Take Two: Hebrews 10, Proverbs 21

Hebrews 10 draws some conclusions for us and provides a warning based on those conclusions. The writer has built a great argument for why one can never go back to an insufficient system after he has experienced the perfect redemption in Christ.

Keeping the Law was never intended to be a sufficient satisfaction of God's judgment against sin. One of the obvious reasons why...is that no one can keep the Law. If so, there would never be a sense of consciousness/guilt for our sins. That is the point of Heb 10:1-10. Christ nullified the "copy/shadow" system (the Law) as the way to relate to God when He fulfilled it. He took away the "Law System" in order to establish the New Covenant (Heb 10:10).

Christ demonstrated the sufficiency/superiority of His sacrifice when He sat down at the right hand of God. Every other priest stands continually in the temple (no chairs) because his work is never done (Heb 10:11-18). Since Christ's sacrifice is eternally sufficient, there are no more sacrifices to make, so He sat down ( a picture of the finished work).

Here is the conclusion: Since we have a confident approach to God through Christ's sacrifice (Heb 10:19-20), and a Great High Priest (Heb 10:21), Let's act on them and draw near with "CONVINCED HEARTS" and STAND FIRM in our conviction and confession...and encourage one another to STAY THE COURSE (Heb 10:22-25). To do otherwise...to turn back...is to declare by our actions that Christ's sacrifice is INSUFFICIENT and lacks POWER...a sin we can be sure God will punish (Heb 10:26-31).

The writer is not concerned that the readers are going to give up their salvation and be judged by God. This is not the issue. He is trying to motivate them (stimulate them to good works) to stand firm. This is very clear in how the writer closes out the chapter. In Heb 10:32-39, the writer reminds his audience that they had already experienced salvation, that it had cost them, and that they did it anyway. He knew this...because they were compasionate toward those in society in need (a sure sign of Christ's heart). So, they should not turn back or shrink back from their faith which saves.

So, who knew that "salvation" (the ongoing aspects of salvation/ sanctification) was so much work? It would seem foolish to think that salvation is about saying a prayer and being baptized. These are only the first steps of a lifelong journey...which consists of challenges, trials, distresses...as well as joy, peace, and hope. EARNING Favor with God (Justification) requires no effort...only a decision to trust Him; however, EXPERIENCING God requires great effort in the battle between the flesh and the spirit. You cannot walk away from God and experience the benefits of relationship. The life of a Christian is such that we must continue day by day to choose Him and pursue Him with great effort.

Proverbs 21: 3 is the takeaway today. It is not that God does not desire sacrifice. He does. He prescribed this as a means of worship. However, sacrifice (religious worship) alone is insufficient. Real sacrifice (religious worship) ALWAYS involves living out ones religion in everyday life.