On God's Terms
Study of the Book of Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsFor any of us who have ever had a boss, we understand the terms of our employment. We know that the boss is who gets to set the terms.
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On God’s Terms
On God’s Terms
For any of us who have ever had a boss, we understand the terms of our employment. We know that the boss is who gets to set the terms.
I used the example in staff meetings before. Forktruck driver example
It is on the boss’s terms
Salvation is also on the boss’s terms.
God is the Boss
God is the Boss
We need to be far more concerned with his opinion than with our own.
The old terms for atonement - the forgiveness of sin- were very rigorous. Just listen to a quick recap of the verses Andrew read this morning.
3 But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
4 He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on.
5 And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
6 “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.
7 Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
8 And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel.
9 And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering,
10 but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.
11 “Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.
12 And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil
13 and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die.
He had to cleanse his body
He had to cleanse his body
He had to dress himself in just the right garments
He had to dress himself in just the right garments
He had to secure two goats and a ram.
He had to secure two goats and a ram.
He had to offer a bull for his own sin
He had to offer a bull for his own sin
He had to cast lots over the two goats
He had to cast lots over the two goats
He had to sacrifice one goat and send the other off to an uninhabited land.
He had to sacrifice one goat and send the other off to an uninhabited land.
He has to burn incense
He has to burn incense
That’s just in these ten verses.
Even after that,
6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties,
7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.
Leviticus goes on to describe the manner in which he must use the blood of the sacrifices just to cleanse the holy place from the uncleanness of the people.
9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,
10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
So this would never be completely finished. Rather it would only be finished until this time next year. Imagine having to go back again and again and again.
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
Aren’t you glad we have a better priest and a better covenant?
Aren’t you glad we have a better priest and a better covenant?
Jesus is Greater!
Jesus is Greater!
why?
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)
12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
His blood is stronger than any previous sacrifice. It was so strong in fact that no other sacrifice would ever need made.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Opening Up Hebrews Chapter 8: Revolution in Worship (10:1–18)
the truths of Hebrews 10:1–18 hide a remarkable revolution for Jewish Christians. After all the centuries, gone in one fell swoop were animal sacrifice, the historic priesthood, and temple regulations. Verses 2–3 suggest that this letter was written sometime before AD 70, with the Jerusalem temple activity still in full swing.
The revolution is one of theology, not the frantic attempt to keep relevant at all costs or to stir up apathetic worshippers, as so often are the feeble faithless desperation measures of our day. Calvary has changed everything.
Hebrews 9:24 (ESV)
24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
Once for All
Once for All
7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
No debt remains for those who are in Christ.
His sacrifice was sufficient
His sacrifice was sufficient
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Now I want to transition to a concept that we too quickly move past today.
Not only are you able to enter the Holy of Holies, you now are the holy of holies. You house the Holy Spirit. You the third person of the trinity inside of you.
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
We do not need another priest. We do not need another sacrifice.
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”
17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
So how should we respond to this new knowledge?
So how should we respond to this new knowledge?
Hebrews 10:19–25 (ESV)
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
We have confidence in the completed work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have confidence in the completed work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We stir one another up to good works.
We stir one another up to good works.
Glorify His Name & Make His Name Known
Glorify His Name & Make His Name Known
We do that by gathering together and encouraging one another.
We do that by gathering together and encouraging one another.
We have a Better Priest and A Better Covenant
We have a Better Priest and A Better Covenant
We have Jesus Christ
We have Jesus Christ
Jesus is Greater!
Jesus is Greater!