Toward the end of a lengthy discussion of Jesus’ work as our high priest, the Hebrew writer provided a summary in his explanation of Psalm 40:6-8. In this explanation, he spoke of the three things Jesus came to the earth to accomplish.
“After saying above, ‘Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will.’ He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:8-10).
The prophecy attributed these words to Christ: “I have come to do Your will.” Jesus came to do the Father’s will (cf. John 5:30). These verses mention three things that Jesus did by the will of God.
- He made a sacrifice for our sins – He offered His body (Hebrews 10:10) and shed His blood (Hebrews 9:12) so that we might have our sins forgiven and be saved. When people think about what Jesus came to do, most will think of His death on the cross to save us. It is certainly true that Jesus had to die on the cross to make salvation available, but that was not all He needed to do. As important as this was, there was more to His work.
- He took away the first covenant – The Hebrew writer said, “He takes away the first” (Hebrews 10:9). This “first” is the first Law – the Old Testament (Hebrews 10:1). This law was “nailed…to the cross” (Colossians 2:14; cf. Ephesians 2:15). Sometimes people will try to go to the Old Testament for our Law or to authorize a certain practice. But in His death, Jesus took this away.
- He established the second covenant – Jesus took away the first covenant “in order to establish the second” (Hebrews 10:9). Jesus did not just abolish the Law of Moses. He established a new law. This law would be part of the new covenant that would replace the old law and covenant (Hebrews 8:8-10). This new covenant, with the new law, came into force after Jesus’ death (Hebrews 9:16-17). Some will argue that we are not under a law today, but we are. We are under the “law of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2).
Jesus came to do God’s will and die on the cross. In His death, He made atonement for our sins, abolished the Old Law, and established His new covenant. Our responsibility now is to follow the new law and not turn to the old so that we can have our sins forgiven.
