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Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor

Advent IV --- Series C

Option A: From Rev. Kelly Bedard

"The Perfect Present"
Hebrews 10:5-10

1. Pleasing: willed by God and given willfully

2. Preferred: secondly but not secondary

3. Pure: from guilt and internally renewed

Notes:

1. The difference between Christ's sacrifice and the animal sacrifices: 
   a) animal sacrifices were offered against their will; Jesus freely offered Himself in accordance with His Father's will (John 6:38); 
   b) He only had to be offered once for all, whereas the repetition of the daily sacrifices illustrated their inadequacy (Hebrews 10:11) [Mark A. Copeland]

2. The athletic phrase "sacrificing your body" takes on new meaning with Christ's bodily sacrifice.

3. Christ came to do the will of God in two instances: 
   a) in taking away the first priesthood, which God had no pleasure in--not only taking away the
curse of the covenant of works and canceling the sentence denounced against us as sinners, but taking away the insufficient typical priesthood and blotting out the hand-writing of ceremonial ordinances and nailing it to his cross; and 
   b) in establishing the second, that is, his own priesthood and the everlasting Gospel, the most pure and perfect dispensation of the covenant of grace; this is the great design upon which the heart of God was set from all eternity. (Matthew Henry)

Rev. Kelly Bedard, B.A., M.Div.

Option Two: From Rev. Wayne Dobratz

"The Implications Of The Incarnation"
Hebrews 10:5-10

The youngest child present at the Passover is given the task of asking "Why is this night different from all other nights?" We would all do well to ask this question of Christmas Eve, the "Holy Night" of the Christmas Carol. What are...

"The Implications Of The Incarnation"

I. It replaces animal sacrifices, cf. Jer. 31:31; Matt. 27:50-51, 1: Cor.11:25, 2 Cor. 3:6-9; Heb. 9:15; Heb. 12:22-24.
    A. They were a preview of things to come--Col. 2:16-17
    B. They were inadequate--Heb. 9:9

II. Jesus came as the sufficient Sacrifice of the New Covenant--v.9
    A. Offered once willingly--text v.8-9
    B. Offered once sinlessly--Heb. 7:26
    C. Offered for all completely--Heb. 7:27, also 2:17

III. Jesus' Sacrifice fulfilled the Father's will--Matt. 26:42, John 3:14-18; 1 Tim. 2:3-6

A. The faithful are made clean, text vv. 10:2b & 10
B. The faithful can now offer living sacrifices, as in Rom. 12:1-2
C. These sacrifices make up a life of repentance and faith, as in Rom. 12:2b
D. These sacrifices can be repeated daily--Living Sacrifices
See also Rom. 8:13, Gal. 5:24, 1 Pet. 4:1-3

Matthew Henry summarizes: The apostle having shown that the tabernacle, and ordinances of the covenant of Sinai, were only emblems and types of the gospel, concludes that the sacrifices the high priests offered continually, could not make the worshipers perfect, with respect to pardon, and the purifying of their consciences. But when "God manifested in the flesh," became the sacrifice, and his death upon the accursed tree the ransom, then the Sufferer being of infinite worth, his free-will sufferings were of infinite value. The atoning sacrifice must be one capable of consenting, and must of his own will place himself in the sinner's stead: Christ did so. The fountain of all that Christ has done for his people, is the sovereign will and grace of God. The righteousness brought in, and the sacrifice once offered by Christ, are of eternal power, and his salvation shall never be done away.

Richard Lenski writes re: "We have been sanctified once for all " in v. 10: Christ offered once. It is now applied to us. The act of Christ needed no repetition or addition because of its finality and absolute completeness, and it produces an effect 'once for all' because of this finality and
completeness. We see at once that this sanctification ...sets us apart for God."

Rev. Wayne Dobratz, B.S., M.Div.

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