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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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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