back, (back to the New Covenant) ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner (once saved believer who wandered from the Truth) from the error of their way (their sin) will save them from death (second death, judgment) and cover over a multitude of sins.(they committed when they broke covenant)

It is true, once saved always saved...once you are saved there is nothing more to do to “get” saved, however, if you break covenant with the Lord, you will not take part of that covenant...you will disqualify yourself.

Contrary to false teachings, if you are in covenant with the Lord, you cannot continue to live however you chose, willfully sinning thinking you can do whatever you wish and you are safe from the Second Death...you are not.

Next week we will look at the end of Hebrews 10 and the Call to Persevere in Faith.

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