Brothers building Brothers

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.  Hebrews 10:14

What a beautiful supremely interesting verse that gives the believer cause to rejoice in the matchless work of the savior.  A group of saints in Diamond Valley/Eureka Nevada have been studying Hebrews now for about 3 months.  It has been truly a life changing study.  The assurances found in this letter are foundational to experiencing joy and peace and growth in the Christian walk.  Many of them are subtle and must be dug out of the text with an understanding of the Jewish religious system but many are like the one above; so clear that while maybe not fully understanding all the implications of it, even a babe in Christ can appreciate the wonder of it.

The finished work of Christ has so many facets but justification is the one that jumps out at me in the verse above.  One of the results of being justified is often explained like this: made (just as if I had never sinned).  While it sort of explains justification it does not go far enough.  “For by one offering He has perfected forever”, says something slightly different.  In the eyes of God and through Christ’s blood I have not sinned.  You say, “Jack that just is not a true statement”.  OK I challenge you to find the evidence.  You may be able to point to my failure here on earth but where it counts, in the courts of heaven, you will not find a shred of evidence against me because God said “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more (Heb.10:17).

That brings us to the last part of the verse, “He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”  A second part of Christ’s finished work in this verse is of course sanctification; that work of God in my heart that sets me apart from sin unto God.  This verse reveals the continuing nature of the work while verse 10 of this same chapter claims that, “we have been sanctified”.  Isn’t the word of God great!  Without contradiction we understand that as with justification, sanctification is a finished work of Christ with continuing results in our lives.  And the fantastic truth is that no matter how I struggle I can be assured that Gods work of sanctification in my life is as sure as his work of justification.  “He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”, PRAISE GOD !!!!

Rejoicing in the finished work,

Your brother Jack