DEALING WITH SIN

Hebrews 10:15-28

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The cause of all this discussion is sin.

 

B.      Hebrews 10 has a lot to say about sin. 

1.      We have entitled this chapter:  “Dealing with Sin.”

2.      Keep in mind that the writer is dealing with Jewish believers returning to Judaism.  There fore, he continues to make contrasts between the system of Judaism and the system of Christianity.

 

C.     In this chapter, the writer will end the doctrinal details of his discussion (See vs 18-19, 22-24) and begin to make some very practical admonitions to his readers.

 

D.    Outline:

 

i.                    SINS REMAINED (Heb. 10:1-4)  Remembrance of sins

ii.                  SINS ARE REMITTED (Heb. 10:5-14)  Remittance from sins

iii.                SINS REMEMBERED NO MORE (Heb. 10:15-18)  Remembered no more sins

iv.                NO SINS BRING RESPONSIBILITY (Heb. 10:19-25)  Responsibility after sins

v.                  SINS ARE RECOMPENSED (Heb. 10:26-31)  Recompense for sins

vi.                SIN:  NO RETURN (Heb. 10:32-39)  Resolution against sin

 

I.                   SINS REMAINED (Heb. 10:1-4)

 

II.                SINS ARE REMITTED (Heb. 10:5-14)

 

III.             SINS REMEMBERED NO MORE (Heb. 10:15-18)

 

A.    The Testimony of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 10:15-17)

1.      The Person Testifying (Heb. 10:15a)

 

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us…

 

a.      Who?  The Holy Ghost

1)      The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead.

2)      He is a Spirit being.

3)      He is a person.  This verse plainly confirms this. 

a)      It is said He can witness.

b)      It is also said that he can speak, “”for after that he had said before”.

4)      He is God with all the attributes of God (Acts 5:3-4).

b.      What?  A Witness

1)      Definition

a)      Strong (3140):  to be a witness, that is, testify

b)      Thayer:  to be a witness, to bear witness, to affirm that one has heard or seen or experienced something

2)      The Holy Spirit is being called upon to testify to the truth being affirmed by the writer.

2.      The Place of the Testimony (Heb. 10:15b).

 

... for after that he had said before.

 

a.      His testimony is found in the Word of God, namely in Jeremiah 31:33-34.  (NOTE:  This text has been quoted before in Hebrews 8:10, but it was used for a different purpose there).

b.      The evidence from the Bible is the testimony of the Holy Spirit because He is the one who revealed the words unto the prophet Jeremiah.

c.       LESSON:  Any time that we quote the Scripture accurately, the Holy Spirit is testifying to the truthfulness of the things we are saying.

3.      The Point of the Testimony (Heb. 10:16-17)

 

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

 

a.      Hundreds of years before the Christ came, the Holy Spirit revealed that a new covenant was coming.

b.      One of the distinguishing features of this covenant is that “their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

1)      Sins and iniquities

a)      Sins:  to miss the mark

b)      Iniquity:  to violate the law

2)      This is in contrast to what happened under the old covenant (See Heb. 10:3).

3)      Something within the new covenant allowed this to be possible. 

a)      It was possible because Jesus Christ, not an animal, died for mankind.

b)      Thus, a different kind of a sacrifice was implied by the Holy Spirit. 

c.       LESSON:  God does not remember our sins after they are forgiven.  If we remember them, it should only be to give thanks to God for what He has done in our lives (See I Tim. 1:12-17).

1)      Paul remembered his sins.  “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious” (v. 13).

2)      He knows what God did in his life. 

a)      “The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant”

b)      “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief”

c)      “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy”

3)      He opens and closes with praise.

a)      “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord”

b)      “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.”

 

B.      The Truth about Offerings for Sin (Heb. 10:18)

 

Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

 

1.      If an offering truly forgives sins, it only has to be offered one time.

2.      In Judaism, the offerings were made over and over, year after year, continually.

3.      Under the new covenant, there is only once sacrifice for sins, the offering of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God (John 1:29; Rev. 1:5).