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"Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum. We have such an High
Priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a
minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man"
(Heb. 8: 1, 2).
This seated Priest in risen life and power was the assurance to all believers not only of
their salvation, but of their perfecting. This is the goal of the apostle's ministry in
Col. 1: 28: "that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus", a fact that we must
never lose sight of when estimating the purport of the epistle to the Colossians. Whilst,
therefore, we do not use priestly terms when speaking of the mystery, we can say that all
that Christ is to His people as great High Priest, He is to His church as Head over all
things to them. In contrast with the many priests who could not continue by reason of
death, we read:--
"But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an intransmissible priesthood.
Wherefore He is able to save unto all perfection (panteles) them that come unto God by
Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7: 24, 25).
This is much the same teaching (though with its own dispensational characteristics) as
is found in Col. 3: 1-4. The fact that the word "uttermost" includes the root of the word
"perfect" is of great importance in the interpretation of Heb. 7: 24, 25. Salvation in the
initial sense is not in view.
In perfect structural correspondence with Heb. 7: 24, 25 comes Heb. 10: 11, 12.
Here the many priests are contrasted with Christ, not this time because they died and He
ever lives, but because their offerings were shadows and His the substance. Again we are
exhorted to consider "this Man":--
"And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one
sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God" (Heb. 10: 11, 12).
The conclusion of the argument is given in verse 14:--
"For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
"Perfect into perpetuity", as the intensely strong words might be translated. How
foolish, and how wrong, to attempt to improve upon such a position by neglecting the
body, by abstaining from meats, by anything that merely seeks to improve the flesh.
One other passage in Hebrews that bears upon Col. 3: is Heb. 12: 1, 2:--
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let
us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Perfecter of
faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."