Great Things of Christ

GREAT THINGS OF CHRIST

Heb. 9:11-10:18

Introduction:             The basic theme of the Hebrew epistle is “Christ is Better”. Remember, Judaism was a God-given religion. There was a great history and heritage connected with being a Jew. A Jew of the first century who became a Christian forfeited many physical blessings, and was often ostracized socially and politically, and would run the risk of losing family privileges. For these reasons, it was necessary that these Jewish-Christians be shown what a superior system Christ instigated, that they would be convinced that there would be no advantage, indeed no point at all, in returning to Judaism.

The section under consideration in this lesson is designed to show the results of Christ’s high-priesthood, the blessings of the covenant (testament) he ratified, the completeness of the sacrifice he offered. These are truly “great things” of Christ, and we shall now notice them one by one.

I.            He Serves in a Greater Tabernacle

A.      “Greater and more perfect...” (v. 11)

B.      “Not Made with hands...” (v. 11)

C.      “...not entered into the holy places made with hands...”

1.       These were “figures” (Gr. antitypes) of the true. (“a thing formed after a pattern.” Thayer).

2.       They were “patterns” of the heavenly things. (v. 23) (a copy; Thayer).

a.       In Exodus 25, 26 no less than four times Moses was exhorted to make things just the way it was shown “in the mount.”

b.       What Moses was shown, the patterns or figures, stood for the realities which are in heaven.

D.      He entered into “heaven itself”.

1.       He appears in the presence of God.

2.       He appears there for us! (see 1 John 2:1, 2; Heb. 7:25)

II.          He Offered a Better Sacrifice

A.      Blood atonement necessary.

1.       Lev. 17:11 - “The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.”

2.       Heb. 9:22 - “...without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.”

B.      Animal blood, while serving to show that life is required for sin, does not, and can never, take away sins.

1.       Heb. 10:4 - “It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

2.       The animal sacrifices prepared men for the idea of a substitutionary atonement.

C.      The great contrast.

1.       The blood of goats and calves and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh (outward, ceremonial) (9:13).

2.       “How much more...”

a.       The blood of Jesus is far superior to that!

b.       The cleansing affects the conscience, not just the outward man.

3.       The blood of animals was suitable for the “patterns”, the “types”, the copies; but the heavenly things them­selves require better sacrifice; better blood; better cleansing! (9:23).

4.       The animal blood had to be often repeated (10:1-3); and if Christ’s blood were no more effective, he too, would have had to have suffered often (9:26).

5.       Notice how often the writer uses the word “once” or “one” in reference to the completeness of Christ’s offering!

a.       9:12 - “...by his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

b.       9:26 - “but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

c.       9:28 - “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many...”

d.       10:10 - “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

e.       10:12 - “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.”

f.        10:14 - “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”

g.       10:18 - The climax - “Now where remission of these (sins) is, there is no more offering for sin.”

III.         He Mediated a Better Covenant (Testament) (9:15—21)

A.      Better because of the Blood that ratified it.

1.       Covenants between men and God always required blood

a.       Abraham (Gen. 15:7-21).

b.       The covenant between God and Israel, related in this chapter and in Exodus 24.

2.       The new testament (covenant) was ratified with Jesus’ blood (Mt. 26:28).

B.      Better because of the salvation it provides.

1.       Reaches backward (9:15) and forward (9:12; 10:10, 14).

2.       Provides cleansed conscience (9:14).

3.       Provides complete remission (10:18).

Conclusion:             How can we fail to impressed with these great blessings?  How can one turn a hard, stubborn will against the great things  God has provided? Do you enjoy these blessings, these privileges?  Are you free from the burden of your sins?