Christ: The Ultimate Sacrifice

Austin Chaney's sermon focuses on the theme of Christ's sacrifice as depicted in Hebrews 10:11-12. Chaney begins by sharing a personal story about his newborn daughter's health scare, tying it to the power of prayer and God's responsiveness, setting a tone of gratitude and divine intervention. He then delves into the text from Hebrews, emphasizing the contrast between the repeated, ineffective sacrifices of Old Testament priests and the singular, efficacious sacrifice of Christ.

Cheney elaborates on the Old Testament practice where priests would continually offer sacrifices that could never fully remove sins. This repetitive ritual underscores the ultimate insufficiency of such sacrifices compared to Christ’s definitive sacrifice, which not only absolves sins permanently but also signifies the completion of sacrificial work as Christ "sat down at the right hand of God."

Throughout the sermon, Chaney draws connections between biblical texts and the overarching narrative of redemption through sacrifice, from Old Testament laws to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ's sacrifice. He uses these connections to highlight the superiority of Christ's sacrifice over all previous offerings. This theological exposition is aimed at reinforcing the understanding of Jesus' unique role in salvation history—a single, all-encompassing sacrifice replacing the continuous, inadequate offerings of the past.

Chaney concludes by encouraging his congregation to appreciate the finality and supremacy of Christ’s sacrifice and its implications for Christian faith and practice. This reflection is meant to inspire a deeper commitment to faith, recognizing Christ's unique role as the mediator of a new and better covenant. The sermon ends with a prayer, reiterating themes of redemption, hope, and the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice.

Transcript

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Good evening everybody. Today's text is going to be in Hebrews chapter 10 verses 11 and 12. But quickly before we start, as Mr. Wallace had mentioned, we have a new daughter. She was born six days ago. When she was first born she was having trouble breathing. They took her away for a couple hours and you know being new parents we don't really know exactly what's going on with her. But we asked for prayer and two hours later they came back said everything's fine. She will make a full recovery which it got me thinking the same thing that happened with the Mogart's babies because we are all familiar with the story and with that situation and countless of other babies that anytime I hear a baby crying in the service I'm going to be forever reminded that God answers the prayers of His people. And so thank you for praying for my daughter and countless other babies. So today's text being Hebrews chapter 10 verses 11 through 12 we'll start first saying that God has condescended to us one of the greatest treasures that could have ever been given. We don't need a map that marks next anywhere. The treasures can be found here within these pages. You can take a storyline of scripture and go line by line and still not exhaust all the truths that scripture has to offer. And us as Reformed folks have a tendency to want to get down in the weeds and look at every word every dot every tittle under a microscope. This is good. This is commendable. Please continue to do these things. But there is a reason we have a library of when God has spoken to us through many of different inspired authors and one of these themes is the sacrifice of Christ. The sacrifice of Christ ought to be Christianity 101. If you don't have a basic knowledge of the sacrifice of Christ you don't have Christianity. It is almost the centerpiece of our religion. But have you ever contemplated the sacrifice of Christ in light of the theme of scriptures found throughout the text of scripture? So taking the theme of Christ which we'll have here in our text we'll go into text and as Dr. Moore likes to put it we'll wring out everything we can out of it come out a little bit more and look at the book of Hebrews and then look at the rest of scripture all together to help communicate to us this wonderful truth that's hard to find under a microscope. Most serious types of students know the types of sacrifices but what I mean by a theme not just types and typified throughout is an overarching idea that will pervade into the story of scripture and what is the similar theme of all the sacrifices in light of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And I would like to show you the theme of the primacy of Christ's sacrifice. How would his ultimate compare to all the other sacrifices? So starting here in our text Hebrews chapter 10 verse 11 through 12. "And every priest stands daily at his service offering repeatedly the same sacrifices which can never take away sins but when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins he sat down at the right hand of God." The Old Testament background for this could be found in Numbers 28.3 where it says "And you shall say to them this is the food offering that you shall offer to the Lord two male lambs a year without blemish two male lambs a year old without blemish day by day as a regular offering the lamb you shall offer in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight." Here God is giving Moses instructions for these sacrifices to be provided all throughout Israel. In Numbers 28.2 the verse right before he says "My offering, my food for my offerings, my pleasing aroma you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time." Daily these priests stand in the temple and they offer two lambs. They offer one in the morning, they offer one in the evening and they would stand at the altar with an unblemished lamb, they would lay their hand on the lamb, transfer the sins of the people onto the lamb and then they would slay the lamb. The priest then would take the remains of this lamb and he would burn it and that lamb, that sacrifice would then rise up into the nostrils of God it would be a pleasing aroma signifying his appeasement for the sacrifice offered. This is repeated every night and day as the sins of the people would never stop. Once sacrifice had been made the people would sin causing the need for another sacrifice then they would sin again. Try to put yourselves in the shoes of these two of these priests. The priests offer sacrifices all the time. The first thought whenever this command is being given to you that perhaps you would have had is this isn't so bad it's only two lambs a day you know we just got to offer two lambs a day for every day for the rest of our lives this can't be that difficult but as time passes by after the first week you begin to realize how much work this will actually take. After you make the first sacrifice you have to start looking for the next sacrifice. You have to inspect the lamb to make sure there's no blemishes not even a speck of wool could be out of place and then finally you found the next sacrifice. This sacrifice is offered before God. People of Israel go to sleep but not you because you're looking for the next sacrifice. Months go by you're looking for the lamb practically every time you offer a sacrifice you have to look for another lamb open to find one just in time for the evening or the morning sacrifice again and again and again because the sins of the people never stop the sacrifices can never stop. If only there was one sacrifice that could be made that would once and for all pay for the people's sins a little foreshadowing there. That's when we come to our text and every priest stands daily offering repeatedly the same sacrifices which can never take away sins but when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins he sat down at the right hand of God. The author of Hebrews knows the frailty the fragility of the people. We all know the background of Hebrews hopefully that these this was a letter written to the people it was wanting to go back to Judaism they were wanting to go back to what they had known. And so him knowing this knowing their anxiousness and his little flock that he has he pleads with them and alludes to the sacrificial laws of the old testament with what the priest at this time were still doing. So he's saying look at what they're doing compared to what we have. He's trying to paint a picture for them to get them to think deeper about what the priests are actually accomplishing and notice the language that he uses in 11 through 12. He says the priests offer repeatedly the same sacrifices while Jesus Christ offered a single sacrifice. The priests stand daily but Jesus Christ sat down. Out of all the sacrifices ever given you can take a rough estimate it's roughly around 3,321,000 lamps. Out of all these that were ever made the priests could still never sit down because their work can never take away the sins of the people. Compared to Christ who offered a single sacrifice for all time there was no need for him to continue to stand daily. There's no need for repeated sacrifices. The author is telling them what they are tempted by. They are tempted to give up the once and for all sacrifices for sins for the repeated sacrifices that can never take away the sins of the people. They thought Jesus's atonement and the work of the priests were the same and both atoned for sins. So why is it such a problem for them to put themselves back under the sacrifices of the priests to avoid persecution? The author is saying Jesus offering himself as a sacrifice having made atonement once and for all for all those who believe upon his name. He has set them free from the burden of having to trust in the futile work of the priests and the inadequate blood of lambs which can never save to begin with. This theme of sacrifice throughout Hebrews resonates with the author's constant comparison between a faulty and a better. In Hebrews 5 1 through 10 the author tells us in verse 1"Every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men about God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin." So God decides every high priest to mediate between God and man. In verse 2 "Every high priest can empathize with the people of Israel because he is also beset with sin." Verse 3 says it is because of this very fact that he is beset with sin after the order of Levi must make sacrifices for his own sins as well as the sins of the people. Now contrast that with the more perfect. In verse 5 Jesus did not exalt himself either. He was not from the Levitical priesthood but from a more righteous priesthood. A priesthood promised by God when David prophesied in Psalms 1 10 4 saying "The Lord is sworn and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." In Hebrews 5 6 he was chosen by God the Father to be a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 7 13 through 28 will tell us how this priesthood is better than the Levitical priesthood. Verse 16 says Jesus or Jesus was a high priest not by a legal requirement like the Levites but by the power of an indestructible life. Verses 18 through 19 the Levitical priesthood is under the law which can make nothing perfect. The Melchizedekian priesthood was under a better hope by which we can draw near to God. Verses 20 through 21 the Levitical priesthood was without an oath. Jesus Melchizedekian priesthood was made with an oath. Back to Psalms 1 10 4 the Lord has sworn and will not change his mind. We are all familiar with the scriptures where it says "I am the Lord and I will not change my mind. I'm not like man to change my mind." God has made a promise to make Christ a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Verse 23 through 25 the Levitical priesthood had to be constantly fulfilled that they would all die in office. Every priest they would reach their age and they would die. Half to have a new priest, half to have a new priest, half to have a new priest. Jesus Melchizedekian priesthood is held forever because he lives forever. This is by the author of Hebrews we'll then say in verses 26 and 28."For it was indeed fitting to have such a high priest holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens. He has no need like those high priests who offer daily first for his sins and then for those of the people since he did this once and for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests but the word of the oath which came later than the law appoints a son who has been made perfect forever." So I would ask you guys would not this sacrifice that is made by Melchizedekian priesthood be far superior than the sacrifices offered by the Levites? It is because of Christ Melchizedekian priesthood bestowed on him by God the Father he can offer a once, one time, once and for all sacrifice for sins and sit down at the right hand of God. In Hebrews 9 1 through 13 there is another comparison in contrast between the old and the new covenant. Verse 1 through 8 the author describes the regulations through which the old covenant had to be enacted. In 1 through 6 the author uses the words earthly place of holiness and describes how the tabernacle was to be constructed and the earthly furniture sanctioned by God to be put in the tabernacle. Verses 4 through 5 he refers to the Ark of the Covenant and the things contained within the Ark where the presence of God would be. Things to a Jew who he is writing to would have highly exalted as holy in their mind. In verse 6 through 10 he further explains the regulations of the Levitical priests using words such as regular, regularly and ritual duties to imply their repetitiveness and their striving in vain. In 11 through 13 he moves to explain how the new covenant is better. Jesus did not go through the earthly tabernacle. He went through the greater and more perfect tent. That is the heavenly tabernacle. Verse 12 he did not need to purify himself with the blood of animals like the Levites did. He entered into the holiest of holies the literal presence of God the Father in heaven by means of his own blood. Under the old covenant the high priest could only enter into the presence of God on earth once a year on the day of atonement. But by one sacrifice never having to be repeated again Jesus has entered God's presence forever. Never having to make atonement again because of his superior sacrifice he has secured eternal redemption for his people. He has sat down at the right hand of God with his work completed offering a new and better covenant. This theme of Christ's sacrifice continues to shadow itself throughout the rest of redemptive history. We all know the story of Adam and Eve. It is quite literally as old as man itself. So going back to the garden Adam walked with God without needing a mediator. In the garden Adam would be considered as a proto-priest king having dominion over creation and mediating God's grace to all of creation. And he lived in perfect harmony before God. He commuted with God daily and as we know in Genesis he walked with God in the garden. And J.I.A. Packer would say that he was friends with God. We get a glimpse of this intimate relationship that Adam enjoyed with God in Genesis 2.19 where it literally says God brought the animals to Adam. Just have that picture in your mind for a minute of Adam being commanded to name the animals and God brings an animal to him. Brings another animal to him. Brings another animal to him. As he brought the animals he saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone and he made him a companion. And both of them would enjoy the blessings of God in paradise until the fateful day that the serpent arrives on the scene in the garden. And sin now entering creation through man the image bearer of God the proto-priest king they lost the ultimate privilege enjoying God and his presence daily. They lost their place as priest kings, pledging the entire race into chaos. Never again until Christ until his return can we enjoy that communion. Here in Genesis 3.21 we see the first sacrifice ever made. As Adam and Eve stood before God and they're knitted together leaves because of the shame that they had from their sin, God killed two animals and he fashioned for them clothes to better cover their nakedness, to better cover their shame. Yet even though they were covered these animal sacrifices were not enough to cover these two sinners where they could remain in the garden. They were not enough to atone or correct for the magnitude of their own consequences of bringing sin into creation. In verse 23 they would still be cursed and banished by God because God cannot fellowship with sin without provoking his wrath. Genesis 4.1-7 the need for sacrifices is passed down to Cain and Abel. Abel was a herder of sheep and Cain for all intensive purposes was a farmer. Abel would offer the fattest and firstborn of his flock. Essentially it was the best Abel had to offer. Cain offered just some grain. As Genesis 4.4-5 says "And the Lord had regard for Abel in his offering but for Cain in his offering he had no regard." It's important to note it is not the nature of the sacrifice offered. One grain and the other one animal that determine God's acceptance. But the language shows one had a greater heart posture towards God and the other was just discharging a duty. And we can see this in Hebrews 11-4 verses Abel in his offering was given by faith. "Even though the one sacrifice was far superior did it garner forgiveness for all those who believe in God?" No. Abel was slain by his brother because of the evil effects sin has on one's soul causing him to be jealous. We know the sacrifice did not garner forgiveness once and for all because his blood cries throughout history all the way up when we continue to see still cry Hebrews 12-24 where his blood is still speaking. So now let's fast forward to the day of Atonement or the Passover in Exodus 12. God was prepared to cast judgment on Egypt for disobeying his word. For worshiping other gods and refusing to let his people go. To protect his chosen people in Exodus 12 3-6. Moses and the Israelites were commanded by God to take for themselves a lamb without blemish per household and sacrifice it. They were then to take the blood of the sacrificial lamb and cover their doorposts. As God said in Exodus 12-13. "For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt both man and beast and all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments I am the Lord the blood shall be assigned for you on the houses where you are and when I see the blood I will pass over you and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt midnight strikes God passes through the land of Egypt and the Israelites were protected from God by the sacrifice of the unblemished lambs as God passing through Egypt as the angel of death and Exodus would say he would see blood on their doorposts he would leave them beat the Egyptians didn't have a sacrifice there was no blood to plead for them on their doorposts because of this the judgment of God remained unappeased for them he took all the firstborns of Egypt at the same time the sacrifice for the Israelites saved them and saved their firstborns lives the sacrifices of the Israelites was ultimately better than the sacrifice that was that was offered by Egypt which was no sacrifice because they did not care for God nor honor God even though it was better and spared them from God's judgment would this sacrifice that was made be good enough to last forever no even this sacrifice was not good enough to eternally appease the sins of God's people God actually commanded the Jews to keep this sacrificial Passover for generations in Exodus 12 12 through 40 this sacrifice to be kept every year to keep themselves within the good graces of God and abstain his judgment by explicit command if God's people did not keep the statue they would be cut off and consequently exposed the judgment of God so now we fast forward to the time of David in 2 Samuel chapter 24 the vedipal priesthood has long been established the priests are offering sacrifices daily and repeatedly David is still enjoying his time as king until he again succumbs to the temptation and sins against God in verse 1 David commanded Joab to number the people he orders a census which God has reserved solely for a purpose of supporting worship we can see this in Exodus chapter 30 11 through 16 in verse 10 after the conclusion of this census David realizes his sin David prayed for the iniquity to be taken away but God still brought pestilence and 70,000 people perished you'd see this in verse 15 so just for a moment imagine the 70,000 people perishing because of the consequences of your sin and the weight this would carry on your shoulders imagine how David would have felt it wasn't until David was told by the seer Gad to raise an altar on the threshing floor of Arana the Jebusite that the pestilence would be lifted not on the altar and the tabernacle with the inner rooms like the Levitical priests Arana would have given its David for free but David insisted on purchasing this floor saying in verse 24 no but I will buy it from you for a price I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that costs me nothing even David understood that a sacrifice that costs you nothing the sacrifice that is just flippant and regard means nothing to God here David offered a sacrifice to the Lord for his sins and the plague of Israel was lifted what is left in the background of this passage and remains unspoken is while the pestilence was active the priests of Israel were still offering sacrifices onto God but these sacrifices were not enough to atone for the sins of David it wasn't until David offered a better sacrifice that God was appeased but even then this sacrifice cannot eternally save the people from God's judgment so there's a conclusion where can this better sacrifice be found where is the better sacrifice that can account and fulfill what all these other sacrifices could not are the people of God doomed forever to work themselves in a frenzy and a futile work to try and abstain the judgment of God is there any hope for anybody it was under the wrath of God can anyone offer a sacrifice good enough to relieve us of these dain rituals and the author of Hebrews is telling us there is a better sacrifice has been made that entirely and utterly atones for the sins of his people this sacrifice does not need to be repeated in vain as the priest did daily in Israel this sacrifice offers us a better priesthood by the order of Mount Kizadek a mediator of grace and not of the law this sacrifice brings about a better covenant which we are all now partakers of him entering into the holiest of holies is sitting at the right hand of God this sacrifice covers our sins entirely and allows us to enter into the presence of God unlike the sacrifices that covered Adam and Ene this sacrifice is the only sacrifice that is able to quiet the blood of Abel this sacrifice shields us from God's judgment as his blood is forever a remembrance on the doorposts of all of his people this sacrifice atones for the sins of God's people and will rescue us from the pain and pestilence of this world this is the supreme ultimate incredible sacrifice of Jesus Christ God has promised it will not take back his word we see this as Psalms 1 10 4 if God's word is true he has promised it will not take back his word first Peter 2 19 will tell us as a part of application here that because of this in us being made priests after a royal priesthood under the high priest Jesus Christ we don't have to continually man a post we are free from the posts and the shackles that we have of an altar trying to appease God's judgment and being free from this post we can now go out to the world and proclaim this great and ultimate sacrifices the Leibniz couldn't do that they were too busy so if anyone does not know this sacrifice and know Jesus Christ if anyone still looks to their own vain works hoping they will be good enough for God if anyone hopes they are a good enough person God will braid on a curve when they die consider the sacrifices that have just been mentioned and how they were never enough consider the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and ask yourself do you really think you can offer God better than what Christ is off time still stands for all those who do not know Christ and for them to throw themselves into the complete ultimate finished work of Christ in a sacrifice on the cross let us pray dear heavenly father we thank you for gathering us here tonight i pray that this word would resonate in our hearts so we continually be remembered of the ultimate supremacy of Christ's sacrifice Florida let us look to your right hand and see that there is hope there is salvation that this life is fleeting every breath we have is held in your hands that God there will come a day when we stand before you Lord that we will plead the blood of Christ for on our behalf thank God you do not see our works but you see the righteousness of Christ we pray these things in your holy name amen