Once For All
The Book of
Hebrews
Sermon Notes for 4-5-2015
all scripture quotes from the NIV
This study will focus on
the crucifixion of Christ which is ultimately validated by the resurrection. To appreciate the fullness of the validation we
will explore the book of Hebrews, which provides a clear link to the Old
Testament sacrificial system. Christ
fulfills all the requirements of the system and supersedes its inadequacy - His
personage and His sacrifice does what the old system was incapable of doing.
Christ in Four Themes in Hebrews:
1. Preexistence of Christ
2. Perfection of Christ's sacrifice
3. Provision of Atonement by Christ
4. The Perpetuity of Acceptance and
Grace
I. He is The Great High Priest
A. He is Superior
Hebrews 1:4 4 So
he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is
superior to theirs.
Hebrews 8:6 But
the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of
which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better
promises.
B. He is one of us - just as we are Hebrews 4:14-16 he can sympathize, he was
tempted
14 Therefore, since we
have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of
God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not
have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have
one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
C. He is a perfect High Priest 5:7-9
(1-20)
Hebrews 5:7-9 During
the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud
cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard
because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he
learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he
became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and
was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews
7:23-26 23 Now there have been
many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24
but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore
he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always
lives to intercede for them. 26 Such
a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from
sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high
priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own
sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once
for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high
priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the
Son, who has been made perfect forever.
D. He is a guarantor of a better covenant Hebrews 7:22
Hebrews
7:20-22 20 And
it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but
he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
‘You
are a priest forever.’ ”
22 Because of this oath,
Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
II. A Great Tabernacle
Hebrews 9
Hebrews 9:11-12
(11-14) 11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are
already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is
not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 He did
not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most
Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13
The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those
who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts
that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God.
A. Not made of hands
9:11
B. not with blood of goats and calves 9:12
C. He entered once for all 9:12
III. A Great/Perfect Sacrifice
A. One
offering 9:25-28
25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again,
the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that
is not his own. 26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times
since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the
end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just
as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so
Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will
appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are
waiting for him.
B. One
sacrifice 10:12,14 (11-14)
11 Day
after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and
again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But
when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down
at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time he waits for his
enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has
made perfect forever those who are being made holy
C. Offered Up Once
for all 7:27
once for all see below
Once For All Theme:
1. The One Death Romans 6:8-10 8 Now if we
died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For
we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death
no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the
life he lives, he lives to God.
2. The One Sacrifice Hebrews 7:27 27 Unlike the
other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first
for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered
himself.
3. The One
Entrance Hebrews 9:11-12 11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are
already here, he went through the
greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a
part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of
goats and calves; but he entered the
Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal
redemption.
4. The One
Appearance Hebrews 9:24-28 24 For Christ did not enter a
man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven
itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter
heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the
Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Then
Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But
now he has appeared once for all at
the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just
as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so
Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will
appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are
waiting for him.
5. The One
who made us Holy Hebrews 10:2, 10 Once
to be holy here verses 1-10 The law is only a shadow of the good things
that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by
the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who
draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would they not have stopped
being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and
would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those
sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is
impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore,
when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not
desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6 with
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then
I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, O God.’
”
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings
and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although
the law required them to be made). 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I
have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10
And by that will, we have been
made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
IV. A Great Confidence
A. Approach the Throne
Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
B. Confidence to Enter 10:19-22
19 Therefore, brothers,
since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20
by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his
body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having
our bodies washed with pure water.
C. Assurance of Faith 10:22
19 Therefore, brothers,
since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20
by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his
body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us
from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Conclusion:
The resurrection validates
the completeness of Christ's sacrifice.
1. It demonstrates the power of God over
life and death.
2. It is proof that His promises are
valid, perfect, and true.
3. It is the seal that validates His
Word.
4.It is the guarantee of His provision
for salvation.
