August 8, 2020
For the next 13 days we will be spending time together walking through the book of Hebrews! Hebrews is written to Jewish Christians who were undergoing persecution for their faith and considering running back to Judaism. The author of Hebrews takes an in-depth look at the practices and regulations of the Old Testament as articulated in the Torah and argues for how Jesus is both superior to each of them and supreme over all of them! The author also warns his audience of the grave danger facing them should they choose to now reject Jesus and return to their former way of life. These warnings can and should make us feel uncomfortable as we read through the book together; allow the Spirit to do what He wants to do in your heart through them! Overall, the message of Hebrews is that Jesus, the Son of God as well as our Savior and Messiah, is infinitely superior to anything or anyone else we could give our lives to, and He is worthy of all our devotion and worship. Jesus is greater!
In this chapter the author finished contrasting the sacrifices under the Old Covenant Law with the once-for-all sacrifice which Jesus made on the cross. Once again, he demonstrates to his audience (and to us) that Jesus is greater.
The comprehensive greatness of what Jesus has done leads the author to encourage his audience to return to having full assurance in Him and the redemption He offers. The benefits we receive from Jesus’ blood compared to the ministry of the Old Covenant system are astounding:
- The sacrifices under the Law were unable to “make perfect those who draw near” (v.1); Jesus has “by a single offering…perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (v.14)
- The priest stands daily in the same place to make the same sacrifices, which can never ultimately deal with sins; Jesus sits at the right hand of God, His work already having been completed, and His sacrifice is sufficient not only to forgive us our sins but to cleanse us from sin!
- The priests under the Law entered the holy place by the blood of animals and only with great fear and trembling; we enter into the heavenly holy place by the blood of Jesus with boldness and confidence!
In light of these facts, the author once more warns his audience of the grace danger that they face should they choose to continue in sin and ultimately reject the sacrifice of Jesus for them; to do so is to trample Jesus Himself underfoot, to treat the blood He shed as something common or worthless, and to outrage the Holy Spirit. It is, indeed, “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (v.31), and we ought to take this warning extremely seriously.
The author ends with assurance that his audience is not made up of the type of people who will shrink back in the end and so prove that they never belonged to Christ in the first place. The question for us, then, is whether you are? Should tribulation come, persecution arise, or calamity strike, would you cling to Christ with confident faith in His surpassing greatness and worth, or shrink back and be destroyed?
He is sufficient, and His sacrifice is all that we need. Draw near to Him once more with a true heart and in the full assurance of faith!
Hebrews 10
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
10 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
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.
The Full Assurance of Faith
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.
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For,
“Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- How does the blood of Jesus give us confidence in approaching a holy God? How can you draw near to Him in the full assurance of faith this week?
thank you Lord for the forgiving my sins, help me to increase my faith in you. Amen
Heavenly Father, praise your Holy Name. Thank you for another day. Protect my family and please grant us healing and renewed strength. Father, please send your Holy Spirit to those who do not believe. Open their eyes and their hearts to receive forgiveness. Guide my steps to a closer walk with you. As we go forth this new day, speak through my words and actions that someone will hear you, see you, and accept you as their God and your son, Jesus, as their savior. Now, let’s be going, working, praying and doing to build the kingdom together. This prayer is lifted to the throne room in the name of Jesus. Amen
He is sufficient. I will live by faith.
Lord you are my all and all. I live by faith not by sight. You are the strength that I need in my life. I say to you Glory be to God on High. You are my beginning and my end I praise your Holy name. In Jesus name I pray. AMEN and HALLELUJAh!!
Remember when Jesus was on the cross and he said “It is Finished”? That still means he did everything on the cross to take our punishment for sin and there is nothing more we need to do to get God’s forgiveness. We must simply accept His forgiveness and life for Jesus every day. Thank you Lord for taking our punishment. We are eternally grateful for your unconditional LOVE for is!!
Father, each day I realize I am nothing without You. Thank you for saving me and help me bring others to know you. Bless those who are are struggling in so many ways during this pandemic. You are in control and will lead us to the solution. Bless our church, pastors, family, friends and America’s leaders. Give us strength and courage as we navigate through these times. Amen
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Thank You Jesus for Your completed work!!
Thank you God for sending your son Jesus so that he could take again our sins so that we will see your glory in heaven. I pray every day for the lost that their eyes may be open to your word and that their souls will not be lost you are coming back soon to take us to our home in heaven.
The blood of Jesus washes me, us, white as snow. Jesus’s sacrifice is complete. When I asked for Jesus to come into my heart, because of His action at the cross, I am fully saved. Yes, this is a beginning of a new journey. God will begin to sanctify me and bring me closer to Him. This process equips me for each step closer to Him. He loves me always, but desires for me to be the person that He created me to be. He desires that I reach spiritual maturity. He has a purpose and plan for my life that fits into His greater plan.
The Lord supports me in a multitude of ways: the Holy Spirit lives within me, God speaks to me through His Word and prayer, and He supports me through koinonia (fellowship/other believers). Like the Aspen and Redwoods, He strengthens all of us through community.
I am confident because He makes me.
How great is our God!!!❤
He has thought of everything ?
V 25 thank you Father that we live in time when it not possible to gather together but through technology we still gather together on Sunday to worship you.
God’s Grace and Mercy is sufficient and He is all that we need! Thank you, Lord!
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for another day. Thank you for these devotionals and for Stephen and his team taking the time to share with us and for those that you use to speak to us in prayer and thanksgiving. Thank you for the shedding of your blood for the world. Jesus help me to continue to seek you and allowing my faith to be strong during this pandemic. I am truly blessed as you continue to guide and speak to me during this time where I can stand firm in your word and your grace. I pray that you would shower your love, give others the faith and freedom to draw near to the one and only Holy God that controls everything. Help us all see that we need you more than water, food, vaccine and justice as we continue to go through this trial. Raise up strong Christian leaders to get this message out to the world that we are needing you, our Savior and healer of this world. I pray these things in Jesus name. Amen
Amen and amen.
Because of Christ’s broken body on the cross, the barrier between man and God is taken away. Christ’s 1 sacrifice for all people for all time. We may approach God boldly and without fear.
IT IS FINISHED
means It Is Finished. Nothing else is needed for a right standing with God but to receive His forgiveness by grace.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for loving us so much that You made a way we can come to You by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, Your son. I will continue to walk in faith and love no matter what trials I may encounter. Like so many times in the past, I have suffered so much heartache but I was able to get through it because of my faith in You knowing You will be with me and provide all that I need. You alone are sufficient. I will keep those words in my heart ❤. I Jesus’ name, I pray . Amen.
Father in heaven, your name be praise, exalted & magnified for who you are and all that you do, Your kingdom come & your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Thank you for Jesus & His all sufficient sacrifice that we may draw near to you with a true heart and full assurance of faith.
Each day please help me to see you more clearly, love you more dearly & follow you more nearly. In the Name above all name, Amen!
I love verse 23 where God reminds me that He is ALWAYS faithful. In these unheard of days we are going through, God is not taken by surprise. We who know Him are so blessed!!!
Thank you Lord Jesus.!!!
Thank you father, for sending us your son Jesus to be our ultimate, final and sufficient sacrifice, freeing us to approach you in confidence, and knowing that when I obey you in the power of your Spirit, you will provide everything I need to accomplish your will.