flock of God (I Pet. 5: 2, 4). These three titles correspond with the three "appearings" of

Heb. 9: 23-28, the order of the first two being changed.

The word "great" of Heb. 13: 20 may read with the clause, "through the blood of the

aionian covenant", or it may indicate that Christ was raised from the dead because the

blood of the covenant had been shed and all things pertaining to sin and salvation had

been dealt with.

"Make you perfect" (katarizo) has in it the idea of adjusting to new circumstances.

For example, it is used for "mending" nets (Matt. 4: 21). It is rendered, "perfectly joined

together", in connection with "divisions", in I Cor. 1: 10, Gal. 6: 1 renders it "restore"

where a fall or rupture had occurred. Katartismos is the word used in Eph. 4: 12 to

explain the work of the new ministry given after the great change of Acts 28: This is

the intention in Heb. 11: 3, where the "ages were adjusted", and in Heb. 10: 5, "the body

prepared" for the Lord when the time came for the setting aside of sacrifices and

offerings. To offer acceptable service these Hebrew believers were under the necessity of

being "fitted", "mended", "restored", or "adjusted" to the new dispensation and to the

terms of the new covenant. This is also true of ourselves. If we are members of the one

body, blessed under the terms of the mystery, we must be adjusted or fitted to our new

calling before we shall be acceptable. Hence the prayer of Eph. 1: and Col. 1: with this

in view. Hence, also, the special ministry of Eph. 4:

This acceptable service is summed up in the words of Heb. 13: 21, "to do His will",

and this is true for every dispensation and phase of the divine plan. It is true of the

kingdom of heaven (Matt. 6: 10), as well as of the mystery (Eph. 1: 9). It is the goal of

all prayer (Col. 1: 9, 4: 12). The will of God comprises the whole work for which Christ

came, lived and died (Heb. 10: 7, 9, 10). The will of God sums up all service (Heb. 10: 36;

13: 21).

All is "through Christ, to Whom be glory unto the ages of the ages, Amen". Here is

the purging of the conscience from dead works in order that service to the living God

may begin (Heb. 9: 14). This alone makes service acceptable. Throughout the epistle

there has been one movement, away from all else to Christ, and it will refresh us to go

over the epistle with this in mind before we finish.