Why Jesus Had To Die And Shed His Blood

SERMON OUTLINE

• 💭 Consider this: What sin or spiritual struggle are you presently dealing with, and how—are you still struggling against it, or have you grown indifferent? What needs to change for you to entrust these sins fully to God, instead of trying to manage them yourself?
• I. The Sacrifice Of Christ Was Necessary
• II. The Sacrifice Of Christ Was God’s Will
• III. The Sacrifice Of Christ Was Perfect

TRANSCRIPT

In our study of the book of Exodus, we have come to Exodus 38: 1–7 which was about the altar of sacrifice. The altar was the largest piece of furniture at the tabernacle, measuring about 7 ft long, 7 ft wide, and 4 ft high. It was constructed in the shape of a square with horns at each of the four corners. In the ancient world, the horn was a symbol of strength and power. And since the altar was used for offering sacrifices, it had to do with salvation. As the psalmist David said in Psalm 18:2, ‘The LORD is “the horn of my salvation.”’

The altar of sacrifice was made of wood and overlaid with brass or bronze which was a combination of copper and tin. Bronze was more durable and heat resistant than other metals. So it was the right material to be used. There were other utensils like shovels to remove the ashes from the altar. There were basins for collecting and sprinkling the blood of the animals. There were long forks for turning the meat over the flames which the priests and the people were allowed to eat. There were fire pans to collect the live coals. They were all made in bronze.

Around the halfway mark of the altar, there was a net covering made of bronze. Most theologians believe that this was supposed to allow air to flow from underneath as the sacrifice was burned in the flames above. It also allowed the fat of the animals to drip down. Just like everything else in the tabernacle, the altar was designed to be portable. So it came with carrying poles made of wood overlaid with bronze. The altar itself was hollow which means the four sides were solid but there was nothing inside except the net covering. The altar was outside in the courtyard. So the moment the children of Israel entered into the courtyard facing the tabernacle, they were confronted with this huge bronze altar. They were reminded of the need to make an atonement for their sins. It was on this altar that they offered their burnt offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, fellowship offerings, and most importantly it was here on this altar that the high priest would offer sacrifices on the Day of Atonement: first for his own sins and then for the sins of all the people.

You can imagine, the altar was a place of bloody sacrifices. All these sacrifices were necessary to atone for Israel’s sin. In most cases, it would begin with the worshipper placing his hand on the animal’s head. There were two symbolic significances. Firstly, it was a symbolic identification between the man and the beast. The animal did not deserve to die. It was the worshipper who deserved to die because he had sinned against God. However, by placing his hand on the animal, he was imputing his guilt to the animal who would die as his substitute. In a sense, he was saying, ‘God, this is my sacrifice. Let it be offered in my place. And may you accept his death and the shedding of its blood as the wages of my sins.’

But the blood of the animals could not effectively wash away all their sins. That was why they had to repeat this process again and again. Therefore, the second symbolic significance was their faith in the ultimate Lamb who would die and shed His precious blood once and for all and never to be repeated again. In other words, all the sacrificial animals were pointing to the ultimate Lamb who was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The title of our message is “Why Jesus Had to Die and Shed His Blood”. And we would consider other passages in the Bible taken from Hebrews 10: 1–18.

I. The Sacrifice Of Christ Was Necessary

Our first point is: The Sacrifice Of Christ Was Necessary. Let us begin with verse one of Hebrews chapter 10:1, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” ‘Comers’ refers to those who came to perform the sacrifices. Whenever we see the word ‘law’, often times we think of the Pentateuch, the first five books of Moses. It can mean that, but it can also mean the Ten Commandments, or the Old Testament Scriptures, or the Old Testament sacrificial system depending on the context.

Here it means the Old Testament sacrificial system. The idea of bringing the sacrificial animal to the altar for the priest to shed his blood and kill it. The law or the Old Testament sacrificial system was merely a shadow. What is a shadow? A shadow is an image or picture of the reality, the real thing. If I can give you an illustration: let’s say one day I have a heart attack in my home and there's no one around. I am incapacitated and lying on the floor hoping and waiting for someone to come and save me or at least help me to call the ambulance. Then all of a sudden I saw a shadow in the glass window. I would be very excited, right? Because if there is a shadow, it means someone is there. Can that shadow save me? No. If I rely on that shadow for help, I would die. A shadow cannot help me. A shadow cannot bring me to the doctor. Then what is the use of a shadow? And why am I so excited when I see the shadow? Because the shadow is an indication that something good is coming. There is someone who is coming who can save my life.

The law is good, as in the Old Testament sacrificial system, because as a shadow it points to the good things to come. But sadly the Jews look to the shadow instead of the real thing. If only the Jews could understand this vital point, then they would be excited with the whole sacrificial system. Then they will not rely on the shadow to save them. The animal sacrifice has no ability to make the believer perfect. Verse two, “For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.” Here the writer of Hebrews was explaining by way of logic. If an animal sacrifice can save us, then why do we have to do it a second time, a third time, a fourth time, and so forth? Why must animal sacrifices be repeated? If they offered a lamb and the blood of the animal could wash away their sins, then praise the Lord, they would not need to repeat it again. But the reality was that they had to repeat it again and again. Why? Because it was ineffective.

As a shadow, the animal sacrifices were never meant to remove sin. They were only meant to provide a covering for sin. So in the Old Covenant, after the worshippers had finished offering the tabernacle or temple sacrifices, they were not purged of their sins completely. In a sense, they would leave the temple still thinking, ‘my offering of the animal sacrifice could only cover my sins. until the next sin’. They will always be troubled with this conscience of their sins. And each time they came to the temple to present their offerings, it was a constant reminder that those sacrifices could not remove their sins completely because they knew that they had to return again the following year, and then the subsequent years, and so forth. As verse three says, “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.” Every year at every Day of Atonement, they would be constantly reminded of their sins.

Dear friend, do you know how devastating it is to be constantly reminded of your sins? To live with a troubled conscience is a most dreadful thing. Many people fall into depression because their consciences are troubled with some things they have done in the past. Who can wash away this guilt? The doctors can only numb the pain with medication, but they cannot cure a guilty conscience. The only one who can wash away this guilty conscience is the One who can take away our sins. Once He removes the penalty of our sins, He also removes the guilt of our sins. As the psalmist says in Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” And He is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, verse four says, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Remember, the blood of bulls and goats are only shadows of the perfect sacrifice that will come. That is why Christ’s sacrifice was necessary because only the blood of Christ can wash away sins.

II. The Sacrifice Of Christ Was God’s Will

Our second point is: The Sacrifice Of Christ Was God’s Will. Take a look at verses 5 to 10. Much of this passage is a quotation from Psalm 40. Notice the word ‘will’ is used five times. In verse 5, it is translated as ‘wouldest’; it is the verb for “I will.” In verse 8, it is also translated as ‘wouldest’. In verse 7, it is translated as ‘will’. Verse 9 again it is translated as ‘will’, and finally verse 10 it is also ‘will’. What was God’s will pertaining to the sacrifice? It was God’s will that Jesus Christ should come and be the perfect sacrifice. That is what it means.

Verses 5 and 6: “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.” In other words, it was never God’s will that the people should trust in animal sacrifices because God did not take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices. Remember, the animal sacrifices were simply a picture - a shadow that points to the reality, the real thing. And what was God’s will? The first part of verse 5 says, “Wherefore when he cometh into the world” - it was God’s will that His only begotten Son should come into the world. The last part of verse 5 says, “but a body hast thou prepared me” - it was God’s will that Jesus Christ should take the form of a man in a body. As according to Galatians 4:4, ‘in the fulness of time, Jesus was born of a woman, born under the law, so that He might redeem those who are under the law, that they might receive the adoption of sons.’

But it was not only the incarnation of Christ that was God’s will. Even the suffering of Christ was also God’s will. Verses 7–9 say: “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein, which are offered by the law. Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” Who was the one who said these words, “Lo, I come, I come to do Thy will, O God”? Jesus Christ. In other words, Jesus knew that it was not the Father’s will for the animal sacrifices to take away sins. They were only shadows pointing to the ultimate perfect sacrifice. That was himself. That was the will of the Father because that was how the Father could save the people.

Therefore, Jesus willingly came into this world and He willingly went to the cross of Calvary. He was born to die. That was the whole reason why He came. He taketh away the first that He may establish the second. The first refers to the Old Testament sacrificial system. The second refers to the sacrifice of Christ, which means He takes away the Old Testament sacrificial system. How? By bringing forth, by setting up, by establishing His own sacrifice, His own death.

Can you ever fathom the love of Jesus Christ? He loved us so much that He came into this world and ultimately died on the cross for you and me. If Jesus did not come, if He did not die on the cross, you and I will be lost for all eternity. So verse 10 says, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” This is the positional sanctification or justification once and for all. We are set apart unto God. We are forgiven. We are justified. We no longer need to live in the guilt of our sins through his one perfect sacrifice. So with the coming of Christ, the shadow was no longer necessary. That was why the Old Testament rituals were set aside.

III. The Sacrifice Of Christ Was Perfect

Our final point is: The Sacrifice Of Christ Was Perfect. Look at verse 11, “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.”

The Roman Catholic mass is a sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Every time a mass is performed, Jesus Christ is sacrificed yet again. Do you know what is the problem with that? It is contradictory to the Holy Scriptures. The Bible says Jesus Christ offered one sacrifice for sins for ever - only one time, never to be repeated again - and he sat down on the right hand of God. Why did He sit down? Because it was over, signifying the work was finished.

In the tabernacle and the temple in the Old Testament, there were several items in the holy place: the golden candlesticks, the altar of incense, and the table of shewbread, but there was no chair. That was why the priests had to stand while performing the duty of ministering and offering the sacrifices. They were always standing, signifying the work was unfinished.

It was never the case with Christ because all He needed to do was to offer one sacrifice, and on the cross of Calvary He said, “It is finished.” I have finished the work of being the ultimate perfect lamb to be sacrificed for the sins of the people. After that, He sat down at the right hand of God. The right hand is the hand of power and authority. Verse 13 says, “From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.”

All the sacrifices in the Old Testament could not do anything to get rid of Satan. They had no effect on Satan and his demons. But the one sacrifice of Christ was able to deal a deadly blow to Satan, who had the power of death. That is why we have the most wonderful passage in 1 Corinthians 15:55–57: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Christ is now waiting until His enemies be made His footstool. Today, the enemies of the gospel may seem to be victorious. But in God’s perfect timing, all sins and rebellions will be judged and completely eliminated. Whether they like it or not, the day would come when the enemies of God would bow before Jesus Christ as their judge. Philippians 2:9–11 says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Hebrews 10:14: “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” When you put your faith in Christ’s work of salvation, you are perfected - made complete. You are justified, sanctified positionally. And there’s nothing you can do to change it. And there is nothing you need to do to sustain it. Some people may be thinking, ‘I thought I must read my Bible to be saved’. You should read your Bible, but that does not keep you justified. ‘I thought I must pray’. You should pray, but that does not keep you justified. ‘I thought I must go to church’. You should go to church, but that does not keep you perfected. We are saved by believing in the one offering that Jesus Christ has made on the cross of Calvary.

Finally, verses 15–17 say, “Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 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.” This is a fulfilment of promise prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 31:33–34.

This is very important to the Jews because in a way the Holy Spirit through the writer of Hebrews was saying to them, ‘you cannot accept the teachings of your beloved prophet Jeremiah and yet reject the new covenant he had prophesied. You cannot accept one without accepting the other. To accept Jeremiah is to accept Jesus Christ. To reject Jesus Christ is to reject Jeremiah. Not to mention all the other prophets who spoke about him. And you are also rejecting the Holy Spirit as well.’

Indeed, the sacrifice of Christ was perfect. It was the perfect atonement for our sins. As verse 18 says, “Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.” In other words, once your sins have been remitted, forgiven, washed away by the precious blood of Christ, there is no longer any need for the offering for sins.

We know some churches have altars, sometimes in gospel rallies. The minister would ask those people who want to put their trust in Jesus Christ to come forward. They call it the altar call. They should simply call it come forward. Should there be an altar in the church today? No. The church simply needs the pulpit. And the table in front of me is called the communion table. It is not an altar. The reason why we don’t have an altar is because there is no longer a need for any sacrifice. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was perfect and nothing else needs to be added.

While it is good for us to know and understand that the sacrifice of Christ was necessary, it was according to God’s will and it was perfect. One sacrifice for sins forever, and we who are saved are saved forever. We will never lose our salvation. But the question we need to ask ourselves is, is Christ the centre of our lives? The centre of our marriage life, our home, our church, our ministries, our worship. Do we love Him with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our strength? Do we preach Christ crucified, which is the very essence of our Christian faith, or do we just preach? And it doesn’t matter what we preach, as long as the people will come, as long as it will spark an interest in the people, we preach, God forbids. We preach Christ crucified not just on Good Friday but whenever we have the opportunity, because this is the only sacrifice that can save a soul from eternal damnation.

Dear friend, if you are still not in Christ, it means you have rejected the only sacrifice that can save your soul. You will not only carry the guilt of your conscience, but come judgment day, you’ll be standing together with Satan and all his demons to bow before Jesus Christ as your judge. It’ll be too late. Jesus Christ is either your saviour or your judge. Come and believe Him today and receive His salvation. And He will be your Lord and your Saviour forever and ever. Let us pray.

Our Father in Heaven, indeed as we are considering the book of Exodus, we have come to the passage about the altar of sacrifice which was outside in the courtyard. Whenever the children of Israel enter into the courtyard facing the tabernacle, they would be confronted with this huge bronze altar. They would be reminded of the need to make an atonement for their sins. But as we consider the New Testament, especially in the book of Hebrews, the passage that we have considered, Hebrews 10: 1–8, we have learned that all those animal sacrifices were but shadows pointing to the reality, the real thing, and that is our Lord and Saviour Jesus. Jesus Christ who is the ultimate perfect sacrifice.

And we have learned tonight that the sacrifice of Christ was necessary. Only the blood of Christ can wash away sins. And the sacrifice of Christ was God’s will. It was not the blood of bulls and of goats that should take away sins, but the blood of God’s only begotten Son. So Jesus must come and He had come and Jesus must die and He died. Jesus must shed His precious blood of which He did. And all this are but God’s will. And so Christ’s sacrifice was perfect, never to be repeated again. He died shedding His precious blood once and for all forever and ever. So we do not need any more sacrifices for our sins, simply trusting Jesus. That is the only way. And we pray that we will preach this message whenever we have the opportunity. That the one who was crucified on the cross, who shed His precious blood, died and was buried, but on the third day He rose again from the dead, has performed the only sacrifice that could save a soul from eternal damnation. Reject Him and people will reject the only way and they will be lost forever.

So help us, people who profess to believe in Christ, Christians who bear His name, that we should take every opportunity to share Christ and to preach Him crucified without compromise. We give Thee thanks for teaching us once again, reminding us of the love of Jesus Christ. And we pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

Christ, The Living Word

Christ, The Living Word

Hebrews 1:1-2a

The Sevenfold Supremacy of Christ

The Sevenfold Supremacy of Christ

Hebrews 1:2b-3

The Greatness of Jesus Christ (Part 1)

The Greatness of Jesus Christ (Part 1)

Hebrews 1:4-6

What Child is This?

What Child is This?

Hebrews 1:4-6

The Greatness of Jesus Christ (Part 2)

The Greatness of Jesus Christ (Part 2)

Hebrews 1:7-14

The Danger of Drifting Away

The Danger of Drifting Away

Hebrews 2:1-4

What is Man, that Thou Art Mindful of Him?

What is Man, that Thou Art Mindful of Him?

Hebrews 2:5-9

The Captain of Our Salvation

The Captain of Our Salvation

Hebrews 2:10

Jesus, Our Sanctifier and Conqueror

Jesus, Our Sanctifier and Conqueror

Hebrews 2:11-15

Jesus, Our High Priest

Jesus, Our High Priest

Hebrews 2:16-18

Jesus is Greater than Moses

Jesus is Greater than Moses

Hebrews 3:1-6

Start and Finish Well

Start and Finish Well

Hebrews 3:7-11

Harden Not Your Heart

Harden Not Your Heart

Hebrews 3:12-19

Enter into God’s Rest

Enter into God’s Rest

Hebrews 4:1-11

Encountering the Word of God

Encountering the Word of God

Hebrews 4:12-13

Sola Scriptura: Scripture Alone

Sola Scriptura: Scripture Alone

Hebrews 4:12-13

Through The Priests Or To God Directly?

Through The Priests Or To God Directly?

Hebrews 4:14-16

Christ, Our Great High Priest

Christ, Our Great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus, the Superior Great High Priest

Jesus, the Superior Great High Priest

Hebrews 5:1-10

Dull of Hearing

Dull of Hearing

Hebrews 5:11-14

The Tragedy of Falling Away

The Tragedy of Falling Away

Hebrews 6:1-8

Things That Accompany Salvation

Things That Accompany Salvation

Hebrews 6:9-12

Things That Accompany Salvation

Things That Accompany Salvation

Hebrews 6:9-12

The Anchor of Our Soul

The Anchor of Our Soul

Hebrews 6:13-20

The Greatness of Melchisedec

The Greatness of Melchisedec

Hebrews 7:1-10

The Sufficiency of Melchisedec

The Sufficiency of Melchisedec

Hebrews 7:11-19

Jesus, The Greater High Priest

Jesus, The Greater High Priest

Exodus 37:25-29; Hebrews 7:20-28

The Superiority of Melchisedec

The Superiority of Melchisedec

Hebrews 7:20-28

A More Excellent Ministry

A More Excellent Ministry

Hebrews 8:1-6

The New Covenant

The New Covenant

Hebrews 8:7-13

The Tabernacle Fulfilled in Christ

The Tabernacle Fulfilled in Christ

Hebrews 9:1-7

The Time of Reformation

The Time of Reformation

Hebrews 9:8-14

The Reasons Why Jesus Had to Die

The Reasons Why Jesus Had to Die

Hebrews 9:15-26

An Appointment None Can Escape

An Appointment None Can Escape

Hebrews 9:27-28

Why Jesus Had To Die And Shed His Blood

Why Jesus Had To Die And Shed His Blood

Exodus 38:1-7; Hebrews 10:1-18

The Perfect Sacrifice

The Perfect Sacrifice

Hebrews 10:1-18

We Preach Christ Crucified

We Preach Christ Crucified

Hebrews 10:1-18

Introductory Message

Introductory Message

Hebrews 10:19-25

What Shall We Do?

What Shall We Do?

Hebrews 10:19-25

A Living Faith

A Living Faith

Hebrews 10:24-25

It is a Fearful Thing to Fall into the Hands of the Living God

It is a Fearful Thing to Fall into the Hands of the Living God

Hebrews 10:26-31

A Call to Perseverance

A Call to Perseverance

Hebrews 10:32-39

Message 1: The Nature of Faith

Message 1: The Nature of Faith

Ephesians 2:8, Hebrews 11:1

Message 1: What is Faith?

Message 1: What is Faith?

Hebrews 11:1, Jude 3

The Faith of Abel

The Faith of Abel

Hebrews 11:4

The Faith of Enoch

The Faith of Enoch

Hebrews 11:5-6

The Faith of Noah

The Faith of Noah

Hebrews 11:7

The Faith of Abraham

The Faith of Abraham

Hebrews 11:8-16

The Faith of the Patriarchs

The Faith of the Patriarchs

Hebrews 11:17-22

The Faith Of A Beloved Mother

The Faith Of A Beloved Mother

Exodus 1:22-2:10; Hebrews 11:23

The Faith of Jochebed

The Faith of Jochebed

Hebrews 11:23

The Faith of Moses

The Faith of Moses

Hebrews 11:24-29

The Faith of Joshua and the People

The Faith of Joshua and the People

Hebrews 11:30

How Have You Been Running The Race?

How Have You Been Running The Race?

Hebrews 12:1-2

How to Run the Race Faithfully

How to Run the Race Faithfully

Hebrews 12:1-2

Let Us Run The Race

Let Us Run The Race

Hebrews 12:1-3

The Christian Race

The Christian Race

Hebrews 12:1-3

Despise Not Divine Chastisement

Despise Not Divine Chastisement

Hebrews 12:4-11

Guard Against Stumbling and Falling

Guard Against Stumbling and Falling

Hebrews 12:12-17

Follow Peace and Holiness

Follow Peace and Holiness

Hebrews 12:14

From Untouchable to Approachable

From Untouchable to Approachable

Hebrews 12:18-29

True Faith Leads to True Living (Part 1)

True Faith Leads to True Living (Part 1)

Hebrews 13:1-3

True Faith Leads to True Living (Part 2)

True Faith Leads to True Living (Part 2)

Hebrews 13:4-6

Facing The New Year With Confidence

Facing The New Year With Confidence

Hebrews 13:5-6

Remember Our Leaders

Remember Our Leaders

Hebrews 13:7, 17

Jesus is The Same

Jesus is The Same

Hebrews 13:8

Do Not Be Carried About by Divers Strange Doctrine

Do Not Be Carried About by Divers Strange Doctrine

Hebrews 13:9

Are You Willing to Stand with Christ?

Are You Willing to Stand with Christ?

Hebrews 13:10-16

Pray for Us

Pray for Us

Hebrews 13:18-19

Blessed Assurance

Blessed Assurance

Hebrews 13:20-21