Hebrews

1. Hebrews Persevere in Jesus LESSON XVIII

2. REVIEW • Let Us Persevere in Christ • Three main questions • Christ • Who is He? • Who is He not? • Us • What is our relation to Christ and God? • What should we do? • Persevere! • What does that look like?

3. REVIEW • God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJ)

4. Remember our Jewish Authorities • We have noticed in Hebrews that Jesus is the Word of God, and is greater than: • The Angels • Moses • Aaron • Joshua • The Temple • are messengers • is a prophet • is a priest • is a judge • is a means of worship • What about Jesus?

5. So Far... • We’ve seen how Christ is superior to all of the Old Testament figures and Jewish authorities. • As of Chapter 7 • the focus moves away from what • Christ is not • and who or what Christ is better than • to Who Christ really is and What He really does.

6. So Far... • All things made NEW. • In Chapters 8 & 9the author introduces the New Covenant • the Old Covenant is still in the background • New Covenant, New service for God • In a NEW Place: a Heavenly Tabernacle; not made with hands (9:24)—not of this creation (9:11) • (that is: new for ministry on our direct behalf in that place) • A NEW sacrifice • not outward ordinances • but for the cleansing of the conscience • Not goats’ and bulls’ blood • but Jesus Christs’ blood • A NEW Testament: a will, not one that creates a nation, but one that opens the Kingdom—creates a Church. • A NEW way to offer the new Offering (Christ); one time.

7. For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said,`Behold, I have come-- In the volume of the book it is written of Me-- To do Your will, O God.'" 8 Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," 17 then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. (Hebrews 10:1-18 NKJ)

8. The Last Sacrifice for Sin For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. • The logical argument: • What is the Law? • a forerunner • a herald • a shadow • since it’s only a shadow, it cannot accomplish the real work, • but only indicate what WAS the real work to be done. • Like standing by the race car track, looking at an advertisement for a race car doesn’t win the race. • Because, if it HAD done the work • That is: perfected people, cleansed their consciences • Then there would have been no repetition • Kistemaker writes:

9. The Last Sacrifice for Sin 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said,`Behold, I have come-- In the volume of the book it is written of Me-- To do Your will, O God.'" 8 Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10. • The Scriptural argument: • Now its time for the real work to be done, the real race to be won. • So where in the OT does our author characteristically go for evidence that Law of Moses will be superceded? • Psalms of David! • Psalm 40:6-8 • The Author posits Christ as the Singer of the Psalm • “He Said” • First thing’s first: • to win the race, we need a car— • So the Word of God comes into the world • a body is prepared for Him (LXX language)

10. The Last Sacrifice for Sin 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said,`Behold, I have come-- In the volume of the book it is written of Me-- To do Your will, O God.'" 8 Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. • The Scriptural argument (Continued): • Psalm 40:6-8 • Look at the way the parallels build up: • Statement 1 • Statement 2 • Rep. of State 1 made more specific • Statement 3 on the basis of statement 2 as the answer to statement 1 • “He takes away the first to establish the second.” • His body is the sacrifice • He has been foretold • & He is willing to do God’s will. • Kistemaker indicates that this is the essence of all sacrifice (274). • Jesus gives the whole of Himself.

11. The Last Sacrifice for Sin 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. • The Results: • Of the Last Sacrifice • Of God’s will which Jesus Performed • The Race is won! • because He was the only one who could ever finish it: • all our cars broke down somewhere along the way. • Christ accomplishes our • purification [v.2] • perfection (which the shadows could not [v.1, 14] • and now our sanctification [v.10, 14]

12. The Last Sacrifice for Sin 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. • The Final priestly contrast: • On the one hand: • they’re still vainly doing what they think is right • year after year with no real effect—even less since Whom they were meant to point out has already come • On the other hand: • Jesus is not only the Highpriest • He is the Living Sacrifice (Paul in Romans) • AND He sits down in a Royal manner— • more than a Priest • Notice the reference, again, to Psalm 110. • And From our first four verses.

13. The Last Sacrifice for Sin 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," 17 then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. • Not just about superceding the priests of the Torah • The purpose again, the will, was that we be sanctified—made holy: perfect, and pure. • He points us back to Jeremiah as He did in Chapter 8 • Good doctrine of the Inspiration of Holy Scripture here: • We know Baruk wrote the words Jeremiah prophesied, • but they are God’s words • the witness of the Holy Spirit to us • Just like Christ in Psalm 40 came to be pleasing to God and do His will • we are also here to be living sacrifices (Rom. 12) • We are to live like winners of the race, calling others to do the same , and pointing them to the One who won it on our behalf. (Matt 28:18-20)

14. Homework Re-read Chapters 9 & 10. Check a couple different translations if you can