Hebrews 10  - Christian Standards

One more quick thought from an old hockey goalie (a sinner saved by Jesus) on Chapter 10 before we move on to the exciting Hall of Faith in Chapter 11.

There is this big warning in 10:26-31 that ends with this, “For we know the one who said, ‘I will take revenge.  I will pay them back.’ He also said, ‘The LORD will judge his own people.’  It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (10:30-31).

        It reminds me of God’s message to Israel just before Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC.  God said, “You people have behaved worse than your neighbors and have refused to obey my decrees and regulations.  You have not even lived up to the standards of the nations around you.  Therefore, I myself, the Sovereign LORD, am now your enemy.  I will punish you publicly while all the nations watch.  Because of your detestable idols, I will punish you like I have never punished anyone before or ever will again” (Ezekiel 5:7-10).  Man, tough to read, but it is a good reminder about our loving God’s justice and His expectations for His people.

I’ve been listening to a book by A.W. Tozer for the last few weeks.  I love how he takes the church to the woodshed and calls us to live above reproach on fire for Jesus, Holy God who rules in Heaven.  People mocked Tozer because he only had a grade eight education.  Many in the church called him unqualified to write what he did (biographies of great Christians) and to do what he did (pastored small churches in Indiana, Illinois, and then went into the mission field (in Toronto!)).  As Tozer says so well, he was unqualified.  But that’s the point.  We all are.  It is only by God’s grace that we can do anything.  Our only qualification is the Cross of Christ.

This chapter reminds us of the great benefit to the Christian of God’s new covenant, His new system.  It is every benefit indeed.  It is having the real thing rather than a shadow.  A real woman rather than a poster, a full plate of delicious food rather than the picture on the menu.

The old system was just a shadow, a “dim preview.”  With Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit guiding our hearts and minds we have the real thing - a true foretaste of eternal life promised to us by God our Father.

And what is the good thing the new system enables?  Perfect cleansing, purity before God, removal of guilt, fulfillment of the perfect law of God.

God is Good.  His will is for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once and for all time (10:10).

One single sacrifice for sins, good for all time (10:12)!

And by that one sacrifice on that ancient Roman cross, God forever made perfect those who are being made holy (10:14).  For a sinner like me that is overwhelming.  I’m so thankful for God’s love and mercy.

We are made perfect before God.  That is what God’s new system and new covenant does.  It is a process by which God is making us holy.  Salvation from sin, and sanctification unto holiness and eternal inheritance.

We are now living stones.  No more old tablets.  We are God's people and He has high expectations and responsibilities.  God's standards.  Now God puts His laws in our hearts and writes them on our minds (10:16).

God’s free gift is a treasure worth trading everything for.  Once you find it, sell everything by comparison and hold it tightly.  Compared to righteousness before our God, everything else is nothing.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the Cross.  Thank you for your new covenant.  We revere you and we know your standards.  May we be a great example to all those in our community and may we represent you in a way that gives You honor.  Amen.

At the Downtown YMCA with Kari-Lynn.