The Law of the Old Testament was brutal.
The entire system was based on a continuing death.
If the people wanted to be forgiven, they had to slay innocent animals year after year.
Hebrews 10:1b – “For the law…can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”
One animal did not forgive all of their sins, only the sins of that year.
What a horrible way to live!
That’s what makes Jesus’ death on the cross so amazing!
He died once.
Hebrews 10:12 – “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”
His sacrifice forgives all sin forever.
Hebrews10:18 – “Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”
The writer of Hebrews calls this new system of forgiveness “a new and living way.” (Hebrews 10:20a)
Isn’t that beautiful? Our salvation is no longer based on death, but rather on life.
Jesus' death ONCE offers us life FOREVER.
You can’t find a better offer than that!
Understanding this truth should fill our heart with thanksgiving for all that Christ did for us.
This life, however, is now a continuing living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1); and our life is no longer our own, and should be lived according to the new “law” of God.
Hebrews 10:16b – “…I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.”
We are now guided by the Holy Spirit of God (Hebrews 10:15).
We are not to live a life that pleases our flesh, but are to have instead “our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10: 22b)
Yes, God offers life, but He also offers this warning:
Hebrews 10:26-27a – “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation…”
After Christ’s sacrificial death for us, we cannot continue to live a life of sin. Those who ignored the Old Testament Law died “without mercy” (Hebrews 10:28).
Those who ignore the new laws that God has written in our hearts face an even worse fate.
Hebrews 10:29 – “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”
Once we have been saved by the blood of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary, if we continue to ignore the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and continue to deliberately sin, we are in a dangerous position.
Hebrews 10: 30-31 – “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
The Lord God will not ignore our disobedience to His will and His leading.
Knowing and understanding the incredible gift that we have been given by Christ’s death and resurrection, we should purpose to walk in obedience to His Holy Spirit and to His Word.
What acts of obedience do we need to follow? Hebrews 10 gives us a short list with which to start:
- Let us draw near with a true heart
- Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering
- Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works
- Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together
This short list should keep us quite busy, as we seek to live a life of gratitude for the irrevocable, definitive, settled work of forgiveness that God has completed in our lives.
There is a wondrous hope in Christ’s new law, which He has put in our hearts and written in our minds.
Obtaining Mercy 