Hebrews 10: 1-10 Christ died Once and for ALL

The old system of the Law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim view of the offering that the Sacrifice of Christ gave us. One of the complaints about the Historic churches is that they seem to be repeating the Law of Moses with their rituals and customs. The complaint of the traditional Church is that the Evangelicals have abandoned the heart of the Law. Both are correct and both are wrong. The system set up by God through Moses was for a people to hold fast so that they could have structure, continuance and stability. The Mission of Christ to end sacrifice was to complete the people and connect with the One Sacrifice for all. Sacrifices repeated year after year, time and time again were not required any longer but the word is REQUIRED. The purpose of the old was the reminder that reconciliation was not possible through the acts of men. It could only be fulfilled by an act of God.

“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 offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.” (Hebrews 10:1 – ESV)

How can anything given by men be equated as perfect? Only by Christ[God Incarnate] can it be made perfect. The Atonement is the completion of the perfection offered by God for all times and for all mankind. We are given a new sacrifice, and a new festival of reconciliation through the offering of Communion, a continuing offering of the One Sacrifice. In this we hold fast to the old and at the same time hold onto the New. Communion, or Eucharist. is the New Sacrifice, the One Sacrifice. Not a reminder but the continuation of the One Sacrifice. For Jesus said “When ever you do this, do it in remembrance of Me.” When ever we offer up the One Perfect
Atonement, we do it as the One Sacrifice, not a tradition of the old Law.

“Otherwise, would they not ceased to be offered (Sacrifices of Atonement), since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any conscientiousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the of blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Hebrews 10:2-4 – ESV)

Much is said about the Old Law being abolished, but this is not the point of the writing. It is not the abolishment of the Law, but of the Sacrifice that did not take away the guilt of sin. The Law of Atonement is still in place, But Christ is the Atonement, not bulls or goats. The imperfect Atonement sacrifice has been replaced by the One Sacrifice for all, Christ. And this Perfected Offering for atonement is the only one that removes not only the sin,but the consequence of sin, the guilt of sin and the pain of sin. Once confessed, once the offering of self through communion, once the repentance is made true, there is no more sin, or guilt of sin. The Grace, Perfect Grace is given up to God and in partaking of the Body and Blood we receive perfect grace.

And we know this because the writer quote Psalm 40:6-8 as evidence. Using the Jerusalem Bible,

“You, who wanted no sacrifice or obligation,
opened my ear,
You asked no holocaust or sacrifice for sin;
then I said, ‘Here I am! I am coming!’

In the scroll of the book am I not commanded
to obey your will?
My God, I have always loved Your Law
from the depths of my being.”

God demanded animal sacrifices as atonement but He did not want them. He wanted the contrite heart, He wants the obedient heat. He want the heart that says, I am here! I am coming to Your will. Put aside the rituals that are empty, put on a clean heart, repentant and changed. And answer His voice saying I am here, I am coming to You O LORD. The blood offering was to demonstrate the seriousness of sin and the cost of sin was death. But through Christ we now have eternal life. Death has no victory over us. David loved the Law but sacrifice was still empty, for it was Love of the Law, not the ritual, that David served. And the Law was God.

The writer continues in this vein with: “First, Christ said, ‘You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them.’ (though they are required by the law of Moses).” Then He said. ‘Look, I have come to do Your will.’ He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.” (Hebrews 10:8,9 NLT) So we have a new tradition, a new offering. Not one that is temporal, but one that is spiritual. Not one that a reminder of our guilt, but one that absolves us from guilt. Jesus cancels our sin offering by becoming the sin burden Himself. And when we partake of the Sacrament of Communion, we renew ourselves with this One Sacrifice, not making a new offering, but continuing to be partners with he One Offering. As the writer sways in verse 10, “For God’s will was for us to be made holy (pure) by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ,once and for all.”

this ends part one of four parts.