How Much More

Hebrews 10:1-10

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 continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
    but a body have you prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
    as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law),  then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.  And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

In previous sections of Hebrews, the writer has made it clear – the law of Moses foreshadowed the good things to come through the gospel of Christ. That law was for the Jews before Christ’s death; it was functional in good ways for the Jewish nation on earth, but one of it’s purposes was – to foreshadow the good things announced through the gospel of Christ.

That important aspect of Hebrews comes out clearly as you enter chapter ten. “The law” was “a shadow of the good things to come.” One conclusion is quickly stated: The animal sacrifices of that system could never, though repeated often, provide what Christ now provides for His people.

In those sacrifices there was reminders without permanent remission. It was and is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Christ came, not desiring more animal sacrifices. He came to do the will of God, and thus become qualified to offer Himself. The last phrase here captures that: “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.”

Christian, that’s what you have. And that’s what you keep, as you serve God day by day.