Hebrews 10:10-14
We are sanctified (set aside for service and made holy) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ on the cross! I place the exclamation point because this should be a great point of emphasis. You and I are considered holy in the eyes of God because of the sacrifice of Jesus at the cross. The scripture speaks of the “offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”, denoting that something happened in His body that was significant and that won’t happen again.
What occurred in the body of Jesus that made His offering of that body so important? Peter said, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness…” (1 Peter 2:24). He bore my sins and your sins in His body on the cross, so that we would die once to sin and then live righteousness. No lesson on how to be a good person can ever replace the message of the finished work of the cross, for in it our sins are crucified in Him forever.
The author of Hebrews then tells us that earthly priests stand daily ministering and offering the same sacrifices all day long, none of which can ever take away sins (Hebrews 10:11). There were no chairs in the tabernacle because the work of a priest was never finished. There was simply no time to sit down!
“But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). The King James Version says “this man”, but the Greek (which is properly reflected in the NIV) says, “This priest”, referring to Jesus’ role of high priest for us. Jesus is our High Priest, interceding before God for us; but He is in a seated position while doing so. Why would earthly priests have no opportunity to sit down, but our high priest is sitting at the right hand of God? Because once Jesus offered His blood as a sacrifice for our sins, having placed those sins in His body on the tree, there was no reason to remain standing. His work was finished!
In the Old Testament, the priest kept on his feet because the people continued to sin. There was a constant going back with the blood of bulls and goats (Hebrews 10:4). People are still sinning now, so why is Jesus not up offering the blood over and over again? Once He offered His body for sin, the sin issued was settled. There is no judgment left against man sinning, for all of that judgment was poured into Jesus. Men that go to hell now do not go because of their sins, but because “they believe not on me” Jesus said (John 16:9).
The one offering of Jesus Christ has perfected you forever (Hebrews 10:14). As Jesus is, so are you; thus you are viewed as perfect and righteous and holy in the eyes of God. Don’t be led astray by some who tell you that your holiness is a process and that you should work on it every day. You cannot be any more holy in the eyes of God than you are when you are resting in Jesus and His “one sacrifice”. Don’t keep sacrificing; IT IS FINISHED!
We are sanctified (set aside for service and made holy) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ on the cross! I place the exclamation point because this should be a great point of emphasis. You and I are considered holy in the eyes of God because of the sacrifice of Jesus at the cross. The scripture speaks of the “offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”, denoting that something happened in His body that was significant and that won’t happen again.
What occurred in the body of Jesus that made His offering of that body so important? Peter said, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness…” (1 Peter 2:24). He bore my sins and your sins in His body on the cross, so that we would die once to sin and then live righteousness. No lesson on how to be a good person can ever replace the message of the finished work of the cross, for in it our sins are crucified in Him forever.
The author of Hebrews then tells us that earthly priests stand daily ministering and offering the same sacrifices all day long, none of which can ever take away sins (Hebrews 10:11). There were no chairs in the tabernacle because the work of a priest was never finished. There was simply no time to sit down!
“But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). The King James Version says “this man”, but the Greek (which is properly reflected in the NIV) says, “This priest”, referring to Jesus’ role of high priest for us. Jesus is our High Priest, interceding before God for us; but He is in a seated position while doing so. Why would earthly priests have no opportunity to sit down, but our high priest is sitting at the right hand of God? Because once Jesus offered His blood as a sacrifice for our sins, having placed those sins in His body on the tree, there was no reason to remain standing. His work was finished!
In the Old Testament, the priest kept on his feet because the people continued to sin. There was a constant going back with the blood of bulls and goats (Hebrews 10:4). People are still sinning now, so why is Jesus not up offering the blood over and over again? Once He offered His body for sin, the sin issued was settled. There is no judgment left against man sinning, for all of that judgment was poured into Jesus. Men that go to hell now do not go because of their sins, but because “they believe not on me” Jesus said (John 16:9).
The one offering of Jesus Christ has perfected you forever (Hebrews 10:14). As Jesus is, so are you; thus you are viewed as perfect and righteous and holy in the eyes of God. Don’t be led astray by some who tell you that your holiness is a process and that you should work on it every day. You cannot be any more holy in the eyes of God than you are when you are resting in Jesus and His “one sacrifice”. Don’t keep sacrificing; IT IS FINISHED!
