Slices
Prepare
Call to mind a time when you had to decide whether to do something really difficult or costly. How did you approach the decision? What did you do?
Bible passage
Christ’s sacrifice once for all
10 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshippers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, “Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll –
I have come to do your will, my God.”’
8 First he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them’– though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, ‘Here I am, I have come to do your will.’ He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Explore
This passage continues to compare the different natures of the sacrifices of the old covenant with that of Jesus. The author writes, with reference to Psalm 40, that God was not pleased with all the animal sacrifices (v 4) – the implication being that he was pleased with the sacrifice of himself that Jesus made. Another difference is that the animals involved had no choice. Jesus, however, made a personal choice to sacrifice himself on our behalf. The cost of choosing to do that is clearly seen in the accounts of Gethsemane, when he pleaded, ‘Take this cup from me.’ Still he submitted himself to his Father’s will and purpose (Mark 14:36).
I find verse 2 really interesting. It says that for all who have found salvation in Christ (ie ‘cleansed once for all’), there is no longer any need to feel guilty for our sins. That’s the difference between Christ’s sacrifice and Old Testament sacrifice. Once dealt with, our transgressions are removed far from us (Psalm 103:12).
Respond
Pray today for anyone who is haunted by the memory of past sin and finds it hard to receive the forgiveness that is theirs. Pray they find that, while memories may remain, complete freedom from guilt is ours in Christ.
Deeper Bible study
Lord Jesus, take my life and let it be consecrated to you this day.1
The writer of Hebrews likes the expression ‘once for all’, using it five times. We encountered it twice in yesterday’s reading, it appears twice in these verses and once in chapter 7.2 Four times he connects the expression with the sacrifice of Christ, making his point that this sacrifice is unique, once only and never to be repeated. The other time is when he contrasts Christ’s unique sacrifice with the former sacrifices that were repeated ‘endlessly year after year’ (v 1). If they had been effective, he asks, ‘would not they have stopped being offered?’ (v 2). For, then, the worshippers would have been cleansed ‘once for all’ and the sacrifices would no longer be necessary. His point is that the repetition of those sacrifices shows that they were ineffective.
Reflecting on Psalm 40:6–8, the writer shows why the sacrifice of Christ was effective when the former sacrifices were not. Encoded into the Old Testament was the understanding that animal sacrifices were insufficient to atone for sin in any lasting way, especially when offered superficially. What God desires is the freely offered submission of the will, seen in the climax of the psalm quotation, ‘I have come to do your will, my God’ (v 7). When Jesus came into the world (v 5), he announced in words taken from this psalm that he was coming to do God’s will.3
The verses indicate that, for Jesus, doing God’s will involved the offering of his body. We need to take care, however, not to reduce the will of God for Jesus to the cross alone. His death was the culmination of an entire life freely offered to God. To do God’s will, whatever that involved, was what made his death on the cross effective in making us holy.
Jesus offered his will completely to God. God calls us to do the same. Make this the subject of your prayers today.
1 From Frances R Havergal, 1836–79, ‘Take my life and let it be’ 2 See Heb 7:27; 9:12,26; 10:2,10 3 John 6:38
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Proverbs 9,10; Psalm 90
Pray for Scripture Union
Several of our beach missions have been sharing the gospel for over 100 years. Criccieth mission, led by Dave and Mary Butt, starts this weekend. Pray for the team as they explore new ways to help people grasp more of the relevance and importance of Jesus.
