The Accessible System Of Christ

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The Accessible System Of Christ Series

Contributed by Joshua Hetrick on Jul 4, 2009 (message contributor)

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Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Summary: Hebrews Chapter Ten

The Accessible System of Christ

Hebrews Chapter Ten

Introduction:

1. In Hebrews chapter nine the superiority of Christ’ tabernacle was contrasted with the tabernacle of the Old Testament.

a. The Old Testament Tabernacle (Heb 9:1-10).

i. Holy Place (1-4a)

1. The Candlestick

2. The Table of Showbread

3. The Golden Censer (KJV) The golden altar of incense (NASB).

ii. Holy of Holies (4b-5)

1. The Ark of the Covenant

2. Golden Jar of Manna

3. Aaron’s Rod

4. Tables

5. Cherubim

6. Mercy Seat

iii. Holy Ministry (6-10)

1. Ministry of the Priest

2. Ministry of Christ

3. Ministry of the Tabernacle

b. The Heavenly Tabernacle (Heb 9:11-28)

i. The Last High Priest (11-12)

ii. The Last Will and Testament (13-17)

iii. The Necessity of Jesus’ death (13-22)

iv. The Necessity of Jesus’ presence in heaven (23-28)

2. In this chapter we will see the new Holy System of Christianity contrasted with the insufficient system of Judaism.

a. An Abolished System (Heb 10:1-18)

b. An Accessible System (Heb 10:19-23)

c. An Accountable System (Heb 10:24-39)

There was school with a class of students that no teacher had been able to handle. Two or three teachers had been run off from this school in one year by the unruly students. A young man, just out of college, heard about the class and applied to the school.

The principal asked the young man, "Do you know what you are asking for? No one else has been able to handle these students. You are just asking for a terrible beating."

After a few moments of silent prayer, the young man looked at the principal and said, "Sir, with your consent I accept the challenge. Just give me a trial basis."

The next morning the young man stood before the class. He said to the class, "Young people, I came here today to conduct school. But I realize I can’t do it by myself. I must have your help."

One big boy, they called Big Tom, in the back of the room whispered to his buddies, "I won’t need any help. I can lick that little bird all by myself."

The young teacher told the class that if they were to have school, there would have to be some rules to go by. But he also added that he would allow the students to make up the rules and that he would list them on the blackboard.

This was certainly different, the students thought!

One young man suggested "NO STEALING."

Another one shouted "BE ON TIME FOR CLASS."

Pretty soon they had 10 rules listed on the board. The teacher then asked the class what the punishment should be for breaking these rules. "Rules are no good unless they are enforced", he said.

Someone in the class suggested that if the rules were broken, they should receive 10 licks with a rod across their back with their coat off.

The teacher thought that this was pretty harsh, so he asked the class if they would stand by this punishment.

The class agreed. Everything went along pretty good for two or three days. Then Big Tom came in one day very upset. He declared that someone had stolen his lunch. After talking with the students, they came to the conclusion that little Timmy had stolen Big Tom’s lunch. Someone had seen little Timmy with Big Tom’s lunch!

The teacher called little Timmy up to the front of the room. Little Timmy admitted he had taken Big Tom’s lunch.

So the teacher asked him, "Do you know the punishment?

Little Timmy nodded that he did. "You must remove your coat," the teacher instructed.

The little fellow had come with a great big coat on. Little Timmy said to the teacher, "I am guilty and I am willing to take my punishment, but please don’t make me take off my coat.

The teacher reminded little Timmy of the rules and punishments and again told him he must remove his coat and take his punishment like a man. The little fellow started to unbutton that old coat. As he did so, the teacher saw he did not have a shirt on under the coat. And even worse, he saw a frail and bony frame hidden beneath that coat. The teacher asked little Timmy why he had come to school without a shirt on.

Little Timmy replied, "My daddy’s dead and my mother is very poor. I don’t have but one shirt, and my mother is washing it today. I wore my big brother’s coat so that I could keep warm."

That young teacher stood and looked at the frail back with the spine protruding against the skin, and his ribs sticking out. He wondered how he could lay a rod on that little back and without even a shirt on.

Still, he knew he must enforce the punishment or the children would not obey the rules. So he drew back to strike little Timmy.

Just then Big Tom stood up and came down the aisle. He asked, "Is there anything that says that I can’t take little Timmy’s whipping for him?"

The teacher thought about it and agreed.

With that Big Tom ripped his coat off and stooped and stood over little Timmy at the desk. Hesitatingly the teacher began to lay the rod on that big back.

But for some strange reason after only five licks that old rod just broke in half. The young teacher buried his face in his hands and began to sob. He heard a commotion and looked up to find not even one dry eye in the room. Little Timmy had turned and grabbed Big Tom around the neck apologizing to him for stealing his lunch. Little Timmy begged Big Tom to forgive him. He told Big Tom that he would love him till the day he died for taking his whipping for him.

Aren’t you glad that Jesus took our whipping for us. That He shed His precious blood on Calvary so that you and I can have eternal life in Glory with Him?

We are unworthy of the price He paid for us, but aren’t you glad He loves us that much?

I. An Abolished System (1-18)

a. Insufficient Law (1-4)

The law is the light that reveals how dirty the room is, not the broom that sweeps it clean. Dr. Phil Williams, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1976, Romans

i. “For the law” (1)

1. The law of Moses couldn’t make anything perfect

2. “shadow of good things to come” is a reference to the obvious fact of Christ being superior to Moses and his law.

3. “year by year” – each year the priest repeated the sacrifices and offering made to God the year before on the day of atonement.

4. “make the comers thereunto perfect” – These worshippers tried to “draw near” (NASB) to God but always came up short.

ii. “Worshippers once purged” (2-3)

1. If the sacrifices made by the Levitical Priesthood made men perfect then there would be no need for sacrifices to continue.

2. “conscience of sins” (2)

a. Conscience is the Greek word suneidesis (συνείδησις) which is used here in the sense of “awareness”.

b. Each year the Old Testament worshipper would go back to his home with the knowledge that even though he had performed the holy practice of sacrifice his sins had not been completely forgiving.

c. The Old Testament could make no man perfect.

3. “a remembrance” (3)

a. The Day of Atonement was a reminder every year that something had to be done about sin.

b. The Hebrews made sin offerings through the year not including the Day of Atonement.

c. It is easy to understand that these sacrifices did not take away sin because it they did, then why would another sacrifice be needed.

iii. The taking away of sins (4)

1. The sacrifices of bulls and goats were ineffective.

a. Under this practice sins were not taken away, they were just covered up.

b. However, it these worshippers had refused to sacrifice bulls and goats, then no real forgiveness would ever be granted to them

2. These sacrifices were repetitious.

a. The “blood of bulls and goats” cannot take away sins.

b. The constant repetition of these sacrifices shows there inability to offer real forgiveness.

b. Insufficient Sacrifices (5-10)

i. “Wherefore” (5-7)

1. We now enter the section of the chapter where Paul will argue From Old testament scripture showing the inferiority of the sacrifices and offerings.

2. Paul quotes a portion of the Psalm 40

ii. God did not desire animal sacrifices, because they were not able to forgive man’s sin. (8)

1. Even though man had to obey the law, the law could never take away his sins.

2. Man was lost under the Law.

3. When Jesus fulfilled the Law, he made a way for men to “draw near” (Heb 4:16, 7:19, 10:22) to God.

Hebrews 4:16 KJV

(16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 7:19 KJV

(19) For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Hebrews 10:22 KJV

(22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

a. “Drawing near” is a result of Jesus’ high priestly functions on behalf of believers.

b. In the Old Testament, only the priest could draw near, whereas the people could not.

c. When Jesus made the perfect sacrifice he made accessibility possible and forever opened the gates which allow believers to “draw near to God”.

iii. “I come…to do thy will” (9)

1. Christ came to take away the Law and to establish a new one.

A former missionary told the story of two rugged, powerful mountain goats who met on a narrow pathway joining two mountain ridges. On one side was a chasm 1,000 feet deep; on the other, a steep cliff rising straight up. So narrow was the trail that there was no room to turn around, and the goats could not back up without falling. What would they do? Finally, instead of fighting for the right to pass, one of the goats knelt down and made himself as flat as possible. The other goat then walked over him, and they both proceeded safely.

In a sense, this is what Jesus did for us when He left heaven’s glory and came to this earth to die for our sins. He let us "walk over Him" so that we could receive forgiveness and eternal life.

2. He knew that the law could not fix mans problem (sin) and so Jesus intervened between God and man to offer real forgiveness.

3. Paul is calling their attention to Psalm 40:6-8 to show these very truths in which he is propounding.

Psalms 40:6-8 KJV

(6) Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

(7) Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

(8) I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

iv. True sanctification is possible because Jesus offered his body once for all. (10)

1. This shows the finality of Christ sacrifice.

2. “It matters immensely that this one offering, once made, avails for all people at all times. This contrasts sharply with the sacrifices under the old covenant as the author has been emphasizing. But it contrasts also with other religions. Hering (in loc.) for example, points out that this distinguishes Christianity from the mystery religions, where the sacrifice of the god was repeated annually. In fact, there is no other religion in the world in which one great happening brings salvation through the centuries and through the world. This is the distinctive doctrine of Christianity.” Morris, p.100

c. Insufficient Priesthood (11-18)

i. “And every priest standeth”(11)

1. These priests ministered daily offering the same sacrifices repeatedly.

2. There was no end to the routine.

3. These sacrifices once again could never take away sin.

ii. “Sat down” (12-13)

1. Christ could set, because his work was done.

a. In verse eleven the Levitical priest stood while officiating, and Christ is pictured as having “sat down” indicating the finished work of sacrifice.

b. Christ death on the cross was a one time event.

2. His position is seen in the fact that he sets at the right hand of God.

a. Being positioned in such a place of honor allows Jesus to wait until last enemy becomes his footstool (1 Cor. 15:26).

1 Corinthians 15:25-28 KJV

(25) For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

(26) The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

(27) For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

(28) And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

b. This term “footstool” (ὑποπόδιον, hupopodion) pointed to the custom of a conqueror putting his feet on his conquered enemies neck

c. Paul explains Psalm 110:1 in this manner.

Psalms 110:1 KJV

(1) The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

iii. We are made perfect through sanctification (14-18)

1. “perfected” (teleioō, τελειόω) – This word is used fourteen times in the book of Hebrews, and never mean sinless, but rather carries the idea of completeness. (14)

a. Christ’ sacrifice completes us, by sanctifying us.

b. The Old Testament priest were “perfected” or “consecrated” by copious rites, so Jesus also was “perfected” (completed, qualified) through suffering to the office of priesthood.

c. I think in the same way we are perfected when we die to sin and accept the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.

2. Paul says here that the “Holy Spirit” is the author of scripture. (15-17)

a. Paul shows the Holy Spirit was the author of Jeremiah 31:31ff and once again shows how this prophecy confirms how Christ’s Covenant is better than the Old law of Moses.

Jeremiah 31:31-40 KJV