This week, Pastor Chris taught on the depth of human sin, our inability to save ourselves, and the complete sufficiency of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. We walked through the origin, nature, and consequences of sin, showing how the old system of animal sacrifices could never truly remove guilt or restore us to God. Ultimately, Christ’s once-for-all offering declares us forgiving and righteous, and empowers us to walk in new life by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Origin of Sin

Romans 5:12 (ESV)

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Nature of Sin

1 John 3:4 (ESV)

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

Effects of Sin

  • Separation from God: “Your iniquities have separated you from your God.” (Isaiah 59:2)
  • Spiritual death: “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)
  • Universal guilt: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Human Inability

Isaiah 64:6 (ESV)

6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.

1 Corinthians 2:2 (ESV)

2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Hebrews 9:22b (ESV)

…and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

1. Animal Sacrifices Were Ineffective

Hebrews 10:1 (ESV)

1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.

Colossians 2:17 (ESV)

17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Three Ways Animal Sacrifices Failed…

  • They could not bring access to God.
  • They were a reminder (shadow).
  • They could not remove sin.

Hebrews 10:2–4 (ESV)

2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

“It’s just a system built into you, just like pain is built into you. Where pain reacts to bodily injury, guilt reacts to the injury of your soul by disobedience to God, and it’s a warning system.”

John MacArthur

2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

2 Kinds of Sorrow: Guilt and Conviction 

  • Guilt (Worldly Grief) wants to make the problem go away because the main goal is for self.
  • Conviction (Godly Grief) of the Holy Spirit focuses on God and our broken fellowship with Him.

Summary of the Sacrificial System

  • Was not designed by God to remove or forgive sins.
  • Was preparatory for the coming of the Messiah (Gal. 3:24) in that it made the people expectant.
  • Revealed the seriousness of their sinful condition, in that even temporary covering required the death of an animal.
  • Revealed the reality of God’s holiness and righteousness by indicating that sin had to be covered.
  • Revealed the necessity of full and complete forgiveness from God.

Romans 8:1 (ESV)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2. Jesus’ Sacrifice is Actively Effective

Hebrews 10:5–10 (ESV)

5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ” 8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

“We may define it as follows: justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight.” Dr. Wayne Grudem

3. The Cleansing Work of Christ

Hebrews 10:11–14 (ESV)

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

In Christ…

  • We are free from the penalty of sin (judgment) and the power of sin (compulsion to sin, death).
  • We are not free from the presence of sin (temptations) and the possibility of sin (failures).
  • We are saved by God’s grace, but we still need to grow.
  • He has made holy, those who are being made holy.

“The incarnation (which is that supernatural perfect birth of Jesus) leads to His perfect life; His perfect life leads to His atoning death (because He was qualified to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins); His atoning death leads to His resurrection (because death cannot maintain its hold on Him); His resurrection leads to His ascension into glory; His ascension to glory leads to His return and triumph over every enemy.” David Guzik

Hebrews 10:15 (ESV)

15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying…

John 14:16–17, 26 (ESV)

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Hebrews 10:15–16 (ESV)

15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”

Jeremiah 31:33–34 (ESV)

33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Psalm 32:8–9 (ESV)

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

Hebrews 10:17–18 (ESV)

17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does understanding the origin of sin affect the way we view humanity and ourselves?
  2. 2 Corinthians 7:10 talks about two kinds of sorrow: worldly grief and godly grief. How can you tell the difference between guilt and Holy Spirit conviction?
  3. John 14:16–17, 26 the Holy Spirit as our Helper. What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping us live holy lives today?

Applications Questions:

  1. Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation for those in Christ. Do you live as someone who is free from condemnation, or do you still carry guilt? Why?