“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
-- Hebrews 10:11-14
In this passage of
Inspiration the Holy Spirit assures us of the accomplishment of redemption by
our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the gospel we declare to needy sinners: --
Christ has accomplished redemption by the sacrifice of himself (Isa. 40:1-2).
Verse 11 -- "And every priest standeth
daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never
take away sins.”
This does not refer to the great high priest in Israel, but to that great multitude of priests who offered daily sacrifices for the people (Lev. 1-7). Standing before the altar, they offered the same sacrifices day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, sacrifices that could never take away sins. Those earthly priests never sat down in the holy place, because their work was never done.
Verse 12 – “But this man, after he had
offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.”
We are told three things in this 12th verse, which are absolutely essential to the saving of our souls. Apart from these three things redemption could not be accomplished.
The Son of God became a man (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Matt. 1:21-23).
This almighty God-Man offered one sacrifice for sins forever.
Then he sat down in heaven.
Because his work was done, his sacrifice was accepted,
his people were sanctified by his blood, and our sins were pardoned, he sat
down. He could not have gone to the Father as our Mediator, had he not put away
our sins (John 16:10).
These things were written to
show us the excellence and superiority of Christ as our great High Priest.
Those priests in Israel were many. -- Christ is one! They offered many
sacrifices. -- He offered only one! They stood. -- He sat down! Their
sacrifices were only typical of redemption’s great work. -- His sacrifice
effectually accomplished eternal redemption for us!
Verse
13 –“From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his
footstool.”
Blessed be God, all the
enemies of Christ and his people shall be subdued to him and put under his
feet! (Read Ps. 110:1; Isa. 45:20-45; 1 Cor. 15:24-28.) Behold the Son of God
sitting in heaven, patiently anticipating the subjugation of all things beneath
his feet, giving everlasting praise to him. Let us both admire and imitate our
Savior’s patience. The God of Peace shall bruise Satan under our feet shortly
(Rom. 16:20).
Verse 14 -- “For by one offering he hath
perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
This is why he sat down. This is why he expects his enemies to be destroyed. This is why he is at the right hand of the Father. Our Savior has fully and forever, perfectly and permanently, accomplished what he came here to do. He has completely cleansed, perfected, and made holy all who were given him by the Father, his sanctified ones, all the chosen.
To be sanctified is to be set apart by the Father in electing love (Jude 1), to be declared holy by the Son in justification (1 Cor. 1:2), and to be made holy by God the Holy Spirit in the new birth (2 Thess. 2:13). No sinner will ever be saved, no sinner has faith in Christ, until he learns this blessed fact revealed in the gospel: -- Redemption is done! Blessed are the eyes that see this glorious, soul comforting, Christ honoring truth of Holy Scripture!
“Nothing, either
great or small; Nothing, sinner, no;
Jesus did it, did it all, Long, long ago!
When He, from His
lofty throne, Stooped to do and die,
Everything was
fully done; Hearken to His cry -
‘It is finished!’ Yes indeed, Finished every jot.
Sinner, this is all
you need. Tell me, Is it not?
Weary, working,
plodding one, Why toil you so?
Cease your doing.
All was done, Long, long ago!
Till to Jesus’ work
you cling By a simple faith,
Doing is a deadly
thing. Doing ends in death!
Cast your deadly
‘doing’ down, Down at Jesus’ feet.
Stand in Him, in
Him alone, Gloriously complete!”