Well, we've recently reviewed the development of the office of the priesthood throughout redemptive history, if you'll remember that. We noted that the priest has two primary tasks, to make offerings to God and to make intercession to God on behalf of the people. Now, why was this office necessary? Review with me. To be frank, it is because every single person that has ever lived has a sin problem. That's you, that's me, that's everyone that we both know. When our first parents rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden, their natures fell from a state of being perfect and happy to one of moral corruption, of misery, and of death. You and I have the same sinful, morally bankrupt nature as our first parents Adam and Eve. If you want to argue over that, you can see me after church later on. Theologians call this original sin. Remember also that God is holy or morally perfect. And so he must meet every violation of his holy character in unwavering justice. And that justice always results in the eternal condemnation and destruction of every lawbreaker without exception. But the real proof that you and I have this original sin problem is evidenced every day in your life and mine in how we live. We have actual sins, don't we? We actually do sin. Left to ourselves, we tend to live as if God didn't even exist. We sin with what we deeply desire but can't possess. We call that covetousness. We sin with the members of our bodies in committing actual crimes against God's law. Pastor Mitch opened up some of that for us this morning. And likely would sin more and more if we thought we could get away with it. And we do this every day of our lives. Theologians call this actual sin. Whether you recognize this to be offensive to God or not, this has always been our dilemma. Sin is what introduced death into the world, which is not part of the original creation design. But our sinful nature yet persists. If we were honest, we love our sins. We are often sin addicts by ourselves. We make excuses for them, we minimize them, we hide them, we tell lies to ourselves about them, or we're going to go and hang out with people that love the same sins that we do. They shape our social connections. And in the right circles, we even compare and brag about them. Now we have no desire for God left to ourselves, instead we love wickedness. And all the while sitting here, and all the while God sees, doesn't he? Though we attempt to hide, just like our first parents did, God takes note. He remembers while we willfully forget. One day God will apprehend each one of us, whether in death, which is the consequence of all sin, or at the end of the world. Each one of us sitting here this evening needs a priest, don't we? who can speak to God on our behalf, who can cause God to stop being angry with us, though we provoke him. Now remember, our culture really no longer recognizes a priesthood in such stark religious terms. No, we're too sophisticated for that. We disdain ancient cultures or more primitive ones that have priests. Today our priests wear university robes. Their God is the material world, and others are far more cultic in their practice, actually openly engaging in witchcraft, which is surprisingly becoming more accepted in our culture today. They will likely use AI even to advance their religious materialism. And yet, all the while, there is the one true God who is there. If you would turn to Hebrews chapter one, if you're still in the book of Hebrews, He is not there, excuse me, he is there and he is not silent. From Hebrews chapter 1, long ago At many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He, that is Jesus, is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. And he upholds all the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. Now this, of course, is referring to Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, who is God, as we've just read, and was, in time and space, clothed, at one point in time, clothed in human form. He fully obeyed God's laws in every aspect of his being, and yet he was rejected by his nation, the Jews, and was put to death in the most horrific and disgraceful manner ever devised by man. And in doing so, He actually fulfilled God's plan to buy back God's chosen people by suffering as an evildoer on their behalf. And as proof of this, he rose from the grave three days later and later ascended into heaven before many witnesses. Check out Luke 24 and Acts chapter one on that. Jesus continues there in heaven as a priest, as our text says, at the right hand of the majesty on high, praying for his people to God, his father. And he is far more glorious than any angelic being, being God himself victorious over death itself. And so our meditation for the Lord's Supper comes from this book of Hebrews. Here the author of this book contrasts the ritual sacrifices prescribed under Moses and points to their ultimate fulfillment in the sacrifice of Christ. His priesthood is superior to that of the Levitical priesthood. His offering superior to those which were only intended to point to his once for all perfect offering to God. And so just to give you a bit of an overview of the more immediate context of chapter 10, you can look back with me if you like. Beginning in chapter 8 verse 1, we learn about the superior priestly ministry in a superior heavenly temple in verses 1 through 5 of chapter 8. Verses 6 through 13, a superior covenant that has been given in the new covenant. Over to chapter 9, a superior tabernacle than that which we saw in the Old Testament. And then later on in chapter 9, a superior sacrifice that cleanses the conscience, verses 11 through 28. And so as we turn to chapter 10, The author is going to focus on Christ's sacrifice for all in the first 18 verses. And so we're gonna land back on chapter 10 and verse 14, and I'll read it again. For by a single offering, he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And so this verse is well worth memorizing, especially if you struggle in your faith or with assurance of your salvation. And so I'll be frank, I'm going to closely follow John Owen's thoughts on this verse as you look to your outline with me, Roman numeral one, the meritorious cause, the meritorious cause, one offering, one offering, as we'll see. First under that A, Christ's offering of himself, Christ's offering of himself. This one offering of Christ's body and soul was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah. Now concerning his body, his physical body, we read back in verse 10 of our chapter. and by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. You need not turn there, but I'll read from Isaiah 53, a well-known passage, verses four and five. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sins, yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Verse five, but he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. And by his wounds, we were healed. So that's concerning the body of Christ. But what about his soul? Well, if we were to go down just a few verses to verse 10 of Isaiah 53. Isaiah writes, He has put him to grief when his soul makes an offering for guilt. He shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days, and the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. So we must value this offering of Christ in contrast with the sacrifices under the old covenant. If you're still in chapter 10 with me, let's look at the first four verses of Hebrews chapter 10. Under this would be B, the animal sacrifices are ineffective. The animal sacrifice is ineffective. Beginning at verse one. For since the law has but a shadow. of the good things to come, instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by those same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Verse two, otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins. But in these sacrifices, there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. We just sang of that a few moments ago. Down to verse 11. And every priest stands daily at his surface, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. Here the writer to the Hebrews is in a time prior to the destruction of the temple there. in Jerusalem in 70 AD. Let's go on to verse 12. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Flavel notes the Old Testament priests' imperfection as they were sinners themselves needed to offer for their own sins. We could read about that in Hebrews 5, 3 or 7, verse 26 and following. And their offerings were insufficient, merely typifying Christ's work. Spurgeon adds at this point that these priests constantly standing signified unfinished labor with no rest. or completion, as sin remained unexpunged year after year. Even on the Day of Atonement, Owen reinforces this contrast, explaining that the lost sacrifices could not perfect the worshipers as pertaining to the conscience. We could read about that in Hebrews 9 verse 9. Leaving them only a renewed sense of sin, unlike Christ's sacrifice, which achieves perfection. as we read about in our text in 9 verse 13. All three of these authors stress with such rituals, though divinely ordained were powerless to strip away guilt or perfect the conscience, serving only as reminders of sin and pointers to a greater reality that we discover here in the New Testament. Let's look at Roman numeral two, on your outline. Let's look now at the manner of the efficacy. If you want to write the manner of its power, that's fine too. And that is for all time, for all time, the manner of its efficacy or power. And so as we go back to 1014, we want to focus on those three words, for all time, those who are being sanctified. So the term here means continual. perpetual, eternal, without interruption, always. If you would flip back with me to chapter seven and verse 27. Jesus has no need like these high priests to offer sacrifices daily. first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did once for all when he offered up himself. Jesus was sinless. He had no sins for which he needed to atone for himself. And so he offers up this one sacrifice for all time on behalf of those who would be sanctified. To chapter nine in verse 12, He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." Again, that same word, securing an eternal redemption. Spurgeon writes, the glory of the text is that we are perfected forever, not for tomorrow, and then allowed to fall from grace. not from the next 20 years and then turn out of the covenant. No, the blood of Christ has been sprinkled on us and therefore our standing before God is the standing of perfection. Half of the times the word perfection is used in the New Testament is in this book of Hebrews here. and as he goes on, and we are always perfect, always fit to come to the throne of grace, whatever our doubts, whatever our sins, I do not say this of our character, but he goes on, we come before God in our station as being justified by the grace of Christ, by faith, not in our character and therefore we come as perfect people at all times into God's presence. There is no longer a need for ongoing sacrifices. You may be aware that Yom Kippur was this past Thursday, the day of atonement. And my Jewish friend, that day of atonement was completely fulfilled over 2000 years ago. What Jesus achieved on the cross fulfilled that law and now provides an unchanging state of acceptance with God. Amen? And so what Jesus achieved there is for all time. Christian, has this truth been taken for granted? by you due to its familiarity? Or does it warm your soul this evening? Does this help you to let go of your doubts in your relationship with God? I encourage you to memorize this verse if that's the case. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. For by a single offering, he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Well, Roman numeral three, let's focus on that last phrase, shall we? the object of Christ's offering, those being sanctified, those being sanctified. It is those being sanctified, those being made holy. Now, a little bit of grammar here under A, and I'm sticking with Owen's notes because this is very helpful. First, note first under A, a passive participle. a passive participle. Now, if you don't remember what participle means, it just means a verb that's being used as an adjective, okay? First, those who benefit do not somehow prepare themselves to benefit from Christ's offering. The passive participle here is going to suggest divine agency. God sanctifies the believer through Christ. and they are made holy by God. Do you see that? all the way back to chapter two, verse 11. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source, and that is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers. If we were to flip forward to chapter 13, verse 12. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. It is God who is doing the sanctifying. in our verse here this evening. But note as well, not only is it a passive participle, also under B, it's in the present tense. It's in the present tense. Secondly, note this, present tense. There is an ongoing process in the present of being sanctified, of being made holy, of being made more and more into Christ's own image. It is an ongoing process of practical holiness. So to clarify, however, this is not the basis of your acceptance with God, but it is instead the benefit one receives from Christ's hard work upon the cross. And so sanctification here is both definitive in setting you and me apart as believers in Jesus Christ, set apart unto God, but it's also progressive In other words, there is experiential growth in your life and mine as we walk with Jesus Christ in faith and in love, aligned with God's sovereign choice. Paul wrote about this in Ephesians 1. Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. That's the end, right, to be sanctified. In love, he predestined us to adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. And so, Flabile, Spurgeon, and Owen all agree that Christ's sacrifice extends to all that are being sanctified, set apart by God's election and called by his grace. perfecting them forever, not in moral flawlessness, but in removing guilt and granting justification. And so Owen specifies here, those that are sanctified refers to the elect. those effectually called and dedicated to God. This is referring to Christ's bride to his church. For the husband is the head of the wife and even as Christ is the head of the church, his body and is himself its savior. And so it is these for whom Christ interceded. If you were to flip back to John chapter 17, we looked at this recently, John chapter 17. In Christ's high priestly prayer, remember the uprim discourse in which the Lord's Supper itself was instituted. Jesus praised these words. Look at verse two, praying to the Father. I'm on page 1073, if you find that helpful. Since you have given him authority, referring to the Lord Jesus, you have given him authority over all flesh to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. Down to verse nine. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. And then look down to verse 19 and 20 with me. And for their sake, I consecrate myself. that they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only, but for those who will believe in me through their word. If you would turn back to Hebrews 10 now again. So how does this costly sacrifice impact those who trust in Christ? How does that impact you as a believer? Let's look at Roman numeral four on your outline. Let's look at the effect. of Christ's sacrifice. And we can see he has perfected them, hasn't he? He has perfected them. Under letter A, let's look first at the term that's used here. The term used is taleo. I'm probably not saying it right. which means to complete, to fulfill, to finish, to make perfect, to consecrate. The basic sense of this term is to bring to completion, to bring to completion. That is the effect that Christ's sacrifice once for all has on all those who trust in him. The basic sense is to bring to completion. And this can refer to making something perfect, accomplishing a task, or fulfilling a scripture. Notice well here, that's the term used. Look at be now. It's also not only the word perfect, it also is in the perfect tense. A little bit more grammar here. It's in the perfect tense. And we must not miss the perfected, the tense of perfected here. A perfect tense verb indicates a completed action with ongoing results. And so being perfected is really the same as the description of the effect that we find in some other places in the book of Hebrews. Just briefly, 725, you need not turn there. where the writer says, consequently, he, that is Jesus, is able to save to the uttermost, is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them, to pray for them. Now in this next passage in 9 verse 9, the opposite is noted of the imperfection of those Old Testament sacrifices. In 9 verse 9, by contrast, it reads, which is symbolic for the present age, according to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper. Those Old Testament sacrifices, where on the day of atonement, one of the goats would be killed and its blood would be poured out around the altar, and then the priest would lay his hand on the head of the other goat, the scapegoat, and confess the sins of the nation there, and then that scapegoat would be led off into the wilderness, never to be seen again. That does not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. Now if we go to 9 14 we read this. You can see the effectiveness of this blessing that's coming to those that have been perfected in Christ. And so David could say, as far as the East is from the West, so far he has removed our transgressions from us. in chapter nine, verse 28 of the book of Hebrews. So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. David is going to celebrate this blessedness in Psalm 32. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. And so we can read in the New Testament statements like this, there is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. So let's consider as we've looked at the tense of the verb here, we wanna look at C, the impact secured, the impact secured. Owen clarifies that this perfection pertains to the conscience granting complete pardon peace, liberation from legal burdens, while the ongoing sanctification realizes the elect's set-apart state. And so our text also points to God's unyielding justice, sparing not even his own son, underscoring the terror Underscoring the terror for those without a mediator. And so we find statements like this in Romans 8.32. He who did not spare his own son. You would think anyone whom the father would spare the humiliation and agony of paying for sin, it would be his son. And yet he did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him graciously give us all things? And so we can see in James letter here, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. This is an act of God's mercy. And yet at the same time, it completely satisfies the justice of God. I want you to use your imagination for a moment. to try and picture this. Imagine with me a rugged coastline, maybe along the coast of Maine or Oregon, battered by relentless storms where innumerable vessels have suffered shipwreck. And those who live along the shore timelessly lit fires along the coast to alert those approaching vessels, and yet their fires were constantly being put out, being doused by the storms. And at last there was one among them who had the resources to build a lighthouse, to keep its beacon eternally bright, though it cost him all that he possessed. and its beam was sufficient to penetrate through the darkest fog and illuminated the safe passage through these rocky coastlines, guiding every vessel safely to the harbor. Well, Christ's once-for-all sacrifice for sinners is just like that lighthouse. The temporary fires of Old Testament sacrifices offered daily by imperfect priests could only point to redemption, never fully achieving it, as we've read here this evening. But Christ, the eternal High Priest, offered himself once a perfect and sufficient sacrifice. His death on the cross, fueled by his divine nature, provided an everlasting light of atonement, perfecting for all time those who are being sanctified. And so no additional sacrifices are needed. This single act This single act guides all who trust in him to the harbor of salvation, securing their passage eternally. Now, I want you to be aware as well in our passage under letter C, there is a warning here implied, a warning implied. And so what shall remain for those who reject such a wide reaching offer of forgiveness? in the mediation of Christ our High Priest. There remains no other offering that will be accepted before the Holy God other than that which he himself has provided. No other offering. Remember, Judas rejected Jesus as his savior and sold him for silver, as we well know. Yet Jesus prayed for Peter and was ultimately reconciled after his grievous denial. And what about you, my hearer? Are you reconciled to God through this one, once for all sacrifice to our Lord Jesus? The writer to the Hebrews in chapter 12 says, therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe for our God is a consuming fire. Well let's look to some lessons now from this passage. First, And this may apply to you more than maybe to others, I don't know. But to cultivate assurance, cultivate your assurance through meditation. Daily reflect on your perfected status, maybe by journaling how Christ's one offering removes guilt. You could even take Owen's outline right here in prayer, thank God. Thank God for the cause, which is Christ's sacrifice, the manner that it is eternal, the object, your sanctification, the effect, your perfection. And so in times of doubt, recite Hebrews 10, 14, to combat any legalism. You know the only cause of your salvation is Christ's once for all sacrifice. Do you admire the Lord Jesus tonight? Are you filled with a measure of gratitude for the work that is accomplished on your behalf? So cultivate this assurance by meditating particularly on this verse. Committed to memory. Secondly, pursue progressive sanctification. Pursue progressive sanctification. Recognize that while perfected in status, you're still being sanctified if you're a believer. The comfort of this verse, the assurance that it contains, belongs only to those that are being sanctified, who are actively pursuing Christ's kingdom first, whose faith is an active, a flourishing faith. And there should be no ongoing controversies between you and King Jesus, his subjects. no controversies, commit to spiritual disciplines such as Bible study and prayer, and grow in holiness viewing them as fruits, not the roots, but the fruits of salvation. You may even consider joining a Bible study on the book of Hebrews to consider these insights. Not only cultivate assurance through meditation, pursue progressive sanctification and personal holiness. Third, reject any ritual dependency. And this really applies to all of us. Avoid relying on these repeated religious acts of assurance, such as excessive confession without faith. and the finality of Christ's offering. Instead, and as we approach the Lord's table this evening, consider this is a remembrance of that one, once for all, offering on your behalf. May this foster gratitude in your heart and communion, even this evening, with our Savior. Cultivate assurance. Pursue progressive sanctification. Reject a ritual point of view, a ritual tendency. Under letter D, share the gospel confidently. Share your faith, that's right. Explain to others how Christ's sacrifice perfects sinners eternally by faith alone. You may even consider rewriting your testimony to highlight the sufficiency of Christ's once for all sacrifice. And then finally, live in expectant victory. Live in expectant victory. As perfected for all time, anticipate the triumph that you will personally experience over sin and over trials as well. And as, and we were talking about this earlier this afternoon, do you think of the people that have turned away in the Old Testament, who turned back? There were those in the Old Testament who wanted to go back to Egypt. Oh no, this is too hard for us. You think of Lot's wife, as she turned back, what happened to her? She was turned to a pillar of salt. And so as we come to the book of Hebrews, we have these Hebrew Christians in the first century, very early on, and they're tempted to do the same thing, to turn back, to turn back from the once for all satisfaction that Christ provides in his sacrifice, to go back to the Old Testament, sacrifices which could never take away sin. They wanted to turn back. And yet the writer to the Hebrews says, no, no, no, no. That's a huge mistake, big mistake. Hebrews 12, 18. For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest. He's referring to what happened there at Sinai in Exodus chapter 19. But you have come to Mount Zion. to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. And so in adversity, Be expectant of an ultimate victory. There may be trials, yes. There will be challenges from the world. There will be challenges from our own flesh. There will be challenges from Satan. There are trials in the Christian life, that's true. But Jesus has already won the victory for each one of us who trust in Christ. And so go to him as your high priest to obtain grace and help in time of need. He is there. He is your great high priest to intercede for you. Lean into him because this is why he is there, interceding for you. As he prayed for Peter there when Peter was tempted, he's also praying for everyone who is trusted in him as their great high priest. And so that he may give grace and ultimately bestow a glorious kingdom for each one of us. for by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Amen? Let's go to him and pray, shall we? Lord Jesus, we need your help. even in appreciating in a deeper way in a deeper sense what you have accomplished for us on your cross that once for all atoning sacrifice that has perfected us for all time those that are being sanctified. Lord, may you keep each of these wonderful truths in their proper perspective, in their proper balance in each of us tonight as we come and remember you, Lord, in your death at the Lord's Supper. Help us, we pray, in your name, Jesus. Amen.