Christ Is the Minister and Mediator
of the Perfect Sacrifice for Sins
Hebrews 10: 1-18

Introduction

Man is imperfect. He is short of what he should be. He is sinful and evil. He curses, cheats, lies and steals. He deceives, gossips, grumbles, gripes, judges, discriminates, hates, assaults, fights, wars and kills. He is selfish, hoarding, indulgent, extravagant, wasteful and polluting. He is lustful and immoral. To satisfy his lust — even for just a few minutes of pleasure — he will assault and batter a weaker person. Or he will make himself attractive and seek pleasure to satisfy his lust even if it destroys his spouse and children and the lives of others. Even when man deals with God, he neglects, ignores, denies, rejects and curses God.

All this means one thing: man can never live with God. Man is far too short of the perfection that a person must have to live with God. What then can be done? There is only one thing. Man’s sins have to be cleansed and washed away. Man is guilty; therefore, he has to bear the guilt of his sins, face the court of judgment and condemnation. His only hope of escape - of ever being acceptable to God — is for a substitute to be sacrificed for his sins. If a substitute can take his guilt and be sacrificed for his sins — if a substitute can bear his judgment and condemnation — then man can be free of sin and its guilt. Man can be counted perfect — perfectly free of sin — and thereby he can become acceptable to God.

This is exactly what has happened. God has established two covenants with man. Under the first covenant (the old testament), animals were sacrificed for man’s sins. The animal had to be pure and flawless, having no impurity or flaw whatsoever. When it was sacrificed, it symbolized...

•   that a sinless life was bearing the sins of men.

•   that man’s sins were being laid upon a sinless life who was bearing the guilt and condemnation of sin for the man.

•   that a perfect and flawless life was being sacrificed as a substitute for sinful man.

However, note a critical point: animals are not perfect. They are as much a part of this physical and material earth as men are. They age and die just as men do. Therefore, the sacrifice of animals was an imperfect sacrifice. They were bound to be only symbolizing and pointing to the perfect sacrifice that was yet to come. Note another fact as well. An animal is not a man; therefore, it could never be an acceptable sacrifice or substitute for man. The only sacrifice that could become a sacrificial substitute for man would be another man, and that man would have to be the perfect and ideal man. Why? Because only the ideal righteousness could cover other men. A sinful righteousness is no better than the righteousness man already has. What man needs is the perfect, ideal righteousness that can stand for and cover him — that can present him to God and make him acceptable as righteous and sinless.

This brings us to the second covenant of God. God established the new covenant with man. This is the point of this passage: to show that Jesus Christ is the Minister or Mediator of the new covenant with man. In fact, Jesus Christ Himself is the perfect sacrifice for the sins of men.

I.   The powerlessness of the old sacrifices (v. 1-4).

II.   The perfect sacrifice: Jesus Christ Himself (v. 5-10).

III.   The contrast between the old and new sacrifices (v. 11-14).

IV.   The witness to the perfect sacrifice: the Holy Spirit (v. 15-18).

I.   Hebrews 10: 1-4   Powerlessness of Animal Sacrifices

The powerlessness of the old sacrifices. The old sacrifices were powerless and ineffective for five reasons.

1.   The old covenant, the law, was only a shadow of good things that are coming (v. l). It was the law of the Old Testament that spelled out that animal sacrifices were to be offered for the sins of men. But note: the law was only a shadow of good things. The law was not the embodiment of the perfection that was to come. It was only a “shadow” (skian). The word means a dim outline, a reflection of the perfection that was to come. The word even has the idea of foreshadowing, of pointing forward. That is, a shadow means that there is reality behind the shadow. When we see a shadow, there is something real someplace that is reflecting the shadow (cp. the shadow of a tree).

The point is this: the shadow is not the real thing; it is only an imperfect reflection of the real thing. This was the law of the Old Testament. It and its sacrifices for sin were only a shad ow of better things. The law and its sacrifices did not possess the perfection or power necessary to forgive sins. But they did reflect and point to the perfection and power that was to come in the Lord Jesus Christ.

2.   The offering of sacrifices had to be repeated year after year, time after time (v. lb). This shows that they were powerless to forgive sins. If they were a perfect sacrifice, they would never have to be repeated. Perfection completes, fulfils, satisfies and finishes or else it is not perfect. Note exactly what the verse says: the sacrifices could not “make perfect those who draw near to worship.’’ The desperate need of man is to be made perfect. But animal sacrifices for sin fail; they are powerless to make us perfect. The very fact that they had to be offered time and again, over and over shows that they never completed the job. They never finished the work of redemption and salvation.

3.   The offerings of sacrifices never removed the feelings of guilt. Man always had a guilty conscience — a sense of being sinful. How do we know this? Because he was always repeating the sacrifice for his sins. If he had sensed...

•   that a perfect sacrifice had been made

•   that his sins had been removed once-for-all

•   that a perfect sacrifice had been made that made him forever acceptable to God

…then he would have never needed to make another sacrifice. But the offering of animal sacrifices never gave him this freedom of conscience. They were powerless to do so. Therefore, they were not the perfect sacrifice needed so desperately by man.

4.   The offering of animal sacrifices were actually a reminder of sins, not a remover of sins. Every time an offering was made the person was reminded of his sins — reminded that his sins still stood between him and God, that they had to be atoned for time after time — forever — if he was ever to be acceptable to God.

5.   The offering of animal sacrifices were powerless to take away sins, powerless to make a person acceptable to God, powerless to give man fellowship and communion with God. Why? Several logical reasons stand out.

a.   Animals have different natures than men. How could an animal’s life stand and represent the life of a man? Animals are not and cannot live the life of a man. There is just no way possible for the sacrifice of an animal’s life to equal the sacrifice of the life of a man. They are of a different nature entirely than that of a man.

b.   Animals were not the ones who wilfully chose to sin and neglect, ignore, rebel, reject and curse God. Therefore, they cannot possibly pay the penalty and judgment of sin for man. At most they can only symbolize that a perfect man must be sacrificed for man.

c.   Animals are of this earth just as men are. Animals are corruptible, aging and imperfect creatures just as man is. Therefore, there is no way an animal sacrifice could ever be the perfect sacrifice needed to die for man’s sins. Animals could not wilfully choose to die as a substitute for man. The perfect sacrifice for man must willingly die for man in order to be an acceptable substitute. Animal sacrifices for sins were victims, not wilful substitutes. They could at most point to the perfect sacrifice yet to come.

Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

Heb 7:18-19 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

Heb 8:13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

Heb 9:9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.

Heb 10:1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming — not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

Heb 12:27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

II.   Hebrews 10: 5-10   Death of Jesus, the Perfect Sacrifice

The perfect sacrifice is Jesus Christ Himself. This is seen in four significant facts.

1.   The perfect sacrifice was a body prepared by God Himself (v. 5). This is a quote from Psa. 40:6-8. The Hebrew text actually says “my ears you have pierced for me,” that is, dug out of the earth and formed as part of the body. The writer to Hebrews is simply making a paraphrase and saying that the digging of the ears is part of the fashioning of the whole body.

Note: this was a conversation between Christ and God when Christ was coming into the world. The sacrifice of animals was totally inadequate in taking away sins; therefore, they did not please God. As the verse says, God just would and could not accept the animals. What, then, could God do? What could take away sins? There was only one thing. A perfect and eternal Person had to willingly sacrifice Himself for the sins of men.

=>   He had to be perfect so that He could be the Ideal Person, for the Ideal Person is the only Person who could stand for and cover all other men. If He was the Perfect and Ideal Person, then whatever He did would cover man. If He sacrificed Himself — died for the sins of men — then His death would cover the sins of men. His death could be accepted as the perfect sacrifice for man’s sins.

=>   He also had to be eternal in order to cover sins eternally, all past sins as well as all future sins. Being eternal, whatever He did could cover everyone eternally — all who ever lived, those in the past as well as those in the future.

This is the reason God Himself — in the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ — had to be the sacrifice for our sins. Only God is perfect and eternal; therefore, only God could be the Perfect and Eternal Sacrifice for our sins.

This is the reason God prepared a body and sent Jesus Christ into the world. This is the reason for the great Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thought 1. This should break our hearts in love toward God, for it shows the glorious love of God for us. He loved us so much that He actually prepared a body and sent His own dear Son — the only Son who has the full and perfect nature of God the Father — into this sinful and shameful world. Imagine! God came into the world in a human body...

•   came to show us the love of God.

•   came to take our sins and their guilt and condemnation upon Himself.

•   came to offer up Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

•   came to take our sins off of us so that we could be counted perfect and made acceptable.

•   Came to give us eternal life, a life that could fellowship and commune with God forever and ever.

Luke 1:31 “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”

Rom 1:2-4 The gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man.

Phil 2:5-7 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

1 Tim 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Heb 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

1 John 3:5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.

1 John 3:7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

1 John 4:2-3 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

2.   The perfect sacrifice was Jesus Christ doing the will of God and doing it perfectly (v. 7). This was absolutely essential if there was to be the perfect sacrifice. He had to live a sinless life. By living a sinless life, He stood before God as the Perfect, Ideal Man. He stood before God as the very embodiment of righteousness — as the Ideal Righteousness. Therefore, His Ideal Righteousness could stand and cover man. When a person looks to Jesus Christ, believing in Him with his whole heart, God counts that person righteous. God counts the faith of the person as the righteousness of Jesus Christ (see Justification, Rom. 5:l).

The point is this: the only way Jesus Christ could please God was by doing the will of God. And in order to please God perfectly, Jesus Christ had to do the perfect will of God. This He did. God is perfectly pleased with Jesus Christ; therefore Jesus Christ could make the perfect sacrifice for man, the sacrifice that would be acceptable to God forever and ever.

Thought 1. This is the reason that man’s only acceptance before God is Jesus Christ. God accepts no person unless he comes to Him in the perfection of the ideal righteousness and sacrifice for sins. The only ideal righteousness and sacrifice for sins is the Son of God Himself, even the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man [Adam’s] the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

John 8:46 “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?”

2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin.

Heb 7:26 Such a high priest meets our need — one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

1 Pet 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 Pet 2:22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

3.   The perfect sacrifice made it necessary for God to take away the old sacrificial system and establish the new testament or covenant with man (v. 8-9). This only reemphasizes what has been said above. The old sacrifices for sins were inadequate and powerless to take away sin. If sin was to be removed, there had to be a perfect sacrifice. God loves man and loves him eternally; therefore, He willed to send His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to become the perfect sacrifice. And note how Christ responded: “Here I am...I have come to do your will.”

The point is this: Jesus Christ took away the first testament. He took it away so that He might establish the second testament, the perfect and eternal way for sins to be taken away.

Eph 2:15-16 By abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Col 2:13-14 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Rom 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man.

4.   The perfect sacrifice sets us apart through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once-for-all. He is the Perfect and Ideal Man (v. 10). Therefore, when He offered His body as the sacrifice for sin, it was a perfect sacrifice. Being perfect, it was completed, fulfilled, and finished forever. It perfectly satisfied the holiness, righteousness and justice of God once-for-all.

This means a most wonderful thing. When a person comes to God by Jesus Christ, the sacrifice of Christ is applied to the person. The perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ covers the person’s sins and he is counted sinless by God. The person is not sinless, but he is accepted as perfect by God. Therefore, the person can fellowship and commune with God — live with God both now and forever, day by day, experiencing no end to the days. Imagine! Living forever with God...

•   all because Jesus Christ bore the sins, guilt and condemnation for him.

•   all because Jesus Christ has sanctified and set him apart and made him acceptable to God forever and ever.

Rom 4:3-8 What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

Rom 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Rom 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

Heb 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

1 Pet 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.

III.   Hebrews 10: 11-14   The Old and the New Sacrifice

The contrast between the old sacrifices and the perfect sacrifice of Christ. There are four contrasts.

1.   The priest of the old sacrifice was never done with his work. This is pictured by his having to always stand (v. 11-12). But the minister of the perfect sacrifice sits; He completed His sacrifice forever. The earthly priest could never complete His work, for the ministry and sacrifice he professed were earthly and imperfect. Therefore, he could never sit down and be done with the ministry of sacrificing for sin. But not Christ. Jesus Christ was sinless, the perfect Son of God who came to earth in a body prepared by God Himself. Therefore, He did make the perfect sacrifice and He did complete His work, and when He finished, He was able to return to heaven and be seated forever and ever.

Acts 5:30-31 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead — whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

1 Cor 15:3-4 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

Phil 2:6-9 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.

2.   The priest of the old sacrifice made the same sacrificial offering for sin over and over, but Jesus Christ made one sacrifice for sin forever (v. 11-12). How could He do this? As stated above, because He was perfect and eternal. The animals which were sacrificed were not; therefore, they could never be the real sacrifice for man’s sins. They could never take the sins of men upon themselves and bear the guilt and judgment for men. They could only symbolize that man desperately needed a perfect sacrifice. But this is the glorious gospel: Jesus Christ is the perfect and eternal sacrifice for sins. He sacrificed His life for us, bearing our sins and the guilt and punishment of them for us.

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

1 Cor 5:7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast — as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

1 Pet 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 Pet 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.

Heb 9:28 So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

3.   The old sacrifice never took away sins, but the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ triumphs over all enemies (v. 12b-13). The enemies of man and God included all the forces of evil, both physical and spiritual. This is exactly what Christ taught: they include all that stand opposed to men and God: sin, evil, disease, corruption, death, evil spirits and Satan. The point is this: there is no way that the sacrifice of animals could ever conquer these forces and deliver men from the enslaving grip. But Jesus Christ can. How? By obeying God perfectly and becoming the perfect sacrifice for man’s sins. When Jesus Christ died for man, He showed the supreme act of obedience. No greater act could prove a man’s obedience than to die in obedience to the will of his superior. When a nation wills a young man to die for his country, that young man can show no greater act of obedience than to give his life for his country. And note: when that young man obeys to the ultimate degree, he deserves the highest honour his country can bestow.

So it is with Christ. When He obeyed God in the supreme act of dying for man’s sins, God bestowed upon him the highest honour. What is the highest honour God can bestow? To exalt Christ to His right hand of authority and power. This God has done. Jesus Christ rules and reigns with all the power and authority of God the Father. He sits at the right hand of God and He shall sit there until every enemy is subjected to both God and man. He shall sit there until man is delivered from every enemy that holds him in bondage. Jesus Christ not only takes away man’s sins, He delivers man from all the forces of sin, evil, disease, corruption, death, evil spirits and Satan — and He shall deliver man eternally. This means a most wonderful thing: man is saved and delivered to the uttermost. He is given life eternal - fellowship and communion with God forever and ever — all to be enjoyed both now and in the new heavens and earth.

Eph 1:7, 19-22 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.

Phil 2:6-11 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Heb 2:14-18 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Heb 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Heb 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

4.   The old sacrifices failed to perfect man, but the one perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ perfected forever those who are set apart unto God (v. 14). If a person comes to God through Jesus Christ — really believing that Jesus Christ is the sacrifice for his sins — God sets that person apart as a believer, as a true follower of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

=>   God counts the sacrifice of His Son for the person.

=>   God counts the person as being free from the guilt and condemnation of sin.

=>   God counts the person as being perfect and free from sin forever and ever.

But we must always remember why: because Jesus Christ really did take our sins upon Himself. He really did bear the guilt and judgment of our sins. He really did become our substitute and sacrifice; He really did give His life for us.

Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.

Eph 5:2 And live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

1 Pet 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

IV.   Hebrews 10: 15-18   Witness: The Holy Spirit

The witness to the perfect sacrifice is the Holy Spirit. Note that He testifies in the Scripture (Jer. 31:33-34. See Heb.8:10-12.) The point is this: the Holy Spirit works within the believer’s life and proves that Jesus Christ takes away the believer’s sin. How? By doing four things.

1.   The Holy Spirit puts power within the believer’s heart and mind. He works within the believer to will and to act according to his [God’s] good purpose (Phil. 2:13). He stirs the believer to obey God and to seek His face continually. Even when we fail — which we all do too often — our hearts are stirred to seek forgiveness, to repent, to begin anew to follow and obey Him. This is the difference between the old and new testament. The old testament condemned us and had no power to stir and energize us to seek God. But the new covenant, the Holy Spirit within us, does have the power to forgive and to stir us to arise and follow God anew and afresh.

Rom 8:6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

Rom 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Eph 4:24 And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Col 3:10 And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Eph 2:15 By abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.

2.   The Holy Spirit imparts the knowledge of God and His will. The Holy Spirit draws the believer near God; He actually pulls the believer into the presence of God. He stirs the believer...

•   to approach God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

•   to seek fellowship and communion with God day by day.

•   to seek God for day by day cleansing in the sacrifice of Christ.

•   to walk faithfully, obeying the laws of God.

The Holy Spirit directs, teaches, guides and quickens the believer to know and to follow God more and more and better and better.

John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Phil 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

Isa 43:10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”

Jer 9:24 “But let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

Hosea 6:3 “Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

3.   The Holy Spirit testifies that God forgives sin once-for-all. He testifies that God has accepted the believer and adopted him as a child of God.

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

Rom 8:15-17 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Gal 4:4-6 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

Heb 2:17-18 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Heb 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

4.   The Holy Spirit testifies that there is no more need for sacrifice — that Jesus Christ is the perfect and eternal sacrifice for sin. The Holy Spirit gives absolute assurance of salvation. He is the security of the believer.

John 14:16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Rom 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

1 Cor 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

1 Cor 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

2 Cor 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Eph 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of his glory.

1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him.

1 John 4:13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

1 John 5:6 This is the one who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. ♣

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