Hebrews 10:11-15

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Hebrews 10:11-18
• Sermon
• Prayer of Dismissal

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Sermon Title: The Completed Priestly Ministry of Christ

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-18

I. The Old Covenant Priesthood: Insufficient and Incomplete

A. The position and activity of the earthly priests

1. They stand daily — a posture signaling unfinished work
2. They offer the same sacrifices repeatedly, in a constant, frenetic ministry

B. The insufficiency of the Old Testament sacrifices

1. The sacrifices "can never take away sins" in themselves (Hebrews 10:11)
2. Old Testament believers were saved by faith looking forward to Christ; the sacrifices were signs and symbols pointing to the one true sacrifice
3. The Mosaic administration was good but incomplete, weak, and open to abuse

II. The New Covenant Priesthood: Christ's Superior Ministry

A. Christ's activity — a single, once-for-all sacrifice

1. He offers himself as the propitiation for sins (Hebrews 10:12)
2. His active obedience is imputed to believers; his passive obedience on the cross exhausts God's wrath against sin

B. Christ's position — he sits down at the right hand of God

1. No seat existed for Old Testament priests; their work was never done
2. Christ's sitting signals the finished work: "It is finished"
3. He fulfills Psalm 110:1 as priest-king, the antitype of Melchizedek (cf. Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 1:13)

C. Christ's anticipation — waiting for enemies to be made a footstool

1. He is not inactive; he intercedes and mediates at the Father's right hand
2. The period of waiting reflects God's patience and mercy, giving his people time to come to faith (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:22-27)
3. Death is the final enemy to be conquered; Satan and death will be fully defeated at the end of all things

D. Christ's efficiency — a single offering perfects for all time

1. "By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14)
2. All of redemptive history — from the garden to Abraham to the Exodus to the temple — was waiting for this accomplished atonement
3. Justification is complete; there is nothing left to earn or add

III. The Proof and Confirmation: Justification and Sanctification United

A. The Holy Spirit bears witness through the Word, quoting Jeremiah 31

1. "I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds" — the law written on the heart is evidence of the new covenant's fulfillment
2. Sanctification is the fruit of what Christ has already accomplished, not a contribution to salvation
3. Glorification awaits: one day believers will be perfected fully and will never sin again

B. The period on the priestly ministry: complete forgiveness

1. "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more" (Hebrews 10:17)
2. "Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin" (Hebrews 10:18)
3. No further sacrifice is needed — the earthly tabernacle system is rendered obsolete
4. This is the closing argument of the entire priestly ministry section, from Hebrews 4 through Hebrews 10

C. Practical application: rest in Christ, not in self-effort

1. The natural impulse to work harder and do more for acceptance before God is answered by Christ's finished work
2. Godliness flows as the fruit of righteousness, empowered by the Spirit, not as a means of earning favor
3. The next passage (Hebrews 10:19-25) will serve as the bookend: "Hold fast your confession" — grounded in all that Christ has accomplished