The focus of our exposition today will be in
verses 25 and 26. I'm sure you remember that
the author of Hebrews is bringing his argumentation,
his rhetoric, his arguments to a conclusion at
the end of this chapter. He's finishing up everything
that he's been saying to this point. This is
really his last push for the effectiveness of
Christ's sacrifice. So far up to this point,
we've seen the author's been using similarities
between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
but he's also been using dissimilarities. He's
been showing us continuity and discontinuity.
Today, the author focuses really on the dissimilarities
and the discontinuity between the nature of the
Old Covenant sacrifice and the nature of Jesus
Christ's sacrifice. So the text naturally...
Leads us to consider two things this morning.
The first. What Christ's sacrifice is not. We'll
consider. How Christ's sacrifice is unlike. What
it is not like. And secondly. What Christ's sacrifice
is. What it positively. is with reference to
its effectiveness, its intent, the extent of
it, the power of it for breaking and disannulling,
canceling sin in the life of God's people. Beginning
with the first, what Christ's sacrifice is not.
Now in this text, in verse 25, we read, Nor was
it that he would offer himself often as the high
priest enters the holy place year by year with
blood that is not his own. Immediately, we're
aware that the author is making a negative assertion
about what Christ's sacrifice is not like. Meaning,
what's not... true of Christ's sacrifice. He's
saying he would not offer himself often like
the old covenant priest. And what's he doing?
He's alluding to the day of atonement and the
rituals of atonement that had to do with the
day of atonement. The high priestly work again.
He's alluding back to the old covenant. And what's
he talking about? The fact that once a year,
the high priest, would bring gifts and sacrifices
into the presence of God, the Holy of Holies,
and he would make those sacrifices for atonement.
But here's the problem with those gifts and those
sacrifices. There was no permanency to them.
There was no finality or completeness to them.
Why? Because as soon as he offered those, Again,
the next year, he would have to repeat the offering.
He would have to make another sacrifice on behalf
of God's people. He would go in once a year and
he would do this. He would perform this function
as the high priest of God's people on behalf
of God and on behalf of the men. And he would
do it over and over and over again. Why? Because
ultimately, Those sacrifices were entirely ineffective
to deal with sin. Those sacrifices were entirely
ineffective to destroy the power of sin in the
life of God's people. They were symbols and they
were types. The need for sin to be atoned remained.
Therefore, the sacrifices continued and they
were repeated over and over and over. The author
clearly states that Christ's sacrifice is not
something that is repeated. It's not something
that Christ does over. And over and over again.
It is unlike the old covenant sacrifices in that
way. His is effective. Theirs were ineffective.
That's what the author wants to get by. He also
presents us with an absurd alternative. to the
true nature of Christ, if someone's going to
think like that. If someone's going to say, well,
Christ's sacrifice is like the old covenant sacrifices.
He says, okay, we'll go down that road. Let's
follow that to the logical consequence that that
brings. Now, he uses a hypothetical argument
in the first half of verse 26. Listen to what
he says. Otherwise, meaning based on what he's
just said, in verse 25. Otherwise, he would have
needed to suffer often since the foundation of
the world. Now, I'm going to give you the technical
language for the kind of argument that's being
put forth here. And this is important. Because
I want you to think about what the author is
trying to convey to his readers and to us. He's
using what is called a second class conditional.
Argument. Contrary to fact. Now, keep that in
your mind. Why is the argument being put forth?
Why is the argument being put forth to his readers?
Why is he saying, if this is true, then this
must be true. Now, that argument is called contrary
to fact because it's based on a false presupposition.
The false presupposition the author is using
is that Christ's sacrifice is like the old covenant
sacrifices, that it is ineffective. And he says,
if that's true, if Christ's sacrifice is ineffective,
do you know what then must also be true of Christ?
He would have to suffer and die over and over
and over since the very foundation of the world.
He's showing them the absolute absurdity of thinking
that Christ's sacrifice is ineffective and like
the old covenant sacrifices. He wants them to
see that it's ridiculous to think that the Lord
of glory would take on flesh and dwell among
us. That he would live unto the law of God. That
he would die on the cross. That he would go to
the right hand of the Father. And he wants them
to know it's ridiculous to think that God would
send his Son in the flesh and fail. He wants
them to think that it's absurd that Christ would
take on this work of dealing with sin and not
be. effective at what he came to accomplish.
Because if Christ's sacrifice is ineffective,
brothers and sisters, and it were like the high
priest's sacrifice in the day of atonement, that
means that his sacrifice would only be provisional
for a time, or it would only be provisional for
certain sins, it would only be provisional for
a certain generation, it would only be provisional
for a certain period, and he'd have to come back.
And sacrifice himself again. He would have to
die. Over and over and over. Time after time.
Christ would come to the cross. And he would
say. It is finished. This time. But the author
saying. No. That is not the truth of the matter.
No. That is not reality. No. That is not true.
That is false. That is wrong. Christ's sacrifice
is effective. It is full. It is final. It is
complete. He wants them to see that there are
implications to thinking wrongly about the death
and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He wants them
to understand, brothers and sisters, That there
are consequences. There are implications to believing
wrong things about what Christ has done. There
are implications to believing wrongly about the
gospel of Jesus Christ. There are consequences
that come about in your own soul. And there are
consequences theologically. And there are consequences
in reality for believing wrong things. The author
wants us to know this. He wants us to think on
this. Wrong views of Christ's sacrifice, His
death. Wrong views of Christ's work leads to
wrong views of sin. Lead to wrong views of the
character of God Himself. If you desecrate the
cross of Christ, you desecrate... The purpose
for which he came. You desecrate the person of
God himself. Because he sent Christ. We can't.
Have a wrong view. Of the effectiveness. The
extent. The power of Christ's sacrifice. And
have a right view. Of sin and God. It does not
work. And the author. Wants his readers. To know
this. This is why he writes to them. And he wants
them to consider what is not true of Christ's
sacrifice. What does he want his readers to do?
What does he want us to do, brothers and sisters?
He wants us to engage our minds. He wants us
to think about what is not true of the gospel.
He wants us to think and to use our minds about
what is not true of Christ's death. What exactly
does he demand of us in this thinking? What does
he demand of us to think about? How do we know
he's demanding of us to think about Christ's
work and Christ's death? Why do we know? How
do we know that he wants us to engage our minds?
Well, you remember that argument that I gave
you? What does that require of his readers? What
does it require of you and me? When we hear the
author's argumentation regarding the death of
Christ, what do we have to do, brothers and sisters?
We have to engage our minds and think logically
and sensibly and rationally about... What Christ
has done. He wants us to think. About what Christ.
Has not done. Critically. He wants us. To consider
the consequences. And the implications. Of wrong.
Ideas wrong belief. And wrong. Thinking. The
necessity. Of Christians using their mind. May
sound. New today. Because it flies in the face.
Of evangelicalism. And modern day Christianity.
But brothers and sisters. The Lord Jesus Christ
himself. The author of Hebrews. Requires and
demands. That Christians. Engage their minds.
To think about the work of Jesus Christ. We are
called to think on these things. One of the reasons
I think this is so difficult for us to wrap our
minds around, and one of the reasons this sounds
so novel, this idea of engaging our minds at
church, engaging our mind in reading the Bible,
engaging our minds in thinking about God, is
because American Christianity does not lead with
its mind in the truth. American Christianity
leads with what? Emotionalism in their hearts.
They leave their minds at home when it comes
to church. The author of Hebrews does not think
that's acceptable. If you want to understand
what the author of Hebrews is saying, you have
to engage your mind in the truth of God's Word.
You have to give yourself... to thinking strenuously
about the things of God. This is part of faith,
isn't it? There's three aspects of faith. Historically,
this is what we've said in the Reformed tradition.
There's three aspects of faith. If we think about
the object of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Word of God, the promises of God, there's
three aspects. There's the content of that object.
What it's made up of. What it's compiled. We
have to understand it. We have to see it. We
have to comprehend the knowledge. We have to
comprehend the object, the content of it. Then
that knowledge that we understand, we learn,
that we think about, that knowledge has to become
conviction. That it's the truth. And that conviction
has to become trust. And that we actually believe,
we actually trust in these realities to be true,
to save us, to sanctify us, to grow us, so we
can very legitimately say that if a person is
not growing in their knowledge, in the grace
and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, then
they are not growing in their faith in Jesus
Christ. We must continue to grow in our understanding
of the object of our faith, the Word of God,
Jesus Christ, the promises of God, if our faith
is to be strengthened. And what does that require
of us, brothers and sisters? Thinking about these
things. The great need of our hour. The great
need of our day. Brothers and sisters, the great
need of your life is to think deeply about the
things of God. You need to take time in your
life to think long and hard about gospel realities.
You need to dedicate time in your life to think
about the effectiveness of Christ's work. You
need to dedicate and give yourself to thinking
deeply, intently, and proactively about the doctrines
of grace, about the Word of God, about the five
solas, about scriptural principles. We need to
think deeply about who God is, what sin is, and
what the law of God requires of us. Why don't
people think deeply about the things of God?
Why don't you and I think deeply about the things
of God? Why don't we take time to think deeply
about the things of God? Maybe it's because we're
so preoccupied with other things. Maybe it's
because our mind is always distracted and preoccupied
with more significant issues in our life. Maybe
it's because we're unwilling to discipline our
minds to think deeply about the things of God.
Maybe it's pride and arrogance and thinking,
I don't need to think about these things. I've
got it figured out. I've made it this long. Brothers
and sisters, the thing we need, the thing you
need in your life, is to think deeply about Jesus
Christ, His Gospel, the Word of God, the Law
of God, and who God is. You need that in your
life. And the reality is this. Somebody may say,
well, I don't have time for that. I don't have
time to think deeply about the things of God.
I've got a million and one things going on. A
million and one things in the pot. A million
things are stirring. Brothers and sisters, we
make time for what matters most in our lives.
We always do. How much time do you spend thinking
about things that are no good for your soul,
that are actually detrimental for your soul that
God has given you? And how much time do you give
to thinking about the precious blood of Jesus
Christ who saved you from your sin, who saved
you from wrath and saved you from hell? How much
time do we give to think intently about the Word
of the living God that has the power to save?
We must think deeply about these things. The
reason we must think deeply about these things
is because there's implications. There's consequences
for thinking and believing wrongly. What happens
when we start thinking? That Christ's sacrifice
is ineffective, brothers and sisters. What are
the implications for our own soul? What are the
implications for our view of sin and our view
of God when we start thinking Jesus' sacrifice
is not enough? Hopelessness. Despair. We have
a sense of condemnation. Guilt. There's room
for works. And my own righteousness. We must
take time to think deeply and to guarantee and
to ensure and to do our best that we believe
rightly regarding the things of God. The things
that have to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So we see what Christ's sacrifice is not. But
the author also wants us to see what Christ's
sacrifice is. We see this in the second half
of verse 26. We read these words. But now, once
at the consummation of the ages, he has been
manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of
himself. So I've seen what Christ's sacrifice
is not. How it's not ineffective. And now we
see what Christ's sacrifice is truly like. The
true nature, the true character of his sacrifice
as being once for all effective to destroy and
do away with sin. We see what the gospel, what
Christ's sacrifice positively is. So the author
shows us this in a few ways. He shows us this
by clearly stating that Christ's sacrifice has
been carried out once in and for the divine and
redemptive purposes of God. We read in the second
part of verse 26 there, but now once at the consummation
of the ages. The author ties the death of Christ
into the context of the setting of the historical,
redemptive, eschatological end of the world.
The consummation of the ages. It's talking about
the fact that Christ's death came at a redemptively
strategic point in time. The summing up of one
age, the old covenant, and the starting of another
day or another age, the latter days. And it's
really the consummation of the earthly, worldly
ages that we know that men live and dwell in.
Christ's sacrifice took place at the consummation
of ages, but it's also the event which brought
about the consummation of the ages. His death
is essential, vital, integral to the history
and future of the world. The death of Christ
did not happen in the old covenant, the previous
age. The death of Christ occurred at the consummation
of the ages. Why? Because God had a specific
redemptive purpose for Christ to accomplish.
When he came into the world. And the incarnation
when he took on flesh. That one purpose will
never be repeated ever again. What was the purpose
of Christ's first coming into this world? At
the consummation of the ages. Well the text tells
us doesn't it? He has been manifested to put
away sin. By the sacrifice of himself. Why did
the Lord Jesus Christ come into this world? Why
did he inaugurate the last days as Hebrews 1,
1 and 2 says? Why is it that in his last days
that the God has spoken through his son? Why
did he manifest himself up here and come into
the world? To deal with sin, brothers and sisters.
He came into the world to put it away. This is
a very unique word. It carries this idea of formally
or officially, legally, canceling, annulling,
abrogating sin. It doesn't have anything to do
with the natural removal of sin. It has everything
to do... with the cancellation, the breaking,
the annulling of sin's legal demands on a person's
life. Meaning, Christ came into the world the
first time. He manifested Himself to remove the
penalty of sin from the people of God. To remove
the guilt of sin, the stain of sin in their lives.
and to destroy the power of sin in their lives.
That's why Christ came to die, to sacrifice Himself
when He first came. Now, let me ask you a question.
Can that purpose, within the realm of redemptive,
eschatological history in the world, can that
ever, ever, Be repeated. No. God will no more
delete the universe and restart than Christ will
come back and suffer and die again. He has bore
the sins of his people and he has accomplished
redemption. It's done. It's final. It's over.
There's nothing left for him to do with regards
to the condemnation that sin heaps upon the people
of God. Christ has dealt with it, brothers and
sisters. It's done. Will he return again? Yes.
But will he return again to atone for sins? Will
he return again to bear the sins of his people?
Absolutely not. He will come again to deliver
His people from the presence of sin and from
their enemies and to judge the world. But He
will not come as a lamb slain. He will not come
as one bearing sin. Christ's death cannot be
repeated. he will never again submit himself
to the wicked intents of evil men. The days of
his humiliation, brothers and sisters, are over.
The days of him concealing his glory are done.
The days of him coming in and suffering at the
hands of evil rulers and wicked men are done.
He no more bears sin. He's accomplished it. It's
once for all. That purpose is final. It's full
and it's complete. The author clearly wants us
to think about what Christ's sacrifice truly
is. He doesn't want us just to think about what
his sacrifice isn't. He knows there's implications
for thinking wrongly about that. But the author
also wants us to think about the effectiveness,
the power of Christ's sacrifice in the life of
his people. How do we see this in this text?
Well, he wants us to use our minds to think about
the relationship of Christ's death. And his purpose
in his first coming. He wants us to use our minds
to think about the purpose of Christ's first
coming and the purpose of his second coming.
He wants us to think about what Christ has accomplished.
Why? Because there's implications. Just as there
are implications and consequences for thinking
wrongly about the gospel. Negative consequences.
There are positive implications and positive
consequences for thinking rightly about the Gospel
and Christ's death. When we view the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ as fully, completely, and finally
effective, there will be freedom from the condemnation
of sin in your life, brothers and sisters. It
will give you a right view of God and a right
view of yourself and a right view of sin in your
life. There will be no room for works or self
-righteousness whatsoever. The guilt will be
removed. The power of sin will be no more. Because
Christ's sacrifice is fully... and completely
effective. His death, when we realize that His
death and His sacrifice is effective for all
types of sin. All types of people. When we realize
that His sacrifice is effective for all degrees
and amounts of sin, brothers and sisters, do
you not find joy and gratitude in your heart?
Does this not give you joy and thanksgiving in
your heart? Because that's what comes as a result
of believing rightly about the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ. Ultimately, believing wrongly has consequences,
doesn't it? Believing the wrong things about
Jesus Christ. Believing the wrong things about
His death, His life, have consequences. There
are eternal implications. There are eternal consequences
for wrong belief. And there are eternal consequences.
For believing upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly
believing on Him. So we've seen what Christ's
sacrifice is not. But we've also seen, brothers
and sisters, what Christ's sacrifice is. We have
every reason, as believers, to lift up our heads
and not be dismayed. All of us. Because sin cannot
condemn you and me. It doesn't matter what season
it is. I know the election is coming up. Brothers
and sisters, listen. We have no reason to be
discouraged or dismayed. Do you know what Christ
has done? What He has accomplished on our behalf?
Do you know who our Lord is that we come to worship?
Lift up your face. Christ has dealt with your
sin. We have every reason to walk in power, authority,
and liberty, joy, peace, and hope because of
what Jesus Christ has done. Every reason. Your
sin cannot condemn you. And if you are in Christ,
you will never spend a second in hell or under
wrath. You will experience all the eternal joys
of heaven and every spiritual blessing in Christ
because our Lord, our Savior, died on the cross
and sacrificed Himself and effectively dealt
with our sin. Lift up your chins, brothers and
sisters. Lift up your faces. Be joyful. Be glad.
Don't let... the things of this world creep in
and dominate your thinking. Think deeply. Think
long about the things of God. Think about the
Lord Jesus Christ, brothers and sisters. Think
about who He is and what He's done. It will crowd
out the rest. Discipline your mind. Discipline
your heart. Make time. Determine you're going
to do it. Ask God for the Spirit of God's help.
Cry out to Him. Cry out that God would carry
you along by His divine Spirit, that you would
be encouraged and walk in peace and faith. We
have every reason to walk with confidence and
hope because Christ has dealt with our sin. Sin
does not have to be removed for us to have hope.
We have eternal hope, not a hope for tomorrow.
We can live where we live at the time we live
in, in this day and in this age, and we can still
walk with hope and confidence in Christ because
we know who our Savior is and what He has accomplished.
Lift up your chins. Be not dismayed, brothers
and sisters. We have a Lord. We have a Savior.
who has effectively dealt with sin. Take heart.