PERFECTION

PERDITION

OR

(7) A Sanctuary (Heb. 9:24; 10:19).

It is utterly impossible to avoid the sacrificial character of the work of Christ when thinking of His

accomplishment of the Divine will. That was the will of God in its essence. The purpose of this will is

`sanctification'. Sanctification involves a complete heart dedication to God and His service, set forth typically by

the sprinkling of the blood of the Covenant, the people, and the vessels of ministry (Heb. 9:18-22). Sanctification

involves cleansing from both external and internal defilement, set forth typically in the `divers washings' `the ashes

of the heifer sprinkling the unclean' (Heb. 9:10,13). Sanctification involves access, and sonship (Heb. 10:22;

2:11-13). Sanctification is the will of God for all His children irrespective of the differences of dispensations under

which they have been called.

This is seen in Ephesians 1:4:

`According as He hath chosen us ... that we should be holy and without blame'.

And it is accomplished, as in Hebrews 10, by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, for in Ephesians 5:26,27 and

Colossians 1:22 we read:

`That He might sanctify ... that it should be holy and without blemish'.

`In the body of His flesh (nothing could be more definite) through death, to present you holy and unblameable and

unreproveable (irreproachable) in His sight'.

The eternal efficacy of the Offering of Christ is expressed in the fact that it was offered `once for all'. Over and

over again, first from this angle, then from that, the apostle brings to view the repeated offerings of the law and

contrasts them with the once offered Sacrifice of Christ. Where there is remission of sin no more offering is

necessary. It may be of service to remark that the words `once for all' mean `once for all time' and have no

reference to the number for whom the sacrifice was made.

We now come to the close of the long argument that has gathered round the Lord as High Priest and Sacrifice

supreme. By way of recapitulation the apostle reminds us that the typical priest `standeth daily offering oftentimes

the same sacrifices', whereas Christ `sat down on the right hand of God'. The sacrifices repeatedly offered were

such that they:

`Can never take away sins' (10:11).

`But this Man, after He had offered one Sacrifice for sins for ever (unto perpetuity)' (10:12).

His sacrifice is finished, He now awaits the end, `Expecting till His enemies be made His footstool'. Then

emerges the last word of the argument, embodying in itself the essence of chapters 7 to 9:

`For by one offering He hath perfected for ever (unto perpetuity) them that are sanctified' (10:14).

This `will' being in absolute contrast with the Old Covenant (see 10:1-3 and structure), is in entire conformity

with the New Covenant as set forth in verses 15-18.

The effect of sanctification is seen in the laws written in the heart and the mind. The fulness of the sanctification

is seen in the fact that `their sins and iniquities will I remember no more'. The completeness, the `perfecting unto

perpetuity' of the sanctified is expressed in the words, `there is no more offering for sins'.

`The comers' have been made perfect.

The conscience has been purged.

There is no more remembrance.

There is no need for annual or daily repetition (10:1,2).

We now stand at the opening of a new, a practical, section which urges the believer to draw near, to endure, to

live by faith, to run with patience.