Perfected

June 14

Read: Hebrews 10:1-18

Perfected

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (v.12,13)

The sacrifices of the Old Testament… of the old law… they were meant to remind the people of their sin:

“But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.” (v.3)

These sacrifices could never atone for the sins of man. I have written it before, but it warrants repeating: the old law “has but a shadow of the good things to come.” (v.1) It is only in Christ that we now have that “good thing”! The reality is that “it (the old law and its sacrifices) can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.” (v.1) We, as humanity, have been in need of a savior from the beginning.

Humans have ALWAYS had to rely upon God’s love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to be “saved” or reconciled to him. It has ALWAYS been a matter of faith and trust spilling over into obedience. What saved Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the same as what saves you and I:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:8,9)

“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (v.4)

Jesus is the one who made that sacrifice of himself and “once and for all” he has “perfected” us. It is hard to wrap our minds around this truth. (v.10) Our “sanctification” is being worked out over time but our “perfection” has already taken place. Read the opening verse of the devotional again… do you see it? The offering of Christ is a “for all time” offering and it has “perfected us for all time”. I believe that our “sanctification” - our being “set apart” for the glory of God - is a lifelong journey BUT we are already perfected by the offering of Christ. I think ignoring this truth (our being “perfected by Christ’s offering”) actually frustrates our journey of sanctification. The old law and its sacrifices can only remind us of something that has been taken off of us by Christ. God declares: “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” (v.17) Therefore, “Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.” (v.18) There is no longer any offering that you need to make for sin… it is finished. There is no “missing piece” that you must bring to the table to enact this forgiveness. It is finished. There is nothing left to do! There is no amount of “feeling bad about it” or “begging for forgiveness” that needs to take place to complete what Christ has done… no … he finished it. Jesus took a seat. He is done. IN CHRIST, you are forgiven, perfected, and being sanctified. The fact that we have seen this theme over and over again in the last three chapters of the book of Hebrews shows us it is a pretty important point to be made. God wrote these words for us. May we let them sink into our hearts and minds. Love you guys. -JDP