Table of Contents
Introduction
A Superior Priesthood (Hebrews 7)
1)Introduction
2)Royal Priesthood (Hebrews 7:13-14)
3)Permanent Priesthood (Hebrews 7:15-17, 23-24)
4)Perfect Priesthood/Perfect Salvation (Hebrews 7:25)
5)Pure Priesthood (Hebrews 7:26-27)
6)The Perfect Son of God (Hebrews 10:28)
7)A Recurring Theme (Hebrews 10:18-19)
8)Principle
Believers have complete representation before God.
9)Applications
How complete is your salvation?
What hope are you experiencing because of Christ's priesthood?
A Better Covenant (Hebrews 8-9)
1)Copies and Shadows
2)Provisional
3)Problems With Old Covenant (Sinai Covenant; Law of Moses)
The People (Hebrews 8:9)
Could Not Clear Conscience (Hebrews 9:8,9)
External Regulations Only (Hebrews 9:10)
Limited Access to Holy Place (Hebrews 9:12)
4)New Covenant Features
5)Key Verses
6)Principle
The types and shadows of the old covenants are fulfilled completely in Jesus Christ.
7)Applications
What promises of the new covenant are you depending on?
What parts of the old covenants are you trying to live under?
How is your conscience?
A Final Sacrifice (Hebrews 10)
1)Shadow of the Good Things
2)The Obsolescence of the Old Covenant
3)It Is Finished
4)Our Response
Draw Near
Hold Fast
Stir Each Other Up
Meet Together
Encourage Each Other
5)Warning and Call to Persevere
6)Principle
There is no sacrifice left for sin.
Conclusion
Introduction
Have you ever looked at the blueprints to a house and wondered what some of the symbols mean? There are markings all over that, to a layman, might seem odd and hard to figure out. But once the house is complete and you look back at the blueprints, some of the meanings become apparent. “I see, that is a light socket. That is a vent. This is a window.”
It would also be ludicrous to see a finished home and own it and then only fixate on the blueprints. To live elsewhere and only dream about the reality by looking at the shadow, the blueprints. Or to have a scale model of the blueprints and live in them rather than the house.
The old covenants were a kind of blueprint. What the author of Hebrews calls a shadow containing copies or representations. But once the building (the new covenant in Christ) has come, the shadows no longer serve their purpose. They are clarified by the finished product, but they offer nothing of eternal value to those who observe them.
A Superior Priesthood (Hebrews 7)
1)Introduction
Theme: Perfection not obtainable through Levitcal priesthood (vs 11)
Key: Christ able to save completely (to the uttermost) (vs 25)
Maybe a bit about Melchizedek.
Malek – king; Zedek – righteousness
Salem (Shalom) is the ancient name of Jerusalem (Jeru Shalom)
2)Royal Priesthood (Hebrews 7:13-14)
The line of Judah is the kingly line of Israel. Jesus descent was from that line.
He fulfills God's covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:12-16).
3)Permanent Priesthood (Hebrews 7:15-17, 23-24)
His priesthood is not based upon a regulation, like Aaron's was.
His priesthood is based upon an indestructible life. In other words, he qualified as priest due to the character of his life.
[might insert the fact that Jesus fulfilled all of the Old Testament covenants that God had made with His people]
As long as he is living, his priesthood will remain.
4)Perfect Priesthood/Perfect Salvation (Hebrews 7:25)
We have an intercessor that will always be there. He always lives.
Those who draw near to God through him are saved completely.
5)Pure Priesthood (Hebrews 7:26-27)
Holy
Innocent
Unstained
Separated from sinners
Exalted
No sacrifices for his own sin
Even though he can sympathize with sinners and understands the suffering that goes with temptation, he is not defiled by sin. There is nothing of sin in him or associated with him or his priestly duties. He is above reproach.
6)The Perfect Son of God (Hebrews 7:28)
You cannot get any higher than that. This is God the Son, our high priest.
7)A Recurring Theme (Hebrews 7:18-19)
Finally, let's look at a recurring theme that we see through the remainder of these 4 chapters: setting aside of the old in favor of the new (that which is fulfilled in Christ).
18 On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
After contrasting the Aaronic priesthood with that of Christ and the superiority of the priestly order under the new covenant as opposed to the old, he speaks very bluntly about it. We will look at the weaknesses of the old and contrast the two in the next section.
But I just wanted to point out that everything that comes with Christ's priesthood produces a hope and an ability to do the unthinkable: to draw near to God.
8)Principle
Believers have complete representation before God.
9)Applications
How complete is your salvation?
What hope are you experiencing because of Christ's priesthood?
A Better Covenant (Hebrews 8-9)
A covenant: A mutual agreement of two or more persons or parties, or one of the stipulations in such an agreement.
In ancient days, covenants were a way for two parties to make an agreement. It was a contractual obligation, sometimes conditioned on whether the other party followed through with their part of the agreement or not.
It was a solemn agreement, often sealed with blood (Abraham, see Genesis 15).
1)Copies and Shadows
Hebrews 8:1,2 – 1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.
Hebrews 8:5 – 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”
Hebrews 9:24 – 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
The copies were never meant to be an end in and of themselves. They were meant to serve their purpose for a time and to point to something infinitely more significant than themselves.
2)Provisional
Of the nature of a provision; serving as a provision for the time being; -- used of partial or temporary arrangements;
In speaking of the earthly tabernacle of the Old Covenant, the writer of Hebrews says, in Hebrews 9:10:
10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
3)Problems With Old Covenant (Sinai Covenant; Law of Moses)
Hebrews 8:7 – 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
The People (Hebrews 8:9)
The people had a problem, a sin nature, that naturally rebels against the law.
Although some of the hearers of Jeremiah's prophecy were believers, many were the cause of the coming exile to Babylon. God was taking an opportunity to point out that man's rebellion had broken covenant with God.
This conditional covenant demanded man's obedience to its regulations in order for God to bless the people. And they were about to be exiled due to their unfaithfulness, not God's
Could Not Clear Conscience (Hebrews 9:8,9)
Every time someone brought a sacrifice to the temple or tabernacle as a sin offering or guilt offering, there was still that nagging understanding that I have sinned. There was not relief of conscience.
There was a continual reminder, day in, day out, of sin.
External Regulations Only (Hebrews 9:10)
The law required certain observances, practices, rituals. These were not an option. But they were merely external in nature even though they pointed to a spiritual reality.
Limited Access to Holy Place (Hebrews 9:12)
Have you ever downloaded a free application that has many of the features locked out. You get to see the benefits of the application but the best features require a key to unlock them.
The Old Covenant offered no key to God's presence, only a longing for His presence.
4)New Covenant Features
| Old Covenant | New Covenant |
| Priest ministered in the holy place once per year, every year (endless) | Jesus seated at the right hand of the throne in heaven |
| Served in the holy place that is a copy | In the true tent, not made by men |
| External laws | Laws on hearts and minds (Jeremiah 31) |
| People rebelled against God | He is our God |
| Commanded to 'know the Lord' | Know (relationship with) God (personal) |
| Reminder of sins over and over | Remember their sins no more |
| Obsolete (fulfilled completely by Christ) | Extant (Made available through Christ) |
| A shadow | The real thing |
| Blood of animals for external purification | Blood of Christ for forgiveness of sins |
| Conscience not cleared | A Clear conscience |
5)Key Verses
Hebrews 8:6 – 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
Hebrews 9:22 – 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
Sin has always required the shedding of blood for forgiveness. It has been that way since sin entered into the world and it will be that way until there is no more sin.
Hebrews 9:27-28 – 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Jesus has already dealt with sin. There is nothing more that he can or will do in that regard.
The only thing that stands before each one of us and either judgment or salvation from sin is death or the return of Christ.
Death or his return, either way, the consequences are the same. Christ will not offer another opportunity on the other side of this life.
6)Principle
The types and shadows of the old covenants are fulfilled completely in Jesus Christ.
7)Applications
The new covenant is base upon better promises:
Hebrews 8:6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
What promises of the new covenant are you depending on?
What parts of the old covenants are you trying to live under?
Do you realize that if you are under the old covenants, you are obligated to keep them perfectly? That's a tall order. Only One has ever done (or ever could do) that
How is your conscience?
A Final Sacrifice (Hebrews 10)
Every offering, prior to Christ, once it was offered, its usefulness was done. It was consumed by fire or its blood was poured out. But it could not be reused – its death marked the end of its usefulness.
But Christ, He is alive! The effectiveness of his offering is continual, ongoing, it has no end. He is a living sacrifice.
The old way into God's presence was marked by a continual flow of blood due to the insufficiency of the sacrifices.
But Christ's offering provided, not a dead way into God's presence, but a new and living way. (Hebrews 10:20)
1)Shadow of the Good Things
Once again, the writer brings up the theme of a shadow – merely a reflection of something much greater than itself.
The law meaning the Old Covenant:
can never make perfect
requires yearly sacrifices
cannot remove sin (see Hebrews 10:4)
cannot clear the conscience
is a yearly reminder of sin
2)The Obsolescence of the Old Covenant
Verses 5-9 deal with the provisional nature of the Old Covenant sacrificial system.
Strong and seemingly contradictory language is used in Psalm 40:6-8 (quoted in 10:5-7) in that the speaker is talking to God about the sacrificial system:
God does not desire sacrifices and offerings
God takes no pleasure in burnt offerings and sin offerings
God had mandated these offerings and sacrifices, but they were not the end that He intended.
He intended to remove his people's sin permanently, but these sacrifices didn't provide that.
What did they provide:
withholding of judgment
they upheld the justice of God (He didn't just sweep sin under the rug so to speak)
a foreshadowing of a coming sacrifice
it showed the graciousness of God for His people in withholding what our sin deserves
God's desire is justice and righteousness. Both of these are brought about to completion in the final sacrifice.
10:9 points out that the one coming to do God's will was in fact the old covenant is done away with with the arrival of the new covenant. Note: first and second
See Also: Hebrews 8:13
As we will see, this second (or new) covenant leaves no room for improvement. It provides all that God intends it to offer for His people. It is complete!
3)It Is Finished
Hebrews 10:12-14,10,18 –
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
In reading this text, it is impossible to come away from it thinking there is any work yet to be done.
For all time – past, present, and future sin
Single Sacrifice – no repeats
Sat down – a priest under the old covenant never finished his work
Once for all – all people groups, all ages, all backgrounds, all God's people
No longer any offering – there is nothing left to be covered by his sacrifice
4)Our Response
It's always good to look at the reasons behind why you do things. If you are anything like me, you begin to build patterns in your life and there can be a failure to remember the significance of the why and only remember the what.
Thus, we have spent a great amount of time in these chapters dealing with what Christ has done and how that work is finished on our behalf.
So how should we respond to such a superior priesthood, better covenant, and final sacrifice?
Draw Near
Something that was not possible in the past but is now at our disposal through the curtain, Christ's body.
With a true (sincere) heart – this is an honest heart; honest about sin; honest and sincere about seeking forgiveness
Full assurance of faith – faith that Christ has opened the way into God's presence; assured of our acceptance because of him
Hearts sprinkled clean from an evil (guilty) conscience – using the sprinkling with blood metaphor; clean hearts; clear conscience (something not afforded us under the old covenant)
Bodies washed with pure water – this may be pointing to the visible symbol of baptism; or it could mean the self-discipline (see Romans 12:1)
So we are to draw near to God's presence and do it often.
Hold Fast
Verse 23 tells us to hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Whenever it comes to things of God, we are to hold on to them firmly. Our hope is in a faithful God who is always true to his promises.
Our hope must be in Him.
Everything else in life must be held loosely, but we are to hold fast the things of God.
To what are you holding fast? What evidences in your life would back this up?
Stir Each Other Up
Some people like to stir things up in order to start an argument. But here the writer is telling us to stir each other up to love and good works.
If you have a fire in the fireplace, sometimes you need to go poke and stir the coals in order to get things burning hot again.
The same type of things are necessary with believers. We tend toward dying down over time and need to keep pushing and stirring each other up.
Who do you need to stir up? How do you need to be stirred up?
Meet Together
How can you stir one another up unless you are joined together in as a group of believers in a church. You can't do that much. And the writer here points out that you and I need to be meeting together regularly.
And I am not just talking about meeting together on Monday nights in this study. We all need to be accountable to a church body where we can be challenged to live out our Christian lives with others.
A television or radio preacher or men's Bible study is no substitute for a local church. There is no accountability in any of these.
Are you part of a healthy church? If not, why not?
Encourage Each Other
It is so easy to find fault and point that out, isn't it. But how much better is it to see something that someone is doing well for the glory of God, and give them some encouragement.
And this should be an ongoing thing, more and more as you see the day approaching. There should be a crescendo in our encouragement.
NOTE: I am not talking about flattery or insincere accolades.
Who do you know that could use your encouragement? Maybe your child, your wife, your pastor or priest...
5)Warning and Call to Persevere
We have seen warnings for the past 3 weeks in this book. Always a call back to the gospel to remember from whence our salvation comes. A sober reminder to remain on course.
And then, as is the writer's custom, a call to persevere. To push on. To stay on course. To run with endurance the race.
Those who shrink from Christ and His work are destroyed, but those whose faith is in him, their souls are preserved (Hebrews 10:39).
Everyone dies under a covenant and is judged based upon that covenant. If under the old, then the provisions of the old must be met perfectly (impossible!). If under the new, the provisions of the old have been met vicariously in Christ.
Which covenant are you under?
6)Principle
There is no sacrifice left for sin.
Conclusion
Blueprints are nice if you're planning a house. But you wouldn't want to live in one. They're not designed for that. They're designed to lead to a house – to point to a house.
The new covenant in Christ's blood, fulfills all the requirements of all the covenants that preceded it (all the blueprints for redemption). Are you in the new house? Or are you still under the blueprints?
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