I have grown to love the New Testament book of Hebrews. Each time I read this letter (or sermon, as some have dubbed it) I see something new about Jesus. I see something new about what it means to have faith. And I see something new about the faithfulness of God.
In the first four verses the writer, whom no one knows, makes a dynamic statement about the superiority of Christ.
He very quickly lists seven things about the Messiah in Hebrews 1:2-3. If you are interested in these, I taught on them this past Sunday and you can view the entire teaching on the Troy Mills Christian Church Face Book page or on the Troy Mills Christian Church You Tube channel. Just search for us, you will find us.
The seventh and final thing about Christ the writer stated was “he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
The significance of this is this was a picture of the work Christ came to do having been completed. He came to be the perfect, once for all sacrifice for our sins. Never had a perfect or a “once-for-all” sacrifice been made. Sacrifices for sins had to be made over and over. Not to mention the one making the sacrifice for sin had to make a sacrifice for his own sin before making the sacrifice for the sins of others.
Christ came to be the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice. Because He was sinless, He did not need a sacrifice to be made for Him. Instead, He became our sacrifice, cleansing us of all sin, declaring us justified and making us righteous. This was His purpose for coming to the earth.
On the cross, found in John 19:30, He cried out with perhaps his final breath, “It is finished.” His purpose had been fulfilled. He had become the spotless, perfect, one-for-all sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
In the Temple or even back in the Tabernacle, there is never anything mentioned about a place for the priests to sit. Every time the priest entered the Tabernacle or the Temple, they had a task to do. There was always a sacrifice to be offered. First for themselves, and then for others. Their work was never finished. But when Christ came, He completed the work. He became our sacrifice that brought about cleansing from all sin, and a declaration of righteousness. One other benefit of Christ’s superior sacrifice was the veil that separated man from God was torn in two. From the top to the bottom, giving man full access to the Father.
Man was no longer separated from God by our sin. Because of Christ we are now reconciled to God and we can live free from the bondage of sin. Our sin has been removed “as far as the east is from the west.” It is a new day! A new life! And a new journey!
Always in Pursuit!
Don
In Pursuit! 