PERFECTED BY ONE SACRIFICE -- Monday:
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." KJV (Hebrews 10:14)
The sacrifice, or voluntary death, of Christ achieved the Divine objective regarding perfection. God's nature required perfection in His creatures, and Christ's sacrifice achieved it. This is the declaration of our text.
The word "perfect" comes from a word meaning "to complete, i.e., accomplish, or consummate (in character): consecrate, finish, fulfil, (make) perfect (Strong). For what it is worth, Lindell and Scott define the word "PERFECT" as "to make perfect: to inaugurate, consecrate, to complete, bring to accomplishment: to make successful . . . generally, to fulfill, accomplish, effect." While doctrine cannot be built upon the lexical definition of words, I give this to show you the strength of the word.
It makes little difference how you look at "perfection," Hebrews 10:14 is an arresting statement of what Jesus accomplished in His death. What is more, that accomplishment, namely the perfection "forever" of those who are "sanctified" is scarcely known among the people with whom I have companied!
I want to state this as strongly as I am capable of stating it; namely, that Christ's vicarious death "perfected forever them that are sanctified." Jesus has done everything that is necessary for your acceptance by God! He has met God's requirement for perfection in your behalf – and, rest assured, you must be in possession of perfection to stand before the Lord.
God has received you in Christ "without sin," having forgiven you of "all trespasses!" Nothing more needs to be offered to God for your acceptance! You are not working for divine approval, nor are you commanded to do so! Your work is to "abide" in His love and acceptance, fully aware of His unqualified endorsement of you in the Son! You are fully justified in Jesus!
By saying "perfected forever," the Spirit provides God's perspective of the situation. By the grace of God, that view--which is the true one--can also be ours! Christ, through His death, removed everything that stood between God and man. The lack of perfection is nothing more than the presence of sin, which is the only inhibiting factor in our universe. Were there no sin, there would be no imperfection! When Jesus "put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Heb 9:26), He did, by that very act, "perfect forever" those who are "sanctified." Here, the word "sanctified" is synonymous with "made holy." The idea is that holiness, or acceptance of, and recognition by, God proceeds from the effective removal of our transgressions.
Note, the perfection is "forever." As you must know, this does not mean "once in grace always in grace," nor is such an absurdity ever suggested in God's Word. The "forever," like remission, is only "in Christ." It is Christ, and Christ alone, who enables us to be "sanctified," or holy – and only those who are "sanctified" are "perfected forever." It is written, "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor 1:30, NASB). Simply put, "abide," or remain, in Jesus (John 15:4,7), and you are fully accepted by God, perfect and complete in Him (Col 2:10).
To ensure that you can abide in Him, the Holy Spirit of God is given to you to tutor you in the truth revealed in Scripture (1 John 2:27,28), and to lead you in the successful subjugation of the flesh (Rom 8:13-14). If you do not "grieve," "quench," or "resist" the Holy Spirit of God, you WILL remain in Jesus! It is the Spirit's ministry to ensure that takes place.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the magnitude of Your great salvation, and for the refreshment and satisfaction it brings to those who receive it.