November 18, 2012
Evening Service

Hebrews 10.

 

Review:

1.     This morning, after telling us in chapter eight, of Jesus being the mediator of a better covenant, described the Old Covenant’s sanctuary.

·         He mentioned the holy place, and then the holy of holies.

In the holy place:

·         The lampstand.

·         The table of showbread.

In the holy of holies:

·         The altar of incense.

·         The ark of the covenant.

He described what was in the ark;

·         Golden pot that had the manna.

·         Aaron’s rod that budded.

·         The tablets of the covenant.

Now we are talking precious artifacts of the Jewish religion.

 

And we are told that these things were to be imposed until the time of reformation.  We mentioned this morning that when Jesus came, the reformation began, and was completed.

Heb 9:11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

·         Not with the blood of goats, and calves, but with His own blood.  He entered the Most Holy place once and for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Closing chapter nine;

Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

CHAPTER 10

Heb 10:1-39  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.  (2)  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.  (3)  But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.  (4)  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.  (5)  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:  (6)  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.  (7)  Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.  (8)  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;  (9)  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 

·         The Scripture quoted here comes from Psa. 40:6-8;

(10)  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

·         Sanctified, or set apart.  Christian we have made the choice to follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, Whom we believe to be the very Son of God.  Therefore we should do our best to adhere to His teachings.  Doing this will set us apart from the world, and other religions.

(11)  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:  (12)  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;  (13)  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 

·         This goes right along with the idea that Paul expresses in I Cor. 15.

(14)  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 

·         Perfected forever them that are sanctified, or set apart.  Christian you must be set apart, and have taken your stand to serve the Lord.  Then we are perfected forever.

(15)  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,  (16)  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  (17)  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.  (18)  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.  (19)  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,  (20)  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;  (21)  And having an high priest over the house of God;  (22)  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 

·         Let us draw near with a true heart - In prayer and praise; in every act of confidence and of worship. A sincere heart was required under the ancient dispensation; it is always demanded of people when they draw near to God to worship him; see Joh_4:23-24. Every form of religion which God has revealed requires the worshippers to come with pure and holy hearts.

·         The “full assurance of faith” means unwavering confidence; a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt.

·         Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience - By the blood of Jesus. This was prepared to make the conscience pure. The Jewish cleansing or sprinkling with blood related only to what was external, and could not make the conscience perfect Heb_9:9, but the sacrifice offered by the Saviour was designed to give peace to the troubled mind, and to make it pure and holy.

·         We are made free from such a conscience through the atonement of Jesus, not because we become convinced that we have not committed sin, and not because we are led to suppose that our sins are less than we had otherwise supposed, but because our sins are forgiven, and since they are freely pardoned they no longer produce remorse and the fear of future wrath.

·         And our bodies washed with pure water - It was common for the Jews to wash themselves, or to perform various ablutions in their services; see Exo_39:4; Exo_30:19-21; Exo_40:12; Lev_6:27; Lev_13:54, Lev_13:58; Lev_14:8-9; Lev_15:16; Lev_16:4, Lev_16:24; Lev_22:6;  

·         The same thing was also true among the pagan. There was usually, at the entrance of their temples, a vessel placed with consecrated water,

·         It was from the pagan custom of placing a vessel with consecrated water at the entrance of their temples, that the Roman Catholic custom is derived in their churches of placing “holy water” near the door, that those who worship there may “cross themselves.

·         That there is an allusion to baptism is clear. The apostle is comparing the two dispensations, and his aim is to show that in the Christian dispensation there was everything which was regarded as valuable and important in the old.

This thought is summed up by Paul when he says;  Eph_3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;  

There are so many beautiful thoughts to build our faith that Jesus is with us all the time.

(23)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  (24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

·         Provoke, or encourage one another to love, and good works.

·         How can anyone think that it is not important to assemble with the saints after reading this?

·         And how can we not see that time is drawing to a close?  Jesus is coming soon.

 

 

 

(26)  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 

·         Another stern warning concerning practicing sin.

·         Christians should not practice sinning, but if we didn’t miss the mark once in a while why would we need a high priest to intercede for us? 

·         I don’t know about you, but I am a sinner saved by grace, and am only perfect when I am in Christ.

(27)  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation,

·         The Scriptures say; “perfect love casts out fear.”  Love never fails.

which shall devour the adversaries.  (28)  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  (29)  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 

·         This is referring to someone who has denounced God, and completely went back into the ways of the world.  He has withdrawn himself from the Altar of God where the Body, and the Blood of Jesus is consecrated.

(30)  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  (31)  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  (32)  But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;  (33)  Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 

·         And they really had the afflictions. 

(34)  For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 

·         And statements like this cause me to lean toward the Apostle Paul as the writer of Hebrews.

(35)  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  (36)  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  (37)  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 

·         What a powerful statement for our confidence.

(38)  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  (39)  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

 

“LORD, TO WHOM SHALL WE GO, THOU HAST THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.”