In
Hebrews 1:3 we read how the Lord Jesus Christ, “when He had
by Himself purged our
sins, SAT
DOWN on the right hand
of the Majesty on High.”
Hebrews
10 tells us why Jesus “sat
down.” “Every
priest standeth, daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same SACRIFICES,
WHICH CAN NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS: But this
man [Christ] AFTER HE HAD
OFFERED ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOREVER (Gk.,
dienekes, continually), SAT
DOWN on the right hand
of God …FOR BY ONE
OFFERING HE HATH PERFECTED
FOREVER THEM THAT ARE
SANCTIFIED” (Heb.10:11-14).
The
phrases “sacrifice
for sins FOREVER” and “ONE
SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOREVER” speaks
of the continual effectiveness of the work of Christ to take away all “sins” – past,
present and future. The word “perfected” is
the Greek “teleios,” meaning “finished,”
“completed,” or “consummated.” Jesus’
shed blood ever speaks on our behalf, taking away ALL our sins even after
our salvation and without our asking.
Unlike
John who writes to the scattered tribes of
Israel
under “the Law,” wherein
John says “if we must
confess our sins… God will forgive” (1John
1:9), Paul, as the Apostle of grace “to
the Gentiles” (Rom 11:13), writes
this below to the members of the “body
of Christ” – who
Paul says are “NOT under the Law but under
grace” (Rom 6:14).
“And
you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he
quickened (made alive) together with him, HAVING (already) FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES
(sins)” (Colossians 2:13)
“HAVING (already) FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES
(sins)” is a past
tense statement, a finished completed work of God on our behalf. Our sins
are forgiven before we commit them.
We
should note that there were several articles of furniture in the Old
Testament tabernacle; there was the Table of Shewbread, The Golden Lampstand,
and the Altar of Incense, but
there was no chair.
The priest could not sit
down, for the work of redemption was not yet finished under the Old
Testament. The Priest’s daily sacrifices only emphasized the fact that “it
is NOT possible that
the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Heb.10:4).
All
that was available before the cross of Christ was for those believers to
have their sins “covered” by
continual offerings of the blood sacrifice of animals. “Blessed
(HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is he … whose sin
is covered (concealed).
Psalm 32:1
Only
the blood of the Jesus as the “Lamb of God” that sins could be expiated
or “taken away.” The
offering of His own blood and life “finished” the works of redemption.
“When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, It is finished! And He
bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30) Hebrews
9:12, (below) speaks of everlasting redemption – we are forever
redeemed by the blood of Christ. Paul then also writes this. “Now where
remission of these is,
there is no more
offering for sin.”
(Hebrews 10:18). This eternal
salvation and forever
redemption by the forever
taking away of our sins is
the basis of our “helmet
of salvation.” This
helps us keep our heads about us when we fail or fall short during our
sojourn on earth wherein we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.
Thus
Paul could write; “But This Man
[CHRIST JESUS] SAT
DOWN,” because by
His death on
Calvary
— by that one offering
— He paid for all our sins and “obtained eternal
(Gk., aionios, everlasting)
redemption for us” (Heb.10:12;
9:12).
This
is why Paul, by divine inspiration, now insists that salvation is now
only available “by
grace,” that “it
is the gift of God,” received “by
faith” alone, and “not
of works, lest any man should boast.” The
finished work of Christ negates any need of the “works” of man toward
salvation.
John
19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, IT
IS FINISHED: and he
bowed his head, and gave up the ghost (Spirit).
God
has much for His people to do, but before we can do anything for
Him we must receive
Him. We receive
Him by trusting
Him for our
salvation; then we also
may rest in
the finished work of
Christ cross on our
behalf. Thus we are to“cease” from
relying upon self-effort to obtain salvation.
Hebrews
4:9-10 THERE REMAINETH THEREFORE A
REST TO THE
PEOPLE OF GOD. 10 …
he also hath CEASED FROM
HIS OWN WORKS…
God
is satisfied with Christ’s payment for sins and together the Father and
the Son are depicted as seated in
heaven because the work is done. And now God would have us to simply trust Him
and enter into His rest.
If
God is satisfied then we also ought to the satisfied and thankful for God
love and grace toward us. Seeing God’s love and grace so freely given, we
ought to be thus constrained in our daily life. FOR
THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONTROLSAND URGES AND IMPELS
US, because we are of the opinion and conviction
that [if] One died for all, then all died; (2 Corinthians 5:14a (AMP)
