Our Eternal
Sanctification
by the Blood of Jesus
One of the most precious and beautiful themes in the Bible is
our positional or absolute sanctification by the blood of Jesus Christ. This
sanctification is an unchanging and unchangeable eternal position with God.
It is the result of the finished work of atonement Jesus accomplished
to take away our sins on the cross. We are accepted in the Beloved. As He is, so are we.
We are reckoned by God to be as Christ is in our new standing or position in Christ.
How can we make such a statement? Jesus suffered outside the gate
“that He might sanctify the people through His own blood” (Heb. 13:12). The
blood of Jesus Christ was shed and sprinkled upon the altar to cover all our sins. Every
one of our sins have been purged by His blood, and we have been set apart to God because
we are now His possession.
Jesus offered a better sacrifice than the Old Testament rituals. The
purpose was to sanctify a people for God. As animal sacrifices were burned outside the
camp of Israel so Jesus was crucified outside the city walls of Jerusalem.
Jesus suffered outside the gate of Jerusalem in
order that He might sanctify the people of God. We are saved by grace
and set apart to God's honor and glory.
The great benefit of our eternal sanctification by the blood of Jesus
Christ is that God has entered into a new covenant with the believing sinner, and we now
have an unhindered approach to God. It is not based on the perfection of our character,
but upon the work of Another, Jesus Christ, our substitute. Our sins have all been
eternally atoned for by the bloody sacrifice of Christ.
“We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10). Our sanctification is by the offering of Jesus on
our behalf. God declares, “We are sanctified.” This is a great fact, a reality,
which is true of all believers. Our sanctification by the blood of Jesus is eternal in
character because Jesus’ work was done perfectly. It is never repeated like the high
priest of Israel did each year on the Day of Atonement.
“By one offering He [Jesus] has perfected for all time those who
are sanctified” (Heb. 10:14). Jesus did what the old sacrifices failed to do. The
word “perfected” means “to bring to a state of completion.” Everything
essential to the salvation of the individual is included in this one great gift of Christ,
which the believing sinner received, by faith in Christ. “Them that are
sanctified” is descriptive of the believer in Christ who has been set apart to God.
The “sanctified” have a status in God’s presence that
is “perfect.” Every believer approaches God with the full acceptance gained
thought the death of Jesus Christ (10:19-22).
The writer of Hebrews does not have in mind spiritual growth,
progressive sanctification, or a second work of grace. He is stating a great fact, which
is true of all Christians.
The one perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross effectually
purges the Christian’s conscience once for all. His sacrifice is perfect. It is
eternal. It is all-sufficient for our atonement. Every person who believes on Christ can
rejoice with the assurance that he or she is forever cleansed from his or her guilt and
defilement by the precious blood of Jesus.
Because of the purging of our conscience by the sacrifice of Christ
we never fear entering into God’s presence. We are always free to enter the throne of
grace. All of God’s righteous claims against the sinner have been met by the death of
Christ. In the sight of our holy and righteous God all of our sins have been purged by
Christ’s blood and we are “perfected forever.” We are sanctified for
eternity by the blood of Jesus.
We now have a complete and perfect acceptance with God. We are
complete in Christ. Christ is our sanctification. Our Mediator represents us before the
throne of grace and mercy.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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