PERFECTED BY ONE SACRIFICE

PERFECTED BY ONE SACRIFICE

"For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (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" is translated from a word meaning to complete, i.e., accomplish, or consummate (in character): consecrate, finish, fulfil, (make) perfect (Strong's). For what it is worth, Liddell and Scott define the words 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 etymological 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! It simply is not something that is discussed or expounded.

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. God has received you in Christ "without sin," having forgiven you of "all trespasses" (Col 2:13). 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 your endorsement by Him (John 15:10)! 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 that 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 that 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). Of course, abiding involves infinitely more than mere talk.

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. God has anointed those in Christ with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 1:21-22). S the Spirit teaches us, we do abide in Him. As it is written, But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, YE SHALL ABIDE IN HIM" (1 John 2:27).

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. However, if you do quench, grieve, and resist the Holy Spirit, there is not the slightest chance that you will continue to abide in Christ. All of the concocted doctrines of men cannot effectively contradict that circumstance.

– Given O. Blakely