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The BETTER Sacrifice… (3 points) 

  • 1st – Limits of the law… vs. 1-4
    • We all have a PROBLEM – we are NOT good…
      • This can be VERY confusing to people – because we do GOOD things…
        • We can be kind – help those in need – which are all GOOD…
        • But SIN is like a DEBT – every time we make a mistake – we OWE more…
        • Doing GOOD is what is expected – it does not PAY off any of our DEBT!
        • So we sink deeper and deeper into a DEBT we have NO WAY to pay back!
      • We have seen that Jesus is BETTER than EVERYONE and EVERYTHING in EIGHT ways…
        • But they ALL lead up to this final point – Jesus is a BETTER Sacrifice…
        • The MOST important thing about life – is where we go when it ends…
        • EVERYONE will live forever – the question is where – HEAVEN or HELL…
        • And the ONE thing that keeps us out of HEAVEN is our DEBT – Romans 6:23
        • The MOST important question the Bible can answer – how can our DEBT be FORGIVEN!
    • 1st – Just a SHADOW… vs. 1
      • The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow…
      • A dim preview of the good [ἀγαθός] things to come – not the good things themselves… 
      • THE Law – [ὁ νόμος] – referring to the 613 commands in the Law of Moses…
      • They were NOT the GOOD [ἀγαθός] things to come – the plan of God to FORGIVE our DEBT…
      • They were just a SHADOW – meant to point us to the BETTER plan God had!
      • Colossians 2:16-17 – “Let no one judge you… regarding [the laws] which are a SHADOW of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
      • If we are sick and NEED a doctor – we would NOT run up to his SHADOW and ask for help…
      • The shadow has no POWER – but it does tell us HELP is CLOSE by!
      • In the SAME way the LAW cannot help us – but it does point us to the ONE who can!
    • 2nd – LIMITED sacrifices… vs. 1-2
      • The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again – year after year…
        • But they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship…
        • If they could have provided perfect cleansing – the sacrifices would have stopped!
        • The author gives us TWO ways we see the LIMITS of the OT sacrifices…
        • FIRST – they were REPEATEDLY – every year!
        • If we owed a DEBT – and after giving money wondered if it was PAID in full…
        • But the next day found we still had a DEBT – what we gave was NOT enough!
        • No matter how many times the sacrifices of the OT were offered – the DEBT remained!
        • Which tells us they were NOT able to PERFECT [τελειόω] those who came to WORSHIP!
        • If they had been able to do the job – then those sacrifices would have STOPPED!
      • The worshipers would have been purified once for all time…
        • And their feelings of guilt would have disappeared!
        • SECOND – even after the OT sacrifices – people still felt GUILTY about their sin…
        • The sacrifices were NOT able to PURIFY [perfect] the worshiper once and for all…
        • PURIFY [καθαίρω] 2x in NT [John 15:2] – to cleanse of filth – wash away impurity!
        • People will go to EXTREMES in an effort to try and PAY for their SIN…
        • Hindus who pull heavy carts with hooks attached to their backs…
        • Christians who practice flagellation and crucifixion (usually during Lent)!
        • But it does NOTHING to PURIFY [perfect] their conscience – their GUILT remains!
    • 3rd – REMINDER of SIN… vs. 3
      • Instead – those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year…
        • One might ask – if the OT sacrifices were ONLY a SHADOW – and LIMITED…
        • Then what was their PURPOSE – the answer…
        • The sacrifices were a CONSTANT reminder to the people – they still had a DEBT!
      • The world tries to convince us – as long as we are SINCERE – God will accept us…
        • ALL roads lead to heaven – there is NO DEBT…
        • Partially true – ALL roads lead to the White Throne Judgement – Revelation 20:11
        • Wide is the path that leads to destruction – many go in by it – Matthew 7:13
        • If all roads lead to heaven – then the CROSS was a waste of time…
        • Jesus suffered and died for NO reason – and the Gospel is just news – not GOOD News!
        • Galatians 2:21 – “If we could be saved [another way], there was no need for Christ to die.”
      • The LAW reminds us of our DEBT…
        • Like a speedometer that shows we are speeding – but cannot slow us down…
        • The Law points out to us all our failures – shows us all our flaws!
        • Romans 3:20 – “By the law is the knowledge of sin…” [NKJV]
        • Not so that we then be might PERFECT through the LAW…
        • The LAW is ONLY meant to be our TEACHER – that points us to our NEED for Jesus!
        • Galatians 3:24 – “The law was our [teacher] to bring us to Christ…” [NKJV]
    • 4th – CANNOT take away sin… vs. 4
      • It is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins…
      • NOT POSSIBLE – [ἀδύνατος] to lack the STRENGTH…
      • The OT sacrifices were not unwilling to take away our sin – they lacked the STRENGTH!
      • If I had a friend who owed a DEBT – and I wanted to help – so I gave one THOUSAND pesos…
      • Only to find out he owed one BILLION pesos – I would NOT be much help…
      • It is not that I am UNWILLING – it is that I am UNABLE to pay that big a DEBT!
      • The DEBT we owe because of our SIN – is far too great for an ordinary sacrifice for pay…
      • We needed a BETTER sacrifice – one that could pay ALL of our DEBT – we NEED Jesus!
      • His sacrifice was not just enough to pay our DEBT – He paid for the DEBT of the world!
      • John 1:29 – “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” [NKJV]
  • 2nd – Fulfilled the Word… vs. 5-9
    • 1st – NO animal sacrifices… vs. 5-6
      • When Christ came into the world – he said to God…
      • You did not want animal sacrifices or offerings…
      • You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin – Psalms 40:6
      • Animal sacrifices [זֶבַח] – the PEACE offering – Leviticus 3:1
      • Offerings [מִנְחָה]– the GRAIN offering – Leviticus 2:8-13
      • Burt offering [עֹלָה] – the BURNT offering – Leviticus 1:3-9
      • Offerings for sin – [חֲטָאָה] – the SIN offering – Leviticus 4:13-21
      • God did NOT want ANY of the FOUR kinds of offerings found in the LAW!
      • Because they were only a SHADOW – LIMITED – and could NOT take away sin!
    • 2nd – A BETTER sacrifice… vs. 5/7
      • But you have given me a body to offer – Psalms 40:6
        • Interestingly – this is NOT an accurate quote from the Old Testament…
        • Psalms 40:6 – “My ears You have opened.”
        • This is not a MISQUOTE – it is an INTERPRETATION…
        • Jesus listened [ears opened] to what the Lord said – which was to OFFER his BODY!
        • Luke 22:19 – “This is my body which is given for you.”
      • Look – I have come to do [aorist] your will – O God… vs. 7
        • The WILL of GOD for Jesus – was to come to sacrifice Himself on the CROSS!
        • Luke 22:42 – Jesus prayed – not My will but Yours be done…
        • Jesus did not desire to suffer – He did not want to go to the cross!
        • He could have walked away at any point – spared His life – avoided death…
        • But Jesus was OBEDIENT to the WILL of God – and offered His Body on the cross!
        • Hebrews 12:12 – “For the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” [NKJV]
        • Too often when we come to God – we try and get him to agree to OUR plans…
        • Having OPEN ears – is not about getting God to do what WE want…
        • Having OPEN ears – is about us coming around to doing what GOD wants…
        • Even if we do not LIKE it – AGREE with it – we TRUST that God knows BEST!
      • As is written about me in the Scriptures… vs. 7
        • The VOLUME of the BOOK is written of Me [NKJV]
        • VOLUME – only here NT – describes the wooden rods around which a scroll was rolled…
        • BOOK – [βιβλίον] – where we get the word BIBLE…
        • The Bible when this was written was ONLY the Old Testament (NT not done yet) …
        • Therefore – the WHOLE Old Testament – is rolled up around Jesus!
        • Luke 24:27 – “Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” [NKJV]
        • You may have noticed we talk a LOT about Jesus – EVERY Bible study…
        • That is because the WHOLE Bible revolves around ONE person – Jesus Christ!
    • 3rd – A BETTER Covenant… vs. 8-9
      • First – He said – You did not want animal sacrifices… (though they are required by the law) …
      • Then He said – Look – I have come to do your will…
      • He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect!
      • If God does NOT want the sacrifices of the OT – then they are no longer NEEDED…
      • If God does WANT Jesus to offer Himself as a sacrifice – that is the SOLUTION for sin!
      • SIMPLE – yet POWERFUL – the old way did NOT work…
      • So God gave us a BETTER sacrifice – under a BETTER covenant – to pay our DEBT!
      • We see that the BETTER sacrifice of Jesus – was in fulfillment of the Word of God!

Ephesians 1:7 – “In [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” [NKJV]

3rd – Once and for all… vs. 10-18

1st – Once for all… vs. 10

To be made HOLY by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ – once for all time…

HOLY – [ἁγιάζω] – [perfect / passive] – to be set apart for God…

Do NOT miss – Jesus is the ONE who did ALL the WORK – we just RECEIVE it!

The moment we believe in the cross of Christ – we are forgiven …

Not just a portion of our DEBT – is it not a repayment plan – it is ALL completely PAID!

Romans 6:10 – “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all.”

2nd – The work was FINISHED… vs. 11-12

Under the old covenant – the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day…

Offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins…

Old Testament priests never SAT DOWN…

Their work was NEVER done – there was always anther SACRIFICE to give!

But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins – good for all time…

Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand…

Jesus only had to offer Himself as a sacrifice ONCE – and it was FINISHED!

John 19:30 – “He said – It is finished [perfect/indicative]!”

Jesus came to die – He came because were all destined for hell because of our DEBT…

Through the cross His work was done – sin was defeated – our DEBT was paid…

Jesus paid a debt He did NOT owe – because we owed a debt that we could NOT pay!

II Corinthians 5:21 – “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” [NKJV]

3rd – VICTORY is guaranteed… vs. 13-16

There He WAITS until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet… vs. 13

Jesus will WAIT – till he brings an end to every authority and power – Psalms 8:6

Every knee will bow – all nations / all men / even satan and his demons – Romans 14:11

But the VERY last enemy that will be humbled is DEATH!

I Corinthians 15:25-26 – “He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death…” [NKJV]

But because of the CROSS – our VICTORY is not in question – it is a GUARANTEE!

We can have ABSOLUTE confidence in how the story ends – because…

By that one offering He forever made perfect… vs. 14

Jesus made us PERFECT [τελειόω – perfect / passive] – to be COMPLETE forever!

This is a POWERFUL statement – it is the declaration of our VICTORY…

We have been FORGIVEN – the work is COMPLETE – our sin DEBT is totally paid!

Through Jesus we have VICTORY over sin from an ETERNAL perspective!

Those who are being made holy… vs. 14

We are also being made HOLY [ἁγιάζω – present / passive] …

NOTE – being HOLY is not something we DO – it is something that is DONE to us!

Although are salvation is COMPLETE – we still struggle with sin practically…

Therefore – God is DAILY helping us to WALK in HOLINESS – learning to be SET APART!

Meaning – through Jesus we have VICTORY over sin on a daily basis!

Philippians 2:13 – “God is working in you – giving you the desire and power to do what pleases Him.” [NLT]

The Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so… vs. 15-16

This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day – says the LORD:

I will put my laws in their hearts – and I will write them on their minds – Jeremiah 31:33

So often we get this backwards – thinking we become HOLY by what we do for God…

But is NOT about what we do for God – it is what He does to us…

He puts His LAWS in our hearts – He writes them on our MINDS…

God makes us HOLY – so we want to do GOOD – we are His WORKMANSHIP!

Ephesians 2:10 – “We are His workmanship created in Christ for good works…” [NKJV]

4th – Sin is FORGOTTEN… vs. 17

I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds – Jeremiah 33:34

There is a CONTRAST – under the LAW there was still GUILT – Hebrews 10:2

But with the BETTER sacrifice of Christ – our sins are GONE!

Psalm 103:12 – “He removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”

I love that it is the EAST from the WEST – and not the NORTH from the SOUTH…

Because if you go SOUTH – you will eventually go NORTH – and vice versa…

But if you go EAST – you will NEVER go west – and vice versa…

Meaning God sent our sins one way and us the other – NEVER to meet again!

We are sinners – we have made countless mistakes – but we have NO DEBT… 

When God looks down on us – He does NOT see our MISTAKES…

He instead sees the perfect life of His Son Jesus – He sees us as perfect / FAULTLESS!

5th – No more SACRIFICES… vs. 18

When sins have been forgiven – there is no need to offer any more sacrifices…

This has unusual grammar – there are NO verbs in this sentence [in Greek] …

No action is occurring – it is simply stating the FACTS!

We have been FORGIVEN – 17x in NT – to be PARDONED – released from bondage…

And if someone is PARDONED – then there is no longer a need to PAY a DEBT…

So there is NO longer any need for sacrifices to REMOVE our sin!

If you are like me – often we feel like WE owe something to God for our sin…

Like there is something WE must do to undo our poor choices – a price WE must pay…

But the work is DONE – ALL of our sin is PARDONED – there are NO sacrifices left to make…

Jesus did it ALL – He gave us a BETTER sacrifice – so we can be confident we are FORGIVEN!


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