Christ's Better Sacrifice

I: THE SHADOW OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE (vv. 1-4)

A: The contrast between the shadow and the very image (1a): (eikon) ESV = “true form.” NIV = “the realities themselves”

B: The implication of the repetition (1b-4)

II: THE REALITY OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE (vv. 5-10)

v. 5 Therefore = “For this reason.”

A: Something better to replace the sacrifice (vv. 5-7)

1: The reality (5b): “But a body you have prepared for me.”

2: The contrast (5,6): Christ’s obedience is more desirable to God than animal sacrifice

3: Obedience declared (7): “Behold, I come …”

B: The exposition (vv. 8-10)

III: THE RESULTS OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE (vv. 11-18)

The contrasts (vv.11-13): standing v. sitting, repeated sacrifices v. one sacrifice.

A: The earthly priest stands ministering daily (11).

B: Christ sat down (12-13); Psalm 110:1

C: The benefits (14-18)

Another contrast: v. 3 and vv. 17,18 “remembrance of sins v. remembrance of Christ’s Sacrifice

IV: THE RELEVANCE

A: How we try to be right with God – ‘sacrifice’

B: The impossibility of this method (v.4)

C: Our need for a substitionary sacrifice

D: The Character of our obedience (Rom. 12:1; Ps. 40)