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Christ Came to Do God’s Will and Please Him
Hebrews 10:1-18
We all wish for things. But we don’t always get them.
All employees wish for inspiring bosses, and employers wish for productive employees. All citizens wish for efficient and good government, and I’m sure governments wish for involved citizens. But we don’t always get what we want. But God will get what he wants. He wants a people who are perfect - without sin, who love him, and serve him. And we see that in the Bible. John said in 3 John 4 - “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
Why? Because the Christians were pursuing after Christ. Paul said in Philippians 4:1 - “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”
He was gushing, because they were growing. Yes, we’re not perfect now, we fall into many sins; but we must also change our mindsets. We’re being perfected now - we can have victory. And we will be perfect one day. Why?
Christ died so we can be transformed. He achieved what no one else could. That’s been the author’s thesis. He’s better than the prophets, angels, Moses, priests, temple, and sacrifices. And we’ve seen this again and again. You’re probably thinking - enough already! I get it! Well, in these 18 verses, he finally brings that argument to a close. From hereon, the focuses on the application. But as with all summaries, there’s repetition here. He gives it in three points.
Firstly, don’t fixate on Old Covenant sacrifices. Secondly, we fixate on Christ’s sacrifice. Thirdly, we fixate on his benefits.
Firstly, don’t fixate on Old Covenant sacrifices.
He makes the point again in verses 1-4 that the Old Covenant sacrifices were limited. Again, he says nothing new. But the way he says it is fresh. He tells these Hebrew Christians not to fixate on the sacrifices. Why? If you remember, some were tempted to give up Christ and return to Judaism. They said - there are still sacrifices, our sins can still be atoned. But he’d been showing them how the sacrifices were inferior. Here, he gives three reasons. The first two he repeats, the third is new.
We don’t fixate on sacrifices because they’re just preparatory. They’re just shadows.
Verse 1 - the law was a foreshadow of good things in the future - it’s not the good thing. The fact they were offered yearly means they could never make the offerers perfect. Now, the author’s describing not just the sacrifices, but the whole ceremonial law - laws of washing and cleansing, keeping the sabbaths, new moons, festivals. These laws were just a foreshadow. The word for shadow refers to an artist’s sketch before colors are added in. The sketch is not the final product, or the very image of things. The author’s point? All the ceremonial laws were sketches - draft versions, or in coding, the alpha code. But many Christians still try to follow that rough draft. This was the problem in Colossae. Believers were led to believe these were good things. But Paul said in Colossians 2:16-17, don’t let anyone judge what you eat or drink, or if you don’t keep some Jewish festival. Some were trying to keep those laws. But Paul said they “are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
They’re just a sketch. Some Christians today won’t eat pork because of these laws. What a pity. They don’t get it.
Such laws were only preparatory, to prepare the people for Christ. All the sacrifices pointed to Christ. The feast days? Christ - he’s our passover. The furnishings? The table of shewbread? He’s our bread of life. Even the worship in the temple; the incense and smoke - Jesus prays for us. The lamp stand - Christ is the light of the world. The trumpet call in the morning sacrifice - Christ gathers his church for worship. But people today are still hankering after the sketches. So I’ve always ministered in Bible-believing, gospel centered churches. And I’ve found a great irony. We sing the great gospel filled psalms and hymns, in Spirit and in truth. Our worship is dialogical, historical, biblical. Music is secondary. Many coming from broader churches have expressed they’ve come to love the great gospel content. They’ve learned the tunes. But over the years, I’ve seen others gravitate towards the esthetic and ecstatic worship of the Old Covenant. Some have been attracted by syncretistic worship - the sprinkling of holy water, burning of incense, and lighting of candles. Others look to the Charismatic lights and music to mediate closeness with God. Such externals are shadows - they don’t actually bring you close to God. Christ does. He brings us to God, even when we’re worshiping under a tree, singing off tune praises with poor tempo. We’re in the very presence of God.
Additionally, why don’t we fixate? Because the sacrifices were powerless. They didn’t actually work.
Verse 2 says that if they’d worked to cleanse the conscience, then they should’ve ceased -
“For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.”
For example, do you continue taking medication once you’re healed? No. Do you ask for a new prescription? No. You’re cured.
But a HIV patient has to be on retro-viral medication for life. His disease hasn’t been cured, despite having an undetectable viral load. The virus is still in him. Suppression doesn’t mean elimination. So the author’s point was simple. Sacrifices were offered continually because they were powerless to make atonement. Sin wasn’t actually cleansed.
Furthermore, we shouldn’t fixate because their repetitive nature prompted them to remember their sins.
Listen carefully to this new point the author was making. Verse 3 - “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.”
Because sacrifices were powerless to cleanse the conscience, the people were reminded of sin. The fact it was offered daily, weekly, yearly - meant you still had sin. All the rituals, sacrifices, sabbaths, and feasts remind you you’re a sinner. Verse 4 -
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”
And verse 11 - “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.”
So instead of being fixated on them, we should be fearful and repulsed by them. But while we may be tempted to think it was a horrible institution , the ceremonial law served a good purpose - they were preparatory, and added guilt to the conscience so people would look to God alone for forgiveness. And God’s provision for forgiveness was Christ.
That’s the second point - we fixate on Christ’s sacrifice. He was God’s better provision for sin.
This was the sacrifice God intended for atonement. For 1500 years, they’d sacrificed an inferior sacrifice. And to convince them Christ was better, the author quoted from the Old Testament. If you don’t hear me, hear the Scriptures! Even they speak of the inferiority. In verses 5-7, he quoted from the Greek translation of Psalm 40:6-8. They say it was already God’s design sacrifices didn’t save and that Christ had to come. These are Christ’s words to God the Father in eternity past. He said,
“Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”
What did God want if not sacrifice? Truth in the inward part; obedience. He wanted Adam to obey from the heart. Adam wouldn’t. God wanted Israel to obey. Israel wouldn’t. God wanted his people to obey from the heart and not because of the law. But the people wouldn’t, and the ceremonial laws couldn’t atone for sin. So God prepared a human body for Christ, so he’d do God’s will by obeying from the heart and dying. Galatians 4 tells us that we need a hero - someone to keep all the laws mankind could never keep and someone to do what these ceremonial laws could never do.
And so Christ was born, to keep the laws actively through obedience and passively through his death.
Now, some possible questions you may have. If the sacrifices were insufficient and reminded people of their sins, how were any forgiven and cleansed before Christ’s life and death? By believing in the gospel promises. Abraham believed and was counted righteous. This gospel was all over the Old Testament. They promise a savior! Genesis 3:15 - the seed of the woman will destroy sin. Genesis 22 - God will provide the lamb. Isaiah 53 - he’s a servant that will suffer and die for sin. Psalm 40 - I will come to do your will with my body. So the priests taught the people the gospel, through the insufficiency of the sacrifices, pointing to a better promised sacrifice. There’s one who’ll come to atone for all sins. Beloved, we must believe that this gospel was taught in the Old Covenant. That people were taught Christ was a better provision for sin.
And he’s a willing provision. His bodily sacrifice was God’s eternal plan. It was Christ’s idea. When it says “a body thou has prepared for me,” it’s talking about his incarnation - Christ needed a flesh and blood body in order to obey and die. A body thou has prepared. God would be please with this sacrifice, because it’s his idea. And this was promised - when God cursed the serpent, he promised the woman’s seed will bruise his head. God even prophesied in Isaiah - behold a virgin will conceive. And Gabriel told Mary the Spirit will come on her, she’d conceive and carry the holy one. It’s God’s design for Christ to be born and his death was better than any other sacrifice. Nothing else could cleanse. Our sins are so great; only a sacrifice of infinite value would do. And Christ was willing.
“Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.”
Father, you desire obedience in the inward parts. You don’t have pleasure in sacrifices and burnt offerings of the law. Behold, I come. I’ll do it! You’ll be pleased with my sacrifice. You see, when animals were sacrificed, their minds and wills weren’t involved. They’d have resisted if they knew they were to be slaughtered. Animals couldn’t consent. But Christ willingly obeyed and surrendered in a way animals could never.
He came to do God’s will. He told Mary at the temple - I must be at my Father’s business. He told others - my food is to do the Father’s will. He called Peter Satan, when he said Jesus wouldn’t die. At the Last Supper, he told Judas to betray him quickly. At Gethsemane, he surrendered to the Father’s will - not mine but thine be done. When Peter tried to prevent the arrest, Jesus rebuked him -
“Shouldn’t I drink my Father’s cup of judgment?” “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.”
As a result, he’s a complete provision for sin.
Verse 9 - “He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”
When he came, what happened? At the cross, he said, “it’s finished!” meaning God’s atonement is accomplished. And when it was done, there was no longer any need for the Old Covenant. That’s why he destroyed it - the veil was split in two at the temple. He inaugurated the second covenant. That’s why we have direct access to God. We don’t need human priests, a temple, or anything to bring us to God. We’re now in the very presence of God because of Christ. We don’t need mood, music, smoke, or sacrifices as mediators. But we never have to worry if we have right standing before God. We’re always accepted. These are among the benefits we have because of Christ. And while there are many, this passage focuses on three.
That’s why, thirdly, we fixate on his benefits.
Because of Christ, there’s perfection - we’re made perfect by God.
Verse 10 says - “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
While sacrifices can’t make us perfect, we’re completely washed clean by Christ, when he offered his body. In fact, how washed are we? Verse 14 - “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
It means that all of our sins - are completely washed away.
We have complete righteousness.
There’s nothing we ever need to do, to be clean before God. God has forgiven our sins, past, present, future; and he no longer remembers them, verse 17. Verse 17 - “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”
It’s all paid up.
Verse 18 uses the word remission. Forgiven! That’s why we should no longer have a guilty conscience. Verse 2 says the purging of sins should remove guilt from our conscience.
Beloved, this must affect us.
Some of us struggle with great guilt from our past sins maybe trauma from years ago. We must learn that if we’ve repented, we’re forgiven.
We must rest in Christ.
That’s surrender. It’s a work of the gospel. David said in Psalm 51 - “against thee, thee alone, have I sinned and done this evil.”
He admitted it. And after repenting of his sins, he could get up and continue with life. Paul’s crimes were horrific - he persecuted Christians to the extent they blasphemed Christ - deny him - out of fear. He said he was the least of the apostles for what he had done. But he was forgiven. That’s why he could boast of his infirmities - I’m weak, but Christ is strong. Paul served all the harder because of how he was saved.
He was transformed! And that’s another benefit.
Why did Paul serve with joy? He was saved from his work based religion; and he delighted in doing God’s will because the law was written on his heart, verse 16. Why do we serve him? Because we love. We’re children of God. Verse 15 says the Holy Spirit witnesses to us that we’re saved, we’re God’s children, and he loves us. That’s why we desire after a holy life. In my ministry to those of you who struggle, do you know what’s the amazing thing? Yes, even though you’re helpless at times, weak, you fall into sin - all of you desire to be godlier. You want to be obedient. Why? Because we’re God’s children. In fact, there are so many testimonies of changed lives. I’ve heard your testimonies. Before you were saved, you loved sin and hated righteousness. But now you pursue after godliness and serve others. This transformation is proof. When Zacchaeus was saved, he made restitution to all he cheated. He wasn’t ashamed to say he’d stolen, and because he was transformed, he wanted to repay fourfold, and give half of his wealth away. He was willing to face poverty because he was saved! He responded with obedience. And his obedience mirrored that of Christ. Christ came with his body to honor God - to do God’s will; to give up his life - not half - but all of it. That’s why God’s people desire to do the same. It’s true that many of God’s people wrongly think we have to reform our lives before we’re worthy. Christ suffered to make you worthy. And that’s a wonderful assurance! God’s not going to cast you away. If he saved you, he’ll transform you. That’s why he’ll come for you one day. Remember Hebrews 9:28 -
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
”We’re saved, and are transformed. One day the transformation will be complete.
Yes, one day we’ll be in heaven. Why?
We have the benefit of reconciliation.
Verses 12-13 says Christ is now at God’s right hand. He’s waiting for the time of final judgment.
“From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.”
This pictures Christ as a conquering king. In ancient wars, the victor would put his feet on the loser. So Christ’s waiting for his conquest where he will judge. But we’re not going to be judged for our sins. Christ paid for them. We’re not enemies, but friends. Yes, our hearts have been subdued - but by love. Rather than being footstools, we’ll be seated with him in heavenly places. Beloved, how do you know you’re a friend of Christ? Your sins are forgiven. You’re transformed. And you serve him because you’re reconciled to God.
So how do we apply this? We’re getting to the application part of Hebrews, after all the doctrine has been imparted. But what are some things we can draw from this particular passage? We who are forgiven, can live without guilt. We know in our heads that God has forgiven us - but the way we live doesn’t show it. How? Some of us are still overcome by our guilt. We are ashamed. We can’t own our past as the past. We’re still living in our past. What do I mean? Now, Paul did great harm to the church. He owned it. He admitted it. But he moved on, because he was forgiven. And he served God out of gratitude. If we’ve confessed our sins, we can now proclaim - I was once a liar, an adulterer, I was covetous, a brawler, the chief of sinners - but now, I’m forgiven. We don’t have to hide what we once were. And in honesty, we offer humble and grateful service to God. Now, what’s the problem with guilt? We haven’t left it at the cross. So guilt causes us to hide, or it propels us to atone for our own sin. On one hand, one could say, “I’ve failed as a father or mother, I’ll now serve God in church with greater vigor to regain lost ground!” That’s rubbish. And that’s dangerous. You can’t assuage your conscience by works. Christ doesn’t want that kind of service. Or one could say, “I’ve failed as a father or mother, I can’t serve God now because I’m a failure.” This is also dangerous. What? You must work on your sorrow and beat and torture yourself until you’re worthy enough? We must learn that Christ has forgiven us - we just come to him. He’s done God’s will. He’s come. Now, will you do God’s will by accepting his sacrifice?
Another thing that we do is we pile on the guilt. When other believers do us wrong, instead of going to God to find comfort and to learn forgiveness, we berate people. They’ve not done this enough. They’re not sorry enough. So rather than treating them as fellow citizens who’ve been lavishly forgiven by the king, we pick at their flaws. Christ has forgiven them as he’s forgiven you. And he will perfect them. But not by your nit-picking.
In a few weeks, we come to the chapter on faith - and we see the great cloud of witnesses. All of them have blemishes - huge blemishes. We can turn to passages in the Bible that speak of Abraham’s lies, Jacob’s scheming, Moses’ anger, Rahab’s harlotry, Samson’s lust, etc. But they were forgiven, and they lived by faith as weak as they were. But it’s not how strong their faith was - it’s how strong their Savior was. And they knew about their Savior in shadows. We know him because he resides in us. We must just go to him afresh. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” That’s what Christ came to do. Lo, I come to do Thy will O God! May we say together with him - Lo, I come to do Thy will O God - and find rest in him.
1. Don’t Fixate on Old Covenant Sacrifices
A. Preparatory
B. Powerless
C. Prompting
2. Fixate on Christ’s Sacrifice
A. Better
B. Willing
C. Complete
3. Fixate on His Benefits
A. Perfection
B. Transformation
C. Reconciliation
Conversation for Change:
1. As a believer, how have you learned surrender as you look to Jesus in his surrender and obedience to the will of God? How has surrender or the lack thereof been evident in your growth?
2. What are the things that you are preoccupied with in your life that you must surrender so that Christ would be your only preoccupation?
|
P 222 - A Summons to Joyful Worship (Stz. 1-5) Psalter 57- Conditions of Approach to God & Psalter 58 - The Triumphal Ascension of Christ TH 470 - How Vast the Benefits Divine Psalter 111 - Grace and Gratitude |
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Mark Chen, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
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