0902. Christ's High-Priestly Accomplishments

Christ's High-Priestly Accomplishments

"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

"For by one offering He hath perfected for ever, them that are sanctified" (Heb_10:10, Heb_10:14).

There are three blessed High Priestly accomplishments for us made possible by the Cross, but made operative by the ascended and seated Lord.

1. We are PERFECTED forever by the offering of the Cross, and always so reckoned by the risen and seated Lord.

Balaam desired to curse Israel, but God put only words of blessing on Balaam's lips. So far as Israel's daily walk was concerned there were many things that might have been said to her hurt; but, so far as Israel's covenant relationship was concerned: "God beheld no iniquity in Israel."

There are many things in our own daily walk that may greatly grieve the Spirit of Christ and may greatly dishonor the Lord; but, so far as our standing at the throne of God is concerned, we stand there "perfected forever."

Of course, Christ, our High Priest, Who represents us before God as perfected forever by the Blood of His Cross, is also Christ, the Great Shepherd of the sheep. As the Great Shepherd, the work of Christ is to make us perfect "in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Thus Christ seeks to bring our state up to our standing. Although we may rejoice that we are NOW perfected forever in Christ, through His atoning Blood, yet we should "go on to perfection" in our daily walk and life.

2. We are SANCTIFIED through the offering of the body of Christ once for all. The word "sanctify" includes in its meaning the thought of "set apart." To be sure all that was said above under division 1, may be said of the sanctification we have in Christ. But of sanctification more may also be said.

Jesus Christ sanctified Himself that we also might be sanctified (see Joh_17:19). That is, Christ went outside the camp on our behalf, "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own Blood, suffered without the camp" (Heb_13:12).

What does all this mean? That when Christ died, we died with Him; when He was called Beelzebub, we were called Beelzebub with Him; when He was spat upon, we were spat upon with Him; when He was thorn-crowned we were thorn-crowned with Him; when He was carried outside the gate, we went outside the gate with Him.

By virtue of the Cross we are under the same ban from the world, that He was under. If they hated Him, they will hate us.

What then is the call of Christ our High Priest, as seen in Hebrews? It is that we should make our sanctification actual, in our daily walk, and be separated unto Christ, going outside the camp with Him, bearing His reproach. "For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb_2:10-11).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR