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essence. The purpose of this will is "sanctification". This sanctification involves all that
the types set forth but failed in its fullness to achieve. 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
"diverse washings", "the ashes of the heifer sprinkling the unclean" (Heb. 9: 10, 13).
Sanctification is the will of God for all His children irrespective of the differences of
dispensations under which they have been called.
"Will of God."
This is seen in Eph. 1: 4:--
"According as He hath chosen us . . . . . that we should be holy and without blame."
And it is accomplished, as in Heb. 10:, by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, for
in Eph. 5: 26, 27 and Col. 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 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 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 around 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 offered one sacrifice for sins 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:-9::--
"For by one offering He hath perfected unto perpetuity them that are sanctified" (10: 14).
This while 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.