A Better Sacrifice

The key to this passage (and to all of the Scripture) can be found in the last phrase of Hebrews 9.28: "to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

Philippians 2:6-11 NIV
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming 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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Downgraded six times.

1. He gave up his divinity. v. 6

2. He became a human. v. 7

3. He took a "lower" form of humanity. v. 7 He became a servant.

4. He submitted to death. v. 8

5. He was executed as a criminal. v. 8

6. He was executed in worst possible way. v. 8

Galatians 3:13 NIV
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

And all of this sacrifice so that we can be saved.

God does not want more sacrifices or more religious observances from us.

Hebrews 10:8 NIV
First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law.

1 Samuel 15:22 NIV
But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Romans 10:9 NIV
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.