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Sermon Introduction

The Old was a preview, a shadow of the good things to come. They offered sacrifices every year because animal sacrifices could not effect perfect cleansing Otherwise, the sacrifices would stop. The animal sacrifices reminded the Jewish nation of their sins every year. And it could not clear their conscience because the blood of animals cannot remove the guilt. Only the blood of Christ can remove the guilt and clear the conscience. Christ mentioned that God was not pleased with animal sacrifices even though it was in the law. Christ came to fulfill God's will, which was to sacrifice Himself (10:3-7), He offered Himself once and once was enough. His unblemished life made it effective. Thus, Christ wan the only worthy sacrifice.

Ed Pilapil Jr.
Senior Pastor

Hebrews 10:1-18 NASB

1 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says,

“You have not desired sacrifice and offering,
But You have prepared a body for Me;
6 You have not taken pleasure in whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come
(It is written of Me in the scroll of the book)
To do Your will, O God.’”

8 After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

16 “This is the covenant which I will make with them
After those days, declares the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their hearts,
And write them on their mind,”

He then says,

17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds
I will no longer remember.”

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required.

Notes

The Old was a preview, a shadow of the good things to come. They offered sacrifices every year because animal sacrifices could not effect perfect cleansing Otherwise, the sacrifices would stop. The animal sacrifices reminded the Jewish nation of their sins every year. And it could not clear their conscience because the blood of animals cannot remove the guilt. Only the blood of Christ can remove the guilt and clear the conscience. Christ mentioned that God was not pleased with animal sacrifices even though it was in the law. Christ came to fulfill God's will, which was to sacrifice Himself (10:3-7), He offered Himself once and once was enough. His unblemished life made it effective. Thus, Christ wan the only worthy sacrifice.

1. Christ's death cancels the Old Covenant so that the New Covenant can take effect. In the New Covenant, it was God's will to make all genuine believers holy through the sacrifice of Christ once and for all time (10:8-10).

2. In the Old system, the priests worked in the tabernacle day after day, offering sacrifices that could not take away sin. But Christ offered Himself once and for all. He then sat at God's right hand because His work was done, waiting for His enemies to be submitted (10:11-14),

3. The author repeats key promises in the New Covenant. God would put His laws in the hearts of His covenant people. Furthermore, He would forgive them and would remember their sins no more (10:15-18).

Application

1. Through His death, He freed believers from traditions that merely addressed the external. Christ cleared our guilt and net us apart for the glory of God. Thus, let us glorify God in our minds, hearts, words, and actions. 

2. No need to sacrifice animals for sins because Christ finished His work once and for all. No need to convert to Judaism or any religion. What we need is to repent of our sins and believe in His finished work.

3. By God's will and through faith in Christ, let us live out the laws that God put in our hearts. By His grace, let us live holy lives in Christ by obeying His commands

Discussion / Reflection

1. Cite differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant

2. What does the finished work of Christ mean? Explain.

3. How then should we live our lives?