Henceforth Expecting

Temple Baptist Church - 8-28-2019

Hebrews 10:10-13

Introduction:

A.  I want to look at the words “henceforth expecting” to night as they are important in light of the finished work of Christ and its expectant results.

B.  I also want to give a short analogy between our use of “expecting” and God’s use of the word in Hebrews.

C.  As finite creatures with no knowledge of what will transpire in the future, we are limited to “hopefulness” in our expectations.

James 4:13-15  Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:  (14)  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  (15)  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

D.  Because of our lack of knowledge of the future, we often say, “The Lord willing,” which comes from James 4:15.  We often expect the worst and hope for the best or expect the best and hope against the worst.

E.  God is neither finite nor is He surprised by “future events” because God lives in a timeless eternity.  He is the “I AM THAT I AM” who inhabits eternity.

Isaiah 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy …

F.  Our Lord fully expected Adam to sin; therefore, Christ expected to die for sin and preemptively prepared a Sacrifice Himself.  Verses 12.

Revelation 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

G.  Tonight, we see the earthly work of Christ finished and His heavenly Priesthood at work.  He is now seated on the right hand of the Father.

Hebrews 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

H.  “Henceforth expecting!”  What did our Lord expect?  Christ Jesus expects that all saints be saved and all unrepentant sinners be punished!

1.  The Offering of Christ was Singular.  Verse 10.  “once for all”  Christ Jesus knew that He would have to die but only once.  Hebrews is constantly and consistently contrasting the old covenant of atonement with the new covenant both propitiation and expiation. 

a.  Propitiation – His love for sinners that compelled Him to die on the cross in their place.

b.  Expiation – His hatred for sin that caused Him to become sin for us and do away with both the sin and its penalty on the cross.

2.  The Offering of Christ was Superior.  Verse 12.  “But this man …  sat down” 

a.  The Old Testament priest always remained on his feet as he represented sinful man to a thrice holy God.

b.  The Old Testament priest’s work was never finished because it was an atonement or covering and not the final solution.

c.  Christ Jesus sat down because His earthly work was finished.

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3.  The Offering of Christ was Satisfying.  Verse 12.  “sat down on the right hand of God”

a.  God the Father was Satisfied - Isaiah 53:11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

b.  The Lamb of God was Satisfied - John 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

4.  The Offering of Christ was Sovereign.  Verse 13.  “enemies be made his footstool” 

a.  In this life, every knee should bow and every tongue should confess but many will not.  Philippians 2:9-11  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

b.  In the future, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess.  Romans 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

c.  The enemies of Christ will “be made his footstool!”

5.  The Offering of Christ was Sanctifying.  Verse 14.  “perfected for ever them that are sanctified”

a.  We have the Word of God that Cleanses.  Ephesians 5:26-27  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

b.  We have the Spirit of God who Convicts.  Ephesians 5:26-27  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

6.  The Offering of Christ was Sufficient.  Verse 15-17.  “their sins and iniquities will I remember no more”

a.  Our Flesh sets us up for Failure.  Romans 7:21-25  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  (22)  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  (23)  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  (24)  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25)  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.  (This is not condonement for sinfulness, it is just a fact of life.)

1 John 1:8-10  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

b.  Though Christ wants His children to do good works, He does not want His children to trust in their good works.  Galatians 3:10-14  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.  (11)  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  (12)  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.  (13)  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  (14)  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.