Hebrews 10

Verses 1-2, “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.”  Animal sacrifices could never take away sins and make one perfect, and needed to be done every year. Even Abraham spoke of this future event when he said to Isaac in Genesis 22:8, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” Also when John the Baptist sees Jesus, he said of him in John 1:29, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Although animal sacrifices were insufficient, Christ can sanctify, through His offering, those who believe in Him. Verse 11-14, “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”  Now Jesus didn't just die for some elect group of people, He died for everyone, taking away the sins of the whole world. Romans 6:10, “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.”  And we know from 2 Peter 3:19 that He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

In light of all Jesus has done for us, Verses 22-25 says, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one  another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”  It is important for the church body to come together and function as a body. Our fellowship, which must be centered on God and His word, will edify and encourage each other to do good and continue the good fight. When people attempt to remain in their sin and seek their own desires, bitterness toward others will drive them to do all types of evil, including being divisive and sowing discord. They stir up strife instead of love and good works. This is why it is important to deal with these people, for the sake of the whole body, so it can function properly.

Verses 26-27, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” Once we receive the knowledge of Christ, we are accountable for how we act on it. Luke 12:47-48, “And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”  There is no going back, only moving ahead. We have no hope without Jesus. Our faith needs to be firm and not waiver. We cannot go to God and ask Him for anything if we have any unbelief in us.  James 1:6-8, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  Our stability comes from resting in Christ. If we are not built upon the Rock, everything we do will be unstable because of the foundation.

Verses 28-31, “Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has 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? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  When you sin with the expectation of grace to cover it, you insult the Spirit of grace. Understanding the grace of God will never lead anyone into sinning, and demonstrates a complete lack of fear and reverence for God. He is not a human that we can mistreat and take for granted. He is the Creator of the universe who has the power to send you to Hell for all eternity. He will judge His people and take vengeance on His enemies...those who will not obey His word.

Verses 35-39, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 'For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.' But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”  We need to continue walking in the faith and confidence we have in Jesus and His saving grace, and not draw back, so that we can receive the promise. We know that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” When we worry and fail to trust God and His promises to us, we are not pleasing Him and He will not reward our unbelief. It is through faith with endurance that the just will find eternal life.