An exposition of Hebrews 10:1-18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 10, 2012.
Introduction
[Two little boys, one Catholic the other Baptist, trade off attending each other’s church…]
This morning we gather around the Lord’s Table. This means something. No, we do not believe that the bread and cup are the body and blood of our Savior. We do not believe that grace is dispensed or merit credited through receiving the elements. This is a “memorial meal.” This is a symbol but that, in no way, downplays the significance of this observance. This is a sacred time. This is a solemn occasion. This ordinance is one of two that our Lord gave to His church. The other is baptism. Both symbols preach the Gospel. Both picture the glorious truth of what God has done for us in Christ. To understand the significance of this Table and the meaning of the elements we have to start at the beginning.
Genesis, the book of beginnings, tells us about the creation of all things. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” We are told that He “spoke” and it came into being. Stars, planets, galaxies all created by Him and for His glory. The focus of the Genesis account is the creation of earth and God’s dealings with us. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5)
Finally, as the crowning point of creation, Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)
Human beings, distinct from the rest of creation, were created in the image and likeness of God. We were created with the capacity to live in relationship with God. To know Him, walk with Him, talk with Him to reign with Him. The creation account ends in Genesis 2 with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in a perfect, loving relationship with each other, with God and with all of creation. But something happened. Something happened that ruined everything. Through the temptation of the Evil One Eve was deceived and Adam rebelled. Adam choose to set aside God’s rule and decide for himself and thus all of creation was ruined. Man was cursed. Sin, death and corruption entered the universe.
Adam and Eve were aware of their nakedness. There was shame and something to hide. Enmity and conflict entered the picture. Worst of all, when God called Adam and Eve ran, not to Him, but away from Him. Man was separated from God. Paul tells us in Romans 5 that through Adam sin and death is passed to all men (Romans 5:12). All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and the wages of our sin is death (Romans 6:23). That, my friends, is the condition of every man, woman, boy and girl who is outside of Christ. Dead in sin and under the wrath of a Holy God.
We have a problem and it goes to the core of our being. We are sinners deserving the wrath of God. The wrath of God is His just and righteous displeasure with us and His just and righteous judgment upon us. Sin is anything that is opposed the will and nature of God. We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, mind and strength. Have you ever failed to do that? We sin when we fail to act in faith. Do you do everything you do for the glory of God? We are sinners. That’s not what we do it is who we are. According to the words of Jesus, himself, all who do not believe in Him stand condemned already (John 3:18). I know we like to separate the sin from the sinner. We say, “God hates sin but loves the sinner.” Beloved, it is not your sin that will spend eternity in hell, forever separated from God, you will!
My purpose is not to offend, but you will never understand the wonder of the Gospel and you will never appreciate the beauty of this Table, until you understand the depth of our problem as sinful human beings.
We are separated from God.
Objects of His wrath.
With no hope of saving ourselves.
We are sinful. God is holy. He cannot allow sin in His presence. What are we to do? How can sinful men and women be made right with God? How can we enter His presence? The answer is found in the Gospel and the Gospel is proclaimed through this table.
Our text is found in the Hebrews chapter 10 beginning with verse 1.
Text: Hebrews 10:1-18
His message in chapter 10 is clear…
Thesis: The sacrifice of Christ alone provides cleansing and forgiveness.
Note carefully what I’m saying. It is not that the death of Jesus makes cleansing and forgiveness possible but that it actual provides both cleansing and forgiveness. Our Lord, through His sacrificial work saves us. Much of what is said in this text would have shocked these Jewish believers. Have to understand the sacrificial system was central in their worship and there understanding of how we relate to God.
Let me point out 3 things quickly.
- The limitations and inadequacies of the sacrificial system. (10:1-4)
- The superiority of Christ’s sacrifice. (10:5-10)
- The lasting benefits of Christ’s finished work. (10:11-18)
Conclusion:
Dear sinner there is but one hope for you – trust in Christ and Him alone!
That is the meaning of this Table. That is the message it proclaims. Salvation is found in Christ alone because the sacrifice of Christ alone provides cleansing and forgiveness.