14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Don't just read by this verse. It has important implications. Here are verses 1 and 2 from the same chapter:
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
From these verses we learn that the law could not make the worshipers perfect. If they could have, the sacrifices would have ceased and the worshiper would no longer have a conscience of sins. The great thing about the gospel is that what the law could not do, God did through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice was successful in perfecting those He is sanctifying as verse 14 says. The conclusion is that Jesus should only have to die once. That is certainly the case as all of the New Testament testifies. But in addition, we need to grasp by faith that the sin question has been completely dealt with and so rather than being reminded of our sins day after day as the sacrificial system caused, we should be able to live in the light of sins forgiven and our conscience should not be in a continual state of turmoil over sins that have already been forgiven and removed from us.
Faithful Men is a blog to encourage Christian men to be faithful to their commitments to Christ, His church and their families. Welcome to any who share that goal. "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." 2 Timothy 2:2
Monday, November 04, 2013
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