This is the Memorial Day weekend and it is a special time for reflection and consideration to those that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Today we continue to consider the subject of sacrifice. I think we can better understand this when it becomes more personal as we contemplate the sacrifices of the Taylor family. Major Brent Taylor epitomizes the citizen-soldier, who goes and does his duty, time and time again doing 4 deployments in Afghanistan. He served uncomplaining and selfless, in the best traditions of American patriotism. Major Taylor was serving in the Utah National Guard and as Mayor of North Ogden, Utah. He gave the ultimate sacrifice of his life when he was killed on active duty in Afghanistan.

What makes Brent Taylor’s sacrifice exceptional? It is because he was a loving husband and father of seven young children (Caroline, their youngest, just 11 months old). It is that he was the beloved mayor of his community, respected and known as a person who deeply cared for the people he served. They too now must sacrifice without his presence. His wife Jenny and their children are suffering as part of this great sacrifice from his lost. It is hard to accept. However, what is acceptable on this Memorial Day is we remember and honor every soldier, sailor and airman who has served and especially remember those who sacrificed their live for our Freedom. It is our freedom to vote, to speak our mind, to enjoy a hot dog and the beach.

Jesus Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom a freedom for all eternity from the wages of sin; death. Now, on the basis of what Christ has done for us, the writer tells us basic things every believer should do. That is the positive response to the new covenant this is in respect for the ultimate sacrifice Christ made for us that pales all other sacrifices put together.
When a man knows the truth he understands the truth. To a certain measure in his mind, he acquiesces to the truth. And at that point, if he goes forward and commits his life to Christ, he has taken a positive response to the truth. If he falls back, it’s a negative response. Let’s look at the positive response.

I Christ makes us Holy; be Holy vv.10-12.

1. Christ’s sacrifice is better because it sanctifies the believer as per verse 10…Now God’s will was that men be sanctified. That is very clear in Scripture that means set apart from sin. Justification has a sanctifying component, hagiazo means to be set apart to God, to set apart from sin, to be made holy. And here it has to do with salvation. — II Tim. 2:20-21
We are made clean vessels for the master’s use. He cannot use us if we are not sanctified no more that you would eat out of a dirty dish.

2. The Greek text shows in the strongest way the permanent and continuous state of salvation in which the believer exists. And Jesus accomplished it once for all. And that is the remarkable reality of the sacrifice of Christ. But, on the other hand, it says in verse 12, Jesus offered one sacrifice one time for sins for all time and then sat down. This work was unrepeatable, absolutely unrepeatable. By Jesus’ one sacrifice He perfected us who are continually being sancti¬fied, or made holy (Heb. 10:14).

II Christ has forgiven you; be a forgiving person

1. We all sin because our holiness is a proc¬ess (1 Jn. 1:8). As Christians, we are a work of God in progress. Philippians 1:6 describe this fact. I once saw a t-shirt that sums up this truth so well. It read: “Christian under construction inside.” God continues to forgive you!

Next, the writer of Hebrews reminds his readers: the Holy Ghost also is a witness, and then quotes Jeremiah 31:33: This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them (10:15-16). This means the sacrifice of Christ was the fulfillment of the first covenant and Jeremiah’s prophecy.

2. The Holy Spirit is speaking through Jeremiah be¬cause the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21). Then, still re¬ferring to the prophecy of Jeremiah, please note what God said in Hebrews 10:17 … And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

When we stand before God as our Judge, our confessed sins will not be recalled. Jesus, our Substitute, has already paid for all our sins, and our righteous Judge will not demand payment twice. When our sins are for¬given, there is no need to offer another offering for sin or repeatedly con¬fess the same sin (10:18). They are eternally forgiven and forgotten be¬cause Yes, God has forgotten something about every born again child of the Father in Jesus Christ. He has forgotten your sin! Amen! Are you forgiving others? —Proverbs 3:3-4.

III. Approach God with confidence (10:19-23).

1. When Jesus died on the cross, He opened a new and living way for us to enter through the veil of the temple (10:19-20). Mark 15:38, records the veil in the temple was torn in two the instant Jesus died on the cross. It was as though God reached down from heaven and ripped it in two. Under the old covenant, the only way to God was through the veil in front of the Holy of Holies.

2. However, that way has been superseded by a new and living way – the flesh, or sacrificial body, of Christ. I want you to see some things here that are just rich. The word “new” is a very rare word in the New Testament. It is not the typical word for “new,” neos, kinas, none of those words. It is this word: pro’s-fä-tos. You know what it means? Freshly slaughtered. That’s the literal meaning. What it says is, “We have boldness to enter into the holiness by the blood of Jesus by a freshly slaughtered and living way.”
There is still only one way into God’s presence, but it is not through the curtain in the Holy of Holies. Jesus express this truth in John 14:6 and Paul in I Tim. 2;5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Remember that no sooner had Adam sinned than the door to access to God was slammed shut, as soon as Adam sinned, Adam no longer had access to God. And God shut him out of the Garden and put an angel with a flaming sword so he couldn’t get back into His presence. But now you know what? The blood of Jesus Christ quenched the fiery sword. And the believing man can enter boldly into the presence of God. The door has been opened again.

3. Jesus is our high priest over the house of God (10:21). Therefore, we should draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith (10:22a). The word translated true means we are not to come half-heartedly or with hid¬den motives. Full assurance of faith means not doubting but fully trusting God will hear and answer our prayers. The only thing that limits the power of our prayers is our lack of faith. — James 4:2-3

4. We are to have our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (10:22b). We must approach God with pure and holy lives. Whenever there is sin in our lives, God reminds us of it with an evil, or guilty, conscience so we will confess and forsake it. Ef¬fective prayer requires confessing all our sins and trusting in the sacrifice of Christ to make us spiritually clean and pure. If we do, we can approach God without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised,) (10:23).

5. The promise of forgiveness and cleansing in Christ is certain because God al¬ways keeps His promises. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 give us assur¬ance of this truth saying Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it]. Every Christian should approach God with confidence; last

IV. Associate with other believers (10:24-25).

1. Sometimes we have a tendency to waver in our faith; that’s why we need a local church. In this world we will be hurt, taken advantage of, and abused. As a result, unless we are very careful, our hearts will be filled with bitterness, resentment, and even hate. At church services we are to consider how to provoke each other unto love and to good works—(10:24).

2. Biblical love is not just a sentiment or emotion; it is choosing to act lov¬ingly, or do good works, regardless of our feelings. Love is not acting like we feel; that is reacting. Rather, it is acting like the Bible commands. We don’t mock them or put a spotlight on their mistake or their short-coming. That the exact opposite of what Biblical love is! Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

3. We should never be guilty of forsaking the assembling of ourselves to¬gether, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (10:25). Desiring to be¬come a spiritual recluse is a sure sign a person needs fellowship with other believers. A very important part of worship and Bible study is encouraging one another to do acts of love and good works.

Conclusion:
Hebrews 10:10 says, “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” In that one offering when He took the full fury of the law for us, we were delivered from the law as a source of condemnation.