Have you ever attempted to make up for something? Maybe you overlooked your spouse's birthday, lost your cool and composure with your kids, or neglected completing a job that your coworker depended on. Whether unintentional or not, it is quite natural for us to feel guilt and regret when we fail. Especially when our attitudes or actions have hurt those we truly care about, we are often compelled to make amends. Maybe we give flowers or a gift to express our regret. Maybe we write an apology. Maybe we do some extra work around the house or at the office to remedy our failure. In short, we try to “atone” for ourselves. However, when it comes to transgressing against God and breaking His heart, our atonement falls woefully short. However, in Hebrews 10:1-18, the writer summarizes why Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice is better and genuinely atones for our sins. He points out seven reasons for the importance of Jesus’ superior sacrifice when we fall short of our righteous calling - when we fail in our words, thoughts, and deeds. These seven reasons are worth remembering as they provide comfort and grounds for rejoicing.

First, the writer points out that the previous sacrifices were solely “shadows” (v. 1). Hebrews 10:1-4, illustrates that the sacrifices of the old covenant were but glimmers or silhouettes rather than “the true form” (v. 1). They were signposts that pointed to the true destination - the cross on which the Lamb of God was lifted up for all to see. So, the first reason that Jesus offers a better sacrifice is that He goes beyond merely foreshadowing salvation. He actually delivers it. The second reason naturally springs from the first: Jesus, the true and better sacrifice, goes beyond just covering our transgressions. While the first order of sacrifices could “never … make perfect those who draw near… For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (vv. 1, 4), Jesus removes them entirely. He is both God and man, able to present God to man (Col 1:15) and represent man to God (1 Tim 2:5).

In addition, Hebrews 10:5-10 informs us that the previous sacrifices were completely powerless. They could never satisfy God’s righteous demand. Why? Because, the rescue and redemption of sinful humanity required more than empty rituals (v. 6). So, the third reason Jesus offers a better sacrifice is because God, the Son, obeyed God, the Father perfectly. In contrast to every human being ever born, Jesus came to fully do God’s will, not His own. The heart of Christ was fully willing and His life was fully obedient! The fourth reason then confirms the potency of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. Rather than the endlessly repeated sacrifices of the old covenant, Jesus’ sacrifice was singular, offered once and for all (v. 10). This one sacrifice, has the power to sanctify and perfect all who know and trust Him. That is true power!

Lastly, Hebrews 10:11-18 concludes the writer’s summary by demonstrating that the previous sacrifices were woefully incomplete. The unceasing repetition of the Old Testament sacrifices expose their deficiency. Jesus, on the other hand, offers a sacrifice that is complete and final. Thus, we can see a fifth reason Jesus offers a better sacrifice: He finishes the work of redemption. He is the seated Savior whose work is done (v. 12). And since Jesus is seated, we can also rest! We can rest in His transformative work in our lives, which is the sixth reason for Jesus’ superior sacrifice. He is the Perfecter of the saints (v. 14). Our standing before God is forever changed and our life is reshaped! The final and seventh reason emphasizes the finality of Jesus' sacrifice. The self-sacrifice of Jesus puts an end to all other offerings (vv. 17-18). Nothing more is needed. Nothing more can be added. Nothing more can be done.

This is why the church gathers. We need to regularly and clearly be reminded of the wonder and superiority of Jesus, our Sacrifice and Savior. In his devotional, Sunday Matters, Paul Tripp beautifully calls us to remember:

Like a bad stain on white linen. Like a black smudge on pure vellum. Like wine spilt on a new dress… Like mud on a new shoe. This stain won't just go away. It won't fade into nothing. You won't wake up one morning to discover it has suddenly disappeared. The deepest, darkest, most penetrating, stubborn stains must be cleansed. Denying that they’re there never works. Doing your best to hide them doesn't remove them. Living with them is foolishness. Hoping no one will notice is vain. Worrying about them changes nothing. Whatever has been stained must be cleansed to be new again. So it is with the human heart. It is sad to admit, but no one has a pure, perfectly clean, unstained, pristinely beautiful heart. No one. Every heart of every person comes into this world stained with sin… This tragic sin stain is humanly unremovable… sin is there to stay… But you can look at your stains with hope, because there is a cleansing stream. It flows through the righteous life, the substitutionary sacrifice, the victorious resurrection of Jesus… If we confess that we are stained, he is faithful, he is righteous, he will forgive our sins. He will cleanse our hearts, and thoroughly wash us from all unrighteousness. Step out from the shame of your stains. Refuse to put your hope in things that do not cleanse. Walk away from a life of denial. Confess that you have no cleansing power of your own. Quit blaming your stains on other people, other things. Humbly bring the garment of your heart to him… He will wash you in his grace. He delights in doing for you what you could never do for yourself. He delights in making you clean. May we never stop gathering to remember, to grow in our understanding, and to deepen our celebration of the cleansing stream that is our Savior, Jesus.

Let us never forget, but always remember. 

Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV) - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.