This passage talks about how the sacrifice of Jesus both sanctifies us and is completely sufficient for us as well.
His sacrifice sanctifies us. The writer teaches his audience
some truths concerning the differences between the earthly priests and God’s
holy priest, Jesus. He relates that “Day after day every priest stands and
performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices”!
And in fact no matter how many times the priest stood and did the same
sacrifice repeatedly, it “can never take away sins”! However, “when this priest
(Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the
right hand of God.” Jesus did not have to stand and then offer himself
repeatedly, as his earthly counterparts had to do! How marvelous to learn that
one can depend upon the work of Jesus “once for all”! Interestingly, the writer
then ominously makes reference to the fact that “Since that time” of his
sacrifice, Jesus “waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.” Notice that
Hebrews is referring back to the prophetic writing of David in Psalm 110. Paul
would say that our ultimate “enemy” death would be subject to Jesus: “For he
must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to
be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26 ) To kneel at someone’s feet,
to be a footstool is a symbol of complete defeat for the enemy, complete
mastery for the victor.
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57) Jesus also said, “Because I live,
you also will live.” (John 14:19) and because of that, we have been made holy
through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10
) how wonderful to know that His sacrifice sanctifies us!
His sacrifice is sufficient Jesus told his disciples that the
Holy Spirit would come and “he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin
and righteousness and judgment… and guide you in all truth” (John 16:8, 13)
This is why the author of Hebrews would tell his listeners, “The Holy Spirit
also testifies to us about this.” The Holy Spirit testifies to the fact that
“by one sacrifice He has made we are all made perfect! (v. 14)
The sacrifice of Jesus ended our enmity, our hostility, with
God because of our wickedness, our sin. Yet, because of the sufficiency of
Jesus’ sacrifice, we are completely and utterly forgiven! Hebrews reminds us
this morning because of this forgiveness on the cross, there is no longer any
sacrifice for sin! The reason is simple: the sacrifice on the cross is more
than sufficient for us!
The cross was not an accident or an unforeseen tragedy that
took Jesus by surprise. It was not a temporary setback that God figured out how
to turn for good. Rather, the cross was God’s predetermined plan, before the
beginning of time, to deal with our sin.
Nevertheless, God has never been only interested in a sacrifice. That sacrifice had to be coupled with a repentant heart to be effective. There is no salvation for any human being apart from Jesus. And the first step is to go back to Jesus, acknowledge His forgiveness with a heart of repentance.
Self-reflection:
What does it mean to have your sins
forgiven?
Suggested Prayer:
Dear God,
I want to turn around and head back to You Lord, because I’m
reminded of your cross and the great sacrifice. I believe that Your mercy and
grace is a gift to me because of Your great love, not based on anything I have
done. Cleanse me and make me Your child again. By faith I receive You into my
heart as the Son of God and surrender to you as the Lord of my life. In your name I ask. Amen
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