Hebrews Chapter 10
A lot of times people will go back to doing something the old way because they were used to it, or maybe it was just more reliable and it appeared to get the job done right the first time. Other times a new way comes along. It might be completely different than before, but it is actually better for everyone at the end of the day. This is exactly what Hebrews 10 discusses. Think about it this way. In the Old Testament, God asked of Moses and his people for all the different sacrifices to be performed and obedience be demanded. This was never a permanent fix, more like a temporary patch to be reapplied over and over. Jesus was the actual fix, done once, for good. And because of that, we don’t have to live like we’re constantly on probation with God.
Think of it like paying rent forever versus buying the house outright. Year after year, the priests brought the same sacrifices, which was basically an admission that the problem was still there. The blood of the bulls and goats could cover things temporarily, but it couldn’t actually erase the guilt at the root.
Then Jesus comes along. He wasn’t sent as just another sacrifice to be made over and over again; He came to actually do the will of God. His whole life and death are what actually dealt with sin. Not just another system, but a person.
I was reviewing a random pastor’s notes on this chapter and found some of it interesting. In the Old Testament, priests never sat down in the temple. There were no chairs because the work was never finished. After Jesus was sacrificed, He sat down at God’s right hand. This is a gesture of completion. The job is done. Because of what Jesus did, we get direct access to God. No middleman, no waiting room.
Another way to put it…. Christ is the final redemptive sacrifice. We can all enjoy the full privileges He has secured. We have personal access to God through Christ without an elaborate system. Full assurance of our faith and salvation. Hope for what the future holds and encouragement from other people of faith. Through Christ and a community of believers we receive everything we need for spiritual growth. Sometimes we may find ourselves pulling away from healthy relationships or falling into unhealthy ones or negative situations that undermine our spiritual drive. This doesn’t mean that we have lost our faith or are stranded on a one-way to Hell, it just means we may be driving down the frontage road along the highway and need to take the next exit to get back on the path that He set forth for us.
Remember, faith isn’t a solo sport. Show up. Hold on. Jesus already sat down – so you don’t have to stand alone!