How does Hebrews 10:9 emphasize the fulfillment of God's will through Christ? The Heart of the Verse “Then He said, ‘Here I am, I have come to do Your will.’ He takes away the first to establish the second.” (Hebrews 10:9) What the Words Tell Us about Christ’s Mission • “Here I am” – Christ presents Himself voluntarily; His coming is deliberate, not reluctant. • “I have come to do Your will” – The will of the Father is central; Jesus’ entire incarnate life turns on obedience (John 4:34; 6:38). • “He takes away the first to establish the second” – The first (Old Covenant sacrifices) is removed; the second (New Covenant in His blood) is set in place. Echoes of God’s Eternal Plan • Psalm 40:7-8 (quoted in Hebrews 10:7): “Behold, I have come…I desire to do Your will.” David spoke it, but Christ fulfills it literally. • Isaiah 53:10: “Yet it pleased the LORD to crush Him…The will of the LORD will prosper in His hand.” The suffering Servant embodies divine purpose. • Luke 22:42: “Not My will, but Yours, be done.” Gethsemane shows the same unwavering resolve we read in Hebrews 10:9. “He Takes Away the First” — Ending the Animal Sacrifices • Levitical offerings were repetitive (Hebrews 10:1-4). • They pointed forward to a better sacrifice but could never cleanse the conscience. • By His once-for-all death, Jesus removes the entire system as the means of approaching God. “To Establish the Second” — A New Covenant Sealed in Blood • Jeremiah 31:31-34 promised a covenant written on hearts; Christ inaugurates it (Hebrews 8:6-13). • His shed blood is the legal foundation (Hebrews 9:15-22). • Believers now draw near “with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22). Outcomes of God’s Will Fulfilled • Perfected status: “By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14) • Open access: “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.” (Hebrews 10:19) • Unified family: Jew and Gentile worship together under one covenant (Ephesians 2:13-18). • Assured hope: God’s will accomplished in Christ guarantees every promise (2 Corinthians 1:20). Living in the Reality of Fulfilled Will • Hold fast the confession without wavering (Hebrews 10:23). • Stir one another to love and good works (10:24). • Reject any return to self-made or ritualistic righteousness—Christ’s obedience is our standing before God. |
    |