Hebrews 10:1-18

Hebrews 10:1. 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.

A man could go to the Levitical sacrifices twenty years running, and yet be no forwarder. He must go again and again as long as he lived. They were only figures and shadows and types; the real sacrifice is Christ.

Hebrews 10:2. For then-

If they had been effectual,

Hebrews 10:2. Would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

Once forgiven, the sin would not have come back again. If the sacrifice had really cleansed the conscience of the offerer, he would not have had cause to present it again.

Hebrews 10:3. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Wherefore when he cometh- he who is the essence of it all, «When he cometh,»

Hebrews 10:5. Into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me), to do thy will, O God.

Types were no longer needed when the great Antitype had come. Christ was no longer pre-figured, for he was there in person. He put away the old shadows of the blood of bulls and goats when he brought his own real sacrifice, the true atonement for sin.

Hebrews 10:8. 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; then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The old law is gone, the first sacrifice is no longer presented, for the second is come, the real offering of Christ the Lamb of God.

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

Once, and only once. How Paul loves to recall this fact!

Hebrews 10:11. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this man,

Note these glorious words, «This Man,»-

Hebrews 10:12. After he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

He would not have sat down if his work had not been done. He would not have ceased from his priestly service of presenting sacrifice if his one offering had not been sufficient. This Man's offering once, once, once, has done all that God demanded, and all that man required.

Hebrews 10:14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

This glorious message is for you, beloved, if you believe in Christ. By his one sacrifice he has done all that you need; he has perfected you for ever.

Hebrews 10:15. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I wilt 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; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Treasure up these golden words: «Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.»

Hebrews 10:18. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

The offering for sin is in order that sin may be put away; and if it be put away, so that God himself will remember it no more, what more is wanted? What more could be desired? Wherefore, let us rest in the one great finished work of Christ, and be perfectly happy. Sin is gone, wrath is over, for those for whom Christ died; they are perfected for ever through his one great sacrifice.

This exposition consisted of readings from Hebrews 9:24; and Hebrews 10:1.