[Hebrews 10:1] "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."

(Hebrews 7:19) told us ‘a better hope is introduced’ so we can ‘draw near to God.’ (8:5) said that the priests served at a sanctuary what is ‘a copy and shadow of what is in heaven.’ And (9:11) reminded us that Christ ‘went through the greater tabernacle’ (that is not part of creation), so it is a greater and once-for-all sacrifice He made. Old Testament Hebrews longed to be in the presence of God, (Exodus 33:15, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here"), but they had no way (or access) of being there.

Even the high priest could not take anyone with him inside the veil on the Day of Atonement (where God’s presence was above the Ark). All those animal sacrifices could not make perfect those who drew near to worship, because they could not take away sin (nor forgive sin) but only cover sin. As Colossians 2:17 says, "These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ."

[Hebrews 10:2] "If it could, 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." The removal of sin is what they needed, but the old system could not remove sin or guilt (just temporarily cover them). This temporary relief from sin and guilt lasted only until the next sin.

[Hebrews 10:3] "But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." Another year, another lamb, and another sacrifice but the sins were still there. These continual sacrifices constantly reminded the Israelites that they were sinful and could not get close to God, so they were at His mercy. Instead of the Tabernacle erasing sin, it just called attention to sin. King David said (Psalm 51:3) "My sin is always before me."

Our guilt feeling is a warning system that something is not right. Romans 8:1 says that when we are in Christ, we are not condemned. It is a wonderful thing to be free from guilt and to know that our sins are forgiven by the grace of God (through the death of Christ). We only have to repent, confess, and believe in Jesus. There was no such freedom under the Old Covenant.

[Hebrews 10:5-6] "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."

The Israelites (unfortunately) used the sacrifice as a substitute for faith. Their trust was in their outward actions. God Himself had instituted the sacrificial system, but only as a means of expressing their obedience to Him. The prophet Samuel reminded King Saul (as the old system began), "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams," (1 Samuel 15:22). To sacrifice with no obedience nor faith, was worse than no sacrifice at all. King David said (Psalm 51:17) "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

From Hebrews 10:7 there is the contrast of the ineffectiveness of animal sacrifices, to the effectiveness of Christ’s sacrifice. Seven superiorities of the New Covenant are given. 1/ It is God’s eternal will; 2/ it replaces the old system; 3/ it sanctifies the believer; 4/ it removes sin; 5/ it conquers Christ’s enemies, 6/ it purifies the believer; & 7/ it fulfills the promise of forgiveness.

[Hebrews 10:7;GOD’S ETERNAL WILL] "Then I said, ‘Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll--I have come to do your will, O God.’" The Scriptures prophesied of Christ and His sacrifice was effective because it was God’s will all along. Before creation, God knew that the old system of animal sacrifices would be ineffective and temporary, and later replaced with an effective and permanent sacrifice of His Son. From creation God planned for His Son to be born and to die ("a body you prepared for me").

God was not satisfied with animal sacrifices, and He became less satisfied when these sacrifices became a sham and a formality. With all too many Israelites, these sacrifices had come to be a meaningless religious ritual (and had nothing to do with obedience, faith, or sincerity of heart). Jesus’ main mission on earth was to do His Father’s will, and it was His ultimate act of obedience to take humanity’s sin upon Himself.

His greatest test of obedience was in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:36) when He prayed, "’Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’" No one but Jesus could have taken upon themselves the sins of the world, no one would have been so repulsed at the thought, and no one could have been so obedient as He.

[Hebrews 10:8-9; IT REPLACES THE OLD SYSTEM] "First he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them’ (although the law required them to be made). (9) Then he said, ‘Here I am, I have come to do your will.’ He sets aside the first to establish the second."

The writer refers to Psalm 40 again and saying that God took away the old sacrifices to make way for the new sacrifice. The point is to emphasize that the Old Covenant was never satisfactory and was never meant to be permanent nor effective. God’s focus was always on a much better and effective covenant. God is telling them that they cannot be under two covenants at the same time. The second has replaced the first. Animal sacrifices are now obsolete and invalid. Salvation is through faith in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice of atonement.

[Hebrews 10:10; IT SANCTIFIES THE BELIEVER] "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Christ’s sacrifice is effective because it sanctifies the believer (or makes us holy). The old system could not make anyone holy (just temporarily clean).

To be sanctified or made holy (hagiazo) means to be set apart by God for God. The word saint comes from this Greek word group. 1 Thessalonians 4:3, "It is God’s will that you should be sanctified," and it is God’s will that our practice match our position. We are to become in person who we are in Christ.

In speaking to the believers in Colossae (Colossians 3:5-8), the apostle said, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."

[Hebrews 10:11-12; IT REMOVES SIN] "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."

The sacrifice of Christ is effective because it completely atones for sin. The daily sacrifices of the Old Covenant changed to be one sacrifice of the New. It is a complete, once-for-all atonement for all who will believe in Christ (and persevere in the faith to the end, Matthew 10:22).

The Levitical system had twenty-four orders and hundreds of priests who took turns serving. There was no lack for priests, but there was a lack of effectiveness. All those priests together could not make an effective sacrifice for sin. The Levitical priests always stood because their ministry was never finished. After Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, He sat down at the right hand of God, because the work of atonement was finished.

[Hebrews 10:13-14; IT CONQUERS CHRIST’S ENEMIES & PURIFIES THE BELIEVER], "Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."

All the Old Testament sacrifices did nothing to get rid of Satan, but when Jesus died on the cross, He conquered His enemies. First, He destroyed, "him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil—" (Hebrews 2:14), and second, Jesus triumphed over our enemies by ‘disarming the power and authorities,’ (Colossians 2:15) saying, "He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

Jesus Christ will stand above all those who were His enemies because He won the victory over them at Calvary. Jesus conquered death for all who believe in Him. He turned Satan’s worst into God’s best. The death of Christ removes sin for all who believe in Him. There is security in Christ.

[Hebrews 10:15-17; FULFILLS THE PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS] "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.’ 17 Then he adds: ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’"

This new sacrifice of Christ is effective because it fulfills the promise of forgiveness. The new, once-for-all sacrifice was central to the New Covenant. God said that He would place His laws in our hearts and minds so we would recognize sin. The new sacrifice had to be effective, because it had to accomplish all the things prophesied in Jeremiah 31:34 in order to fulfill God’s promise of forgiveness.

[Hebrews 10:18] "And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin." The perfect work of atonement has been accomplished, and there will be no more. Forgiveness is already provided for those who place their faith and trust in that one perfect sacrifice. It would not be rational to go back to the old system which never atoned for sin (but only covered it temporarily). To reject the once-for-all sacrifice of atonement (of Christ), is to reject forgiveness and salvation.

Eternal salvation was promised in the Old Covenant and purchased in the New. Atonement—once for all, is available to everyone who chooses to accept Christ, who will repent of their sins, and will walk in steadfast faith until the end. God is merciful and, "Is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance," (2 Peter 3:9).

The Apostle Peter then tells us to live holy and godly lives, and to look forward to Christ’s return. He says (14) to "make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." He says to (15) "Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation." The apostle then warns of those who "Distort [God’s Word], as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction."

(17-18) "Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

†††