Saturday, 12 June 2021
Hebrews 10:1-22
“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.” -Hebrews 10:10
Rituals and religious activities are no substitute for a relationship with God our Creator! No performance can perfect us before God! In this chapter we read about sacrifices that were offered year after year, but could never make one perfect. All that these sacrifices could do was to remind the offerer, of his helpless, sinful condition (V.3). Sin is infinitely serious and every man grapples with the problem of God’s anger on sinners. Is this the end? Or is there a way out of our sin?
Now catch the glimpse of a Saviour who has done it all for us! — ONCE FOR ALL!
There is a way! The way is through Christ Jesus who offered His life for us to be set free from the dominion of sin.
Jesus came to do the will of God (V.9) – what is the will of God? That all be saved (1Tim. 2:4) Only someone sinless could save a sinner! – 1 John 3:5 says “…you know that He appeared in order to take away sins and in Him there is no sin.” John called out in a loud voice when he saw Jesus: “Look the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”(John 1:29) Many who looked to Him were saved. Today those who turn their eyes to Jesus and His work will see this new plan (a plan God has laid out in God’s way), unfold in their lives.
What are you to believe? Believe that:
Jesus became the One sacrifice for our sins forever when he carried our sins on his body. (V.12) Until now every sacrifice only acted as a ‘BAND AID’ over our sin. But when Jesus came He gave us a deep healing and removed sin’s control over our lives once and for all.
Jesus the Perfect sacrifice, perfected imperfect people (V.14) – What does this mean? Since we have received his forgiveness, He does not remember our sins anymore and we stand perfect before him. He does not count our past, present or future sins against us. But His sanctification work in our lives is an ongoing process.
Jesus opened a New way for us to walk into God’s promises (Vs.19-21) – How did He do this for us?
I. He became our High Priest: - He is our mediator (1 Tim.2: 5) For there is one God- one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus!
II. He shed his blood-To cleanse us of all our sin (1 John 1:7)
III. His body was torn-(like the curtain in the temple)-To help us enter boldly into God’s presence. (Heb.10:21)
With all that Jesus has done for us how are we to respond? V.22 points to the answer:
Draw near to God – knowing that He is the only answer to all our problems
Have a true heart in full assurance of faith – believe all that Jesus had done for us and His completed work on the cross of Calvary.
Believing that only His blood can cleanse us from all our sin and guilt.
Declaring to the world through our baptism that we are new people in Him.
Remember: “For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” Hebrews 10:10 [NLT]
Thought for the Day:
“How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation…?”
(Hebrews 2:3)
Listen: 'How great the Father’s love for us'