Perfection Promised – Perfection Done

Hebrews 10:14

Someone said, “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.” In the Old Testament believers anticipated that which the Lord would do, believing his Word of promise. In this New Testament age believers rejoice in that which the Lord has done, believing his Word of grace. We have a perfect example of this in Hebrews 10:14.

Read Psalm 138:7-8. There we see a believer in the Old Testament speaking in confident faith about that which God promised he would do. “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”

Here, in Hebrews 10:14, we see a believer in this gospel age looking back to the finished work of Christ and declaring in the joy of confident faith what the Lord has done for him and for all who are his. “By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

In the Old Testament, the believer’s faith rested on the promise of God and the work of Christ as things unseen. His heart yearned for God’s salvation as an inheritance yet in reserve. Today, we look upon the same thing, trust the same Savior and the same work; but we possess God’s salvation as a thing accomplished. It is true, there is a very real sense in which we yet look to the future, confidently hoping for God’s salvation, because we have not yet experienced the fullness of it. (Oh, what that will be!) Still, we do possess it now in Christ. Christ has obtained eternal redemption for us by his blood (Heb. 9:12); and we have obtained an eternal inheritance in him (Eph. 1:11). Righteousness has been brought in. Our great Savior has made an end of our transgressions. These are not things we hope for, but facts. They are things we now possess by faith in Christ. – “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

I have turned this text over, and over, and over in my mind, and prayed about it, and looked into it, and have sought illumination from the Holy Spirit for years. It is one of those verses my mind keeps going back to virtually every day, countless times in a day some days. I love to roll it around in my soul like a good piece of candy in my mouth. It is one of those texts I like to mull over. The more I think about it, the bigger it gets. Every time I open one of its doors I see another. Here the Holy Spirit declares that our Lord Jesus Christ has, by his one offering for sin, perfected all God’s elect and perfected them forever.