The Holy Spirit, speaking of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, clearly tells us that “by Himself (He) purged our sins (and) sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3). The key phrase in that passage is “by Himself”. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary is the one sacrifice for sin forever. Again, in another passage in the book of Hebrews we read: “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12).
Due to the temporal nature of the Old Testament sacrifices, the priests needed to offer them up for sins daily. But The Holy Spirit contrasts those priests and offerings with The Lord Jesus Christ and His one sacrifice for sin this way: “Who (Jesus Christ) does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” (Hebrews 7:27) “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12) The song recorded in Revelation 5 includes the words, “…for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (verse 9).
The one sacrifice of Jesus Christ for sin forever magnifies the grace of God, for it was by the grace of God that Jesus tasted death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9). When the doctrine of the grace of God was being threatened by legalists who insisted that circumcision was necessary for a person to be saved, the Spirit-led conclusion of the apostles was: “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we (Jews) shall be saved in the same manner as they (Gentiles).” (Acts 15:11)
The grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ go hand in hand. The Bible does not teach a salvation by works message, “…lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:1-8) So as we explore the majesty and glory of Jesus Christ in Hebrews 1 this morning, may we come to the communion table with reverence and awe at the love and mercy of God towards us (Romans 5:6-10).
Reader, have you repented of your sin (Mark 1:15; Acts 26:20) and trusted fully in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? If not, may the Spirit of God draw you to Jesus and to receive Him by faith (John 1:12-13; Romans 10:8-11).
