You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
! Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.
I want you to know it might feel a little different, but right now is going to be a blast too.
Because we're going to open God's Word. God wants us to hear this morning just exactly how Jesus is perfectly
what we need. He wants to tell us that. We struggling people who battle shame, who get discouraged,
who don't live up to even our own standards, God wants to give us Jesus. Hebrews has been telling
us in so many ways Jesus is greater than everything and everyone else. Hebrews 10, we get to this
morning, it's really a summary of the sermon so far. Jesus greater than angels, than Moses, than Joshua,
greater rest, greater prophet, greater high priest. Here especially this morning, the greater sacrifice.
And the next week, the second half of chapter 10 is a summary of how that changes the way we live.
And then the conclusion of the sermon in the final three chapters. Let's listen to God's Word this
morning. Hearing Him speak is the most important thing and He wants us to draw near to Him and hear Him.
Hebrews 10, starting at verse 1.
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 the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year make perfect
those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered since the worshipers,
having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sin. But in these sacrifices,
there is a reminder of sin every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats
to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, He said,
sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me. In burnt offerings and
sin offerings, you've taken no pleasure. Then I said, behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book. Now, when He said above, you have neither desired nor
taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings. These are offered
according to the law. Then He added, behold, I have come to do your will. He abolishes the first in order to
establish the second. And by that will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all. 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, waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footstool
for His feet. For by a single offering, He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us for after saying, this is the covenant that I will make
with them after those days, declares the Lord, I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their
minds. Then He adds, I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more. Where there is
forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. God's holy word, let's ask for His help.
Father, these are glorious, glorious truths.
And those of us who are struggling, who are battling Satan and sin and living in a world that
feels overwhelmed with death and heartache and difficulty, would you give us this morning a
taste of the victory that's ours in Jesus?
Father, this is the Lord.
Or last year. Yeah. Isn't that the worst thing about weeds? Not many things I like about them, but
it feels like I can do anything I want to them, right? Spray them with Roundup, pull them up multiple
times. Even that really satisfying pull where you get like the whole feet of root system from underground.
You can put that black weed barrier down. You can lay loads and loads of mulch on top and spray it with
Roundup again and still give it enough time and that weed is coming back with all of His friends.
That's what weeds do. I think sometimes, maybe you can reflect on this as you're pulling some this week.
That's a parable for what it feels like struggling against sin in our lives.
No matter how many times we get rid of that one struggle, it seems to come back.
Even sometimes when we get the sin by the root, not just a surface apology to feel better that I hurt you
when I said that, but no, I mean like deep down dealing with the sin beneath the sin.
And what's going on in my heart? Like, you know, when I said that, I was really insecure and I was afraid
that you wouldn't like me or you were going to make fun of me. So I selfishly said that. I'm so sorry.
I'm cleaning up the ugly words and the ugly heart beneath the surface,
but it still comes back. It's never the last ugly thing that I've said.
Or maybe I get my lust under control and only to see pride sprout fresh.
Or maybe you're patient with the first child and then the second one comes in and you've run out.
Ah, did so well the first time.
It can leave you feeling discouraged, can't it?
Why do I even bother?
Can anything ever really make this yard full of weeds, this heart full of sin, beautiful once and for all?
Yes.
That's God's answer.
Whether you feel that that's possible right now or not,
whether you think, not in my life, not my experience,
stick with me because God wants to tell you about
Jesus.
About Jesus' green thumb, you might say.
How Jesus actually makes this work
in us.
So he starts here in this passage we just read
by acknowledging the problem
we were just considering.
The problem of sin.
This persistent struggle
that we face in our lives.
Notice verse 1,
we are imperfect.
Verse 2,
we have a conscience that feels
things like sinful and ashamed
and guilty.
Verse 3,
we're reminded
of our sins
every
year.
That's the limitation
of this otherwise
good system that God puts in place
in the Old Testament.
With all these sacrifices
sacrifices that we read about.
You know,
what do they do?
They remind you
of sin.
It's a constant reminder.
They remind you,
but they can't actually make you
perfect.
Can they?
So you have to pull the weeds again
next year.
Over and over.
And that will never change
because,
verse 4,
it is impossible
for the blood of bulls and goats
to take away sins.
No matter how often,
no matter how many of them,
no matter how pure they are,
they're not going to deal with sin.
Every year,
God's people would go to
one of their biggest holidays,
Yom Kippur,
the Day of Atonement.
And it's all about sin
needing to be dealt with.
Another goat sent away.
It highlights our need
just as the family
getting ready to go to the temple
to go to church
and they have to go get the goat
from the backyard
to sacrifice again.
It's a reminder
of our distance from God.
The uncleanness of God's people.
The priests are always standing there
with blood on their hands.
Their work's never finished.
And the writer here says this,
the fact that the blood
is needed repeatedly
proves that it is not
ultimately effective.
That blood couldn't forgive sins
and make the worshiper perfect.
Gifts and sacrifices
can't perfect the heart,
the conscience,
Hebrews 9.9.
There's always more needed.
This sacrificial system,
it's called the law
here in Hebrews 10,
revealed sin,
but couldn't forgive it.
It exposed dirt,
but it couldn't clean it.
It showed our broken relationship
with God,
but it couldn't fix it.
It declared guilt,
but couldn't remove it.
It was the most important thing.
Even repeated religious rituals
commanded by God.
In other words,
the very best religious performance.
Even that.
Those were shadows.
Not the real thing.
Without a heart change,
they leave us imperfect,
guilty, sinful.
Right?
Not what my hands have done
can save my guilty soul.
Not all my prayers
and sighs and tears
can bear this awful load.
Many hymn writers
have confessed this.
We can't do enough.
Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth
had this spot
that she couldn't wash out.
Bunyan's Pilgrim
had his heavy burden
that he couldn't bear.
Hawthorne's Hester Prynne
had her scarlet A
that she couldn't remove.
There is a persistent problem
that people have long acknowledged
between us and God.
Some of us
still try to work it off.
You know,
to pay it back,
to balance the scales.
Maybe if I do some good things,
some religious exercises.
That's a temptation.
Increasingly,
our modern world
likes to do something
kind of new and different.
We like to avoid altogether.
We would like to say,
you know,
this sin stuff,
that's really pretty negative.
It's kind of discouraging.
Why don't you church people
stop talking about sin so much?
Let's just pretend
it's not really a problem.
It's too hard to deal with, right?
How about a fresh perspective?
Bible teacher Nancy Guthrie
lists many ways
we deal with sin today.
I've added a few of my own.
You might recognize
some of these.
We deny it,
excuse it,
redefine it,
run from it,
ignore it,
blame others for it.
Aha,
I just want to,
I need to use that one.
Lie about it,
rationalize it,
justify it,
medicate it,
numb ourselves to it,
look for people
who make us feel comfortable
with it.
we're very enlightened.
We know how to deal with sin.
It's really not a problem.
Except that
in spite of all that
enlightened perspective
on our sin,
it's not so bad, right?
Well, our hearts tell us
that God and His Word
are actually right.
while percentages
of Americans
who believe
that we are sinful,
that we have a sin problem,
those are dropping.
Percentages battling
feelings of inadequacy,
anxiety,
insecurity,
feeling not good enough,
those are skyrocketing
off the charts.
In other words,
we haven't escaped
what people have known
for centuries.
We have a cosmic,
huge problem.
Broken sinners
are hopelessly lost
without a sacrifice
to restore us
to a holy God.
That's our problem.
And you may be thinking,
hold on, hold on,
I thought this church
believed in grace.
Friends,
we do.
This is why
we need grace.
Grace,
big need,
big sin,
bigger Savior,
right?
That's why we have
to be honest
about our sin.
Don't forget
the reality
of our plight,
our struggle.
We're not okay
and we shouldn't
pretend to be.
Maybe you need
to remember
on your way
to church
that reality
because you don't
have an animal
with you
and your family
as a reminder.
Maybe you need
to remember
that coming
empty-handed
means nothing
in my hands
I bring
simply to thy cross
I cling.
Foul I
to the fountain fly.
Wash me,
Savior,
or I die.
Right?
The cross itself
is a constant reminder
of our sin.
We come to worship
confession
and assurance
in our services
every week,
daily in our own
worship,
our reminders.
Baptism
and the Lord's
Supper
with broken body
and shed blood
are reminders
of our need,
our problem.
See,
the right religious
ritual
has never been enough
no matter how many times
you go through
the motions.
remember Derek
read earlier
from the prophet
Amos
saying the sacrifices
have to match
the heart
and the life,
justice
and righteousness.
David
in his
psalm of confession
says it's not
the animal sacrifice
that God longs for.
Yeah,
God put those
in place
but they're
pointing to what
God's longing for.
What is that?
David says
God's sacrifice
is a broken
and contrite
heart.
You say,
but I thought
we needed blood too,
right?
What happened
to the blood?
Remember Hebrews
just told us
without the shedding
of blood
there is no
forgiveness
of sins.
But obviously
not
bulls
or goats
blood.
That doesn't
do it.
Human
flesh
has rebelled.
We are
the sinners.
Our
garden
has become
full of
weeds.
So perfect
human
obedience
and the blood
of a human
sacrifice
are needed
to pay
for sin.
And I hope
that's a little bit
shocking to hear me
say it that way
but listen
carefully.
Dozens
of religions
since
biblical times
all the way
up to the
present day
all believe
and teach
that reality.
That's not
something that
most religions
disagree on.
There's a
problem.
A massive
problem
and it's on
us to fix
it.
Do better.
Give a
child.
Be pure.
different
options
set in
different
ways.
Every
religion
says something
like that.
Here's
the difference.
Only
one
God
provides
the
sacrifice
himself
as
utterly
unique
to
Christianity.
That's
what this
next section
shows us.
When we
can't seem
to get
enough weeds
out of the
garden for
good,
here is
our
perfect
sacrifice.
Jesus
entered into
the world
becomes man
with the
words of
Psalm 40
on his
lips.
It's yet
another Old
Testament
passage
referencing
the
limitations
of that
sacrificial
system.
Instead
of that,
what did
God do?
God
prepared
a body
for his
son
who came
to do
his
father's
will.
Remember
what Jesus
said?
My food
is what?
To do
the will
of him
who sent
me
and to
accomplish
his work.
That's
John 4.
John 17,
Father,
I accomplished
the work
you gave
me to
do.
Always
perfectly
obedient.
Yes,
we've
needed
that.
That's
where this
perfect
sacrifice
starts.
It's
what we
call
Jesus'
active
obedience,
doing all
of his
father's
will.
He comes
to do
his
father's
will
including
the
offering
of his
body
as the
sacrifice
once
and for
all.
Here's
his
passive
suffering
obedience.
It's
his
substitutionary
death.
Remember
the priest,
remember
what he
would do?
He'd
place
his
hands
on the
head
of
the
goat.
It
was a
picture
of
transferring
to
the
goat
the
sin
of
the
people.
The
goat,
the
substitute,
would
take
the
sin
and
would
be
sent
away,
far
away,
so that
the
people
could
stay
near,
stay
close
to
God.
The
goat
is
living
a
shadow
of the
reality
that
comes
when
our
sin
is
actually
transferred
to
Jesus
who
becomes
sin
for
us,
burying
our
sins
in
his
body
on
the
tree.
Right?
Perfect
human
obedience
and
the
blood
of
the
perfect
human
sacrifice.
Do you
see that?
His
life
and
his
death
means
that
Jesus'
sacrifice
unlike
all the
others
for the
first
time
can
now
be
a
one
time
unrepeatable
once
for all
time
sacrifice
that
actually
cleanses
us
and
brings
us
to
God.
It's
not a
picture
anymore.
It's
the
real
thing.
Jesus
didn't
keep
offering
himself
as a
sacrifice
did
he?
No.
He
appeared
once
for all
to put
away
sin
by the
sacrifice
of
himself.
It's
Hebrews
9
26.
Once
for
all.
By
the way
if someone
asks you
why
Christians
no longer
follow the
details
of the
ceremonial
law
this
old
sacrificial
system
and people
ask that
question
how come
all that
stuff
in
Leviticus
how come
y'all
only do
some
of those
things
and you
don't
actually
believe
the
other
parts
is that
what I
hear?
That's
not
quite
right.
But when
we're
reading
in
Leviticus
and
Numbers
and
Bible
reading
plan
and we're
thinking
why is
it
that we
don't
do
we
just
decide
that we
don't
like
him
anymore
it was
too
bloody
and we
don't
like
that
it was
mess
it's
not
arbitrary
sacrifices
we're
pointing
us to
the
perfect
sacrifice
showing
us our
need
a shadow
that the
real thing
was coming
but now that
the real
thing
the perfect
sacrifice
has come
what does
he say
Jesus
does away
with
the first
sacrifice
now don't
get me
wrong
our
relationship
with God
still requires
sacrifice
right
it's
just
that
Jesus
has
given
that
sacrifice
once
and for
all
and sat
down
because
it is
finished
that's
why we're
not bringing
animals
with us
this
morning
sin
had left
a crimson
stain
he washed
it
white
as snow
no more
spots
on us
at all
our
burdens
roll away
forever
at the
cross
we are
free
from
them
that
a
that
sin
that
I
feel
so
identified
with
that
I
can't
think
of
myself
apart
from
it's
gone
there's
no guilt
in life
no fear
in death
fear
is gone
hope
is sure
I'm now
identified
not with
my sin
but with
Christ
forever
more
once
and for
all
this last
section
is where
it's all
headed
he's
going to
keep
talking
about
the
sacrifice
but
especially
show us
the
difference
that
Jesus
perfect
sacrifice
makes
for us
let's
read it
verse 11
again
every
priest
stands
daily
at his
service
offering
repeatedly
the same
sacrifices
which
can never
take away
sins
don't forget
but when
Christ
had offered
for all
time
a single
sacrifice
for sins
he
sat
down
finished
completed
work
at the
right hand
of God
waiting
from that
time
until his
enemies
should be
made
a
footstool
for his
feet
there's
the king
of
psalm
110
again
now listen
he's about
to tell us
the effect
of Jesus
sacrifice
look at
verse 14
for by a
single
offering
he has
perfected
for all
time
those who
are being
sanctified
finally
made
perfect
all those
sacrifices
generation
after generation
they couldn't
do it
but this
one
does
and he
tells us
what it
means
it means
our
consciences
can be
clear now
because we
have new
hearts
for God's
will
Jeremiah
31
again
and our
sins
are forgiven
forever
Derek said
earlier
past
present
future
so that
even when
we do
fail
it's
going to
be
covered
by a
sufficient
sacrifice
that
friends
is
permanent
security
you can't
lose it
you can't
mess that
up
it never
needs
to be
done
again
we are
perfect
forever
did you
get that
perfect
forever
why do I
need to
say it
so many
times
because you
don't
feel that
way
do you
most of
us are
probably
if you're
following it
all you're
thinking
perfect
that's not
me he's
talking about
you haven't
seen me
this weekend
you don't
know the
thoughts of
my heart
you haven't
heard me
when I'm
in traffic
pastor
when I'm
upset
when I'm
alone
the things
that run
through my
mind
perfect
hardly
what a
joke
I need
you to
listen to
God's word
because he's
going to
tell you the
truth about
how you
feel
this is one
of my
favorite verses
in the
Bible
I told you
at the
beginning
it was
going to
show us
Jesus is
exactly what
we need
when we're
struggling
like that
when we're
battling
shame
when we're
getting
discouraged
when we're
not living
up to
even our
own
standards
Jesus
has
perfected
for all
time
that is
completed
action
with
ongoing
reality
he's
done it
once
and it
still
counts
who
those
who
are
being
sanctified
present
tense
process
those
who are
still
works
in
progress
who
still
have
weeds
popping
up
who
are
still
in
the
midst
of
spiritual
warfare
who
still
don't
feel
perfect
and you
say
this
isn't
talking
about
me
I've
still
got
so
far
to
go
and God
says
you're
exactly
the one
that I'm
talking
about
that is
the whole
point
it's
because
you feel
how far
you have
to go
that I
want you
to know
that I've
made you
perfect
in
Jesus
he who
began
a good
work
in
you
will
carry
it
on
to
completion
at
the
day
of
Christ
Jesus
and it's
not just
one day
someday
already
today
your
father
what
remembers
your
sins
no
more
he
sees
you
in
that
perfect
obedience
that
perfect
sacrifice
of
Jesus
that's
what's
true
about
you
I want
to picture
it for
you this
way
because
we have
a tough
time
wrapping
our
mind
around
this
if
you're
thinking
of
your
gardens
or
your
yards
or
your
hearts
that
are
full
of
weeds
some
of
you
saw
the
beauty
of
Augusta
National
Golf
Course
last
weekend
maybe
you don't
have to
confess
it's
just
I'm
just
going
to
give
you
one
picture
I
have
never
been
there
but
I
have
been
assured
that
it
is
scientifically
proven
there
are
no
weeds
on
the
entire
golf
course
not
a
single
weed
pristine
grass
fairways
and greens
surrounded
by
azaleas
and
dogwoods
and
magnolias
blooming
in
spring
turf
grass
cared
for
by
master
gardeners
absolutely
perfect
when
Hebrew
says
Jesus
makes
you
perfect
forgives
all
of
your
sins
and
remembers
them
no
more
it's
like
he
takes
the
garden
of
your
life
and
he
drops
a
hole
from
Augusta
National
down
over
it
about
ten
feet
off
the
ground
okay
so
that
God
looks
down
at
your
life
and
he
sees
the
perfect
weed
free
always
obeying
his
will
version
of
you
every
moment
of
every
day
that's
what
God
sees
perfect
forever
your
heart
can
truly
say
I
need
no
other
argument
I
need
no
other
plea
I
need
no
other
weed
treatment
I
need
no
other
sacrifice
it
is
enough
that
Jesus
died
and
that
he
died
for
me
he
gave
me
that
perfect
sacrifice
that
covers
me
completely
there
is
no
longer
any
offering
for
sin
no
more
sacrifice
for
sins
now
that
could
be
scary
if
when
you
say
that
you
mean
there's
no
way
to
fix
what's
broken
that
a
sacrifice
is
still
desperately
needed
but
we
can't
find
one
that's
not
what
this
is
saying
no
quite
the
opposite
this
means
that
there
is
no
more
sacrifice
needed
because
the
perfect
sacrifice
has
come
once
and
for
all
no
longer
any
offering
needed
you
don't
owe
a
dime
sorry
Jimmy
that's
reality
you're
acceptable
to
God
standing
before
him
perfect
with
no
sins
!
no
weeds
visible
in his
view
of you
you can
walk
into
his
throne
room
today
covered
by
Jesus
even
though
you know
down beneath
where you
and others
see
there's
still
weeds
you see
them
but that's
not the
most important
thing
this means
so many
exciting
things
the writer
is going
to tell
us about
next week
I'm just
going to
mention
a couple
as we
close
it means
you can
be
unashamedly
joyful
in living
with God
on your
best day
and on
your
worst day
this is
the no
condemnation
in Christ
Jesus
part of
your life
that you
often
forget
when you're
licking
your wounds
from your
battle
against
Satan
and sin
see
your
conscience
is now
clean
so that
when Satan
tells you
you failed
too often
to talk
to God
about it
you say
oh no
no
I fail
so often
that Jesus
talks to
God
I'm
perfect
in his
sight
that's
what you
say
Martin
Luther
put it
this way
he used
to say
the devil
would accuse
him of
being a
sinner
and he
started
responding
to the
devil
by agreeing
with him
and then
reply
yes that's
true
but Christ
died
for sinners
so Satan
when you
say I'm
a sinner
you do
not terrify
me
but you
comfort
me
immeasurably
that's how
much you
need to
believe
this
next thing
it can
do
you can
see the
wonder
of Jesus
obedient
and
substitutionary
sacrifice
and what
it does
is it
makes you
want to
look up
from your
weedy
garden
that you're
so focused
on
and you
want it
to look
more like
Augusta
National
overlaying
above it
God
writes his
law on
your heart
and mind
so that
you say
I don't
want to
water
the weeds
anymore
look at
the beauty
ahead for me
that God
sees already
I don't
want to
feed the
sin in
my life
anymore
because
think of
how glorious
it will be
to shine
forever
with the
beauty
the image
of Jesus
why wait
any longer
Holy Spirit
plant some
of them
azaleas
right down
here right
now
right
that's what
your heart
wants
there's such
hope
for discouraged
gardeners
like us
who just
feel like
we can't
get rid
of the weeds
fast enough
Jesus
has already
made you
perfect
forever
deep
breath
big
smile
permanent
security
come
confessing
your sins
and then
standing
to sing
Christ
is mine
forever
more
and if
that's
true for
you
it has
to change
how you
view others
too
this is
what I
mean
the people
in your
grace
group
the people
you sit
in a
session
meeting
with
the people
in your
neighborhood
the people
in your
marriage
in your
youth
group
your kids
your parents
are
being
sanctified
you're
going to
look at
their
gardens
from your
five to
six foot
view
most of
the time
right
and what
are you
going to
see
a lot
of weeds
you're
good at
it
me too
and you're
going to
want to
give up
on them
just like
they're
wanting to
give up
when all
they see
is the
weeds
the next
time you
think that
I want
you to
look up
a few
feet
above
them
and see
the view
of Augusta
National
ten feet
over their
garden
let it
fill your
heart
with
patience
with
hope
she's
perfect
in the
eyes of
God
he's
not
just
the way
he'll
always
be
she's
being
sanctified
and you're
going to
want to
be there
for that
don't
give up
it's
going to
be
beautiful
because
God's
doing
it
you've
got to
see
people
differently
that's
what it
means
for your
faith
to find
a resting
place
in the
sacrifice
of
Jesus
it means
that one
day
you're
going to
come around
amen
corner
in heaven
and see
what you
already
look like
to God
right by
the river
of living
water
and the
tree
of life
there's
going to
be a
pristine
fairway
a perfect
green
surrounded
by the
glorious
flowers
of your
unique
personality
and gifting
with not
a weed
in sight
that is
who you
really
are
today
that is
the
truest
version
of
you
and to
see
it
you
just
look up
at the
one
who sacrificed
himself
to remove
all your
weeds
who's
offered
his body
to do
the will
of God
all the
way
to the
point
of death
who
sits
at the
right
hand
of God
today
looking
at you
covering
you
with his
love
and saying
oh
look at
that dear
one
struggling
he's
perfect
already
she's
beautiful
completely
they're
mine
forever
he loves
you like
that
let's
pray
Jesus
for your
final
and perfect
sacrifice
we give
you great
thanks
and we
ask for
your help
because
believing
that's
what's
true
of us
is hard
for us
when it
doesn't
feel
like it
would you
give us
great
comfort
in your
love
in your
grace
in your
forgiveness
in your
presence
with us
today
and always
strengthen
our faith
by helping
it to rest
now and
always
in Jesus
we ask
in his
name
amen
for more
information
visit us
online
at
southwood.org
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