Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

MEMORY VERSE: And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. —Luke 2:10-11

CENTRAL THOUGHT: After the law had failed, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to be the Savior of mankind. He came in human flesh to make the perfect sacrifice for the atonement of sin so that we can be sanctified and free from sin and its bondage forever.

LESSON BACKGROUND

It is very evident that the Jewish nation in general was looking forward to the coming of the Messiah; however, as it was with other matters that had to do with their relationship with God, their minds were quite clouded and obscure as to what the work of the great Redeemer would be.

The vain and self-righteous leaders viewed the Messiah merely from a political and fleshly aspect. Their hearts were set on being delivered from the jurisdiction of Rome. They wanted to become a great nation in the eyes of the world again. However, this was far from the truth. Christ’s coming into the world was not for their political prestige. It was to deal with the issue and the root of their true condition: Jesus came to bring salvation for the soul. He came to make the sacrifice that would erase the wrath of God from the account. Men and women were to be changed from the ways of sin and evil to the strait and narrow way of righteousness and truth.

God was not satisfied with the system of burnt offering and sacrifices that had been going on for years and years. The writer here in Hebrews draws from the Old Testament writings in the 40th Psalm: “Sacrifice and burnt offerings for sin thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.” In the Old Testament we read, “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened” (Psalm 40:6). It is interesting to note the variation in the expression here. The writer translates the phrase “mine ears hast thou opened” into “a body hast thou prepared me.” The raw Hebrew renders this, “ears hast thou digged for me.” Let the reader draw his own conclusion and bring the two texts together. The scripture in Psalm 40 is undoubtedly as prophetic of Christ as it can be. It was necessary for Christ to assume the nature of humanity. Thus He could share in their sorrows and perfect for them with His divine power the life that He willed for them to know.

–Bro. Leslie Busbee

QUESTIONS:

1. Why was God dissatisfied with the sacrifices under the law?
2. Why did Jesus have to come in the flesh?
3. What sacrifice did Jesus make?
4. What was accomplished by this sacrifice?
5. How often was Jesus to make this sacrifice? Why? 

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

The law was just a shadow of better things in the future. It foreshadowed the great sacrifice that Christ would have to make of Himself upon the cross of Calvary. The many animal sacrifices that were offered under the law did not suffice for man’s sin. They were accepted only as a type and a shadow of Christ’s offering of Himself. Jesus Christ became the victim for man’s redemption. When Jesus came into the world He knew that He was destined for the cross. The burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin did not meet the approval of God. “I come to do thy will, O God. In the volume of the book it is written of me.”

Jesus stood on the pinnacle of time. Viewed from the past by those who had long before sealed their faith and testimony in death, He bears the weight of their sin. Believed on and adored by all who would thereafter look to Him, He perfects that which concerns them. The sacrifice that He made on Calvary is sufficient to work deep into the human heart and cleanse it from every trace of sin. The law and its unnumbered sacrifices could not do that. Every year the people would return and offer the same sacrifices. Once a year the High Priest would don his holy garments and make the fearful approach to enter the Most Holy place. All of this was but a shadow: now, the real has come. The Substance of that Shadow now approaches. The fulfillment of all of those sacrifices is now offered upon the cross of Golgotha.

Oh, the magnitude and wonder of these truths! Oh, dear reader, stand amazed and view the glory of this scene: let the Spirit of God burn it upon your soul. The Lord Jesus, the King of Glory, has brought a perfect plan for the souls of men. We can be saved from our sins forever! We can be sanctified wholly and made as pure as heaven! We can be lifted from the entanglements and sins of the world to a heavenly life in Christ and live in preparation for His coming. Praise the Lord for His gift and great love!

—Bro. Leslie Busbee

REFLECTIONS

In The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life, Hannah Smith illustrates the difference between the law and grace. A woman could oversee and manage a household as a servant, but if the owner of the household married her, she could be doing many of the same responsibilities but now she does it as a wife who has married the householder. She now has an invested interest in the household and the motivation would be completely different. “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”

Animal sacrifices never cleansed the heart of man; man was still unclean and the Holy Spirit cannot abide in an unclean vessel. When Jesus shed his blood, the perfect price was paid and the cleansing of the heart made it possible for the Holy Spirit to come in and dwell.

Philippians 2:13 says, “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” The sanctified heart has the enabling power of the Holy Spirit abiding within, giving him the desire and mind to do his good pleasure.

The Holy Spirit works from within. The fruit and service is one of liberty and not of bondage.

—Bro. Bob Wilson