The Way - Day 157 (Hebrews 10)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Hebrews 10:1-18
As already stated, animal sacrifices of the Old Testament law were offered by the High Priest once a year but never made those approaching perfect. In fact, that system was only temporary and was designed as a reminder of sin, not to eradicate it. Verse 4 tells us that "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sin." So why was the system necessary? Verse 1 gives us the reason - the law was "a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things." The death and shedding of an animal's blood only pictures the perfect sacrifice which was to come - Jesus Christ. Jesus came to do the will of God to do away with the Old Covenant and establish the New Covenant. By doing God's will, Jesus Christ sanctified (made holy) those who would accept and believe in His perfect sacrifice for sin (10:10). Being made holy means that the believer is set apart from sin to God. This righteousness is positional which implies that when God looks upon the believer, He does so through the righteousness given by His Son, Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews goes on to say that after Jesus had offered Himself as a sacrifice, He "sat down at the right hand of God...waiting till His enemies are made His footstool." Most importantly, His sacrifice has now given those who believe a right standing before God, which could never be done on our own (10:14-18).

Hebrews 10:19-39
As mentioned in Hebrews 10:1-18, Jesus Christ is the perfect sacrifice for sin and on the basis of His death, the writer instructs his readers to have "boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus." All those who believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ now have direct access to the presence of God (10:19-20). The writer also invites those who have not believed to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" and then to respond by holding "fast the confession of our hope without wavering, because He who promised is faithful." Drawing near to God always results in love, good works, and joining with others to worship (10:24-25). In essence, the writer of Hebrews is calling them to abandon the Levitical system of worship and embrace the perfect sacrifice found in Jesus Christ; however, this choice would probably result in some form of persecution. So, for them to forsake the Old Testament system meant that they were committing to faith in Jesus Christ. For those who would reject this new covenant (death of Jesus Christ for our sin), there would be "judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries." Their rejection of God would also mean that they had "trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the spirit of grace." God will judge those who reject salvation through His Son and "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Instead of returning to the Levitical system of worship, the writer challenges those Hebrews who had not made up their mind about Jesus to recall what they knew about Him and accept His sacrifice. Although they may be persecuted for rejecting the Levitical system, they would have a "better and enduring possession ...in heaven" (10:34). The writer reminded the Hebrews that Christ would return soon (10:37) and expected them to live by faith. God justifies (declares righteous) those who accept the sacrifice of Jesus through faith. When a person has true faith, it will be demonstrated in their actions. Genuine faith cannot be destroyed! The chapter concludes with the writer encouraging those who have believed to remain faithful.

Dear God, as I have received salvation through faith, help me to continually demonstrate it through my attitudes and actions!