Morning Thoughts - by Elder Philip Conley

Morning Thoughts

Hebrews 10:14, "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

This morning, many misconceptions exist about the purpose of the Mosaic law service, both for the Israelites of old and for us today. However, it is unfortunate that many more misconceptions exist about the work of our Dear Saviour both for us now and in relation to the Mosaic law service then. Paul makes a clear distinction between the two throughout the book of Hebrews which culminates in the clear language of this verse. The Mosaic law service could never take away sin. It did remind the comers every year of their shortcomings for conscience sake. Our service today will not make us perfect, but it is needful to praise the One who rescued us and does our conscience good as well.

This verse destroys many more follies and misconceptions than we will probably be able to address, but let us look at the grand picture this paints for us in wide strokes. Christ is so much better than the law, for the law required continual offerings. The book of the law is filled with yearly sacrifices, daily sacrifices, circumstantial sacrifices, and more rites and rituals than this feeble writer can keep up with sometimes. However, our Lord only had to be offered once. Only one offering took away sin. When He offered Himself, He did it through the eternal Spirit without spot to God. I defy any man to find where Christ's offering was ever made TO man, but rather, it was FOR man. Christ's offering was TO God and not FOR God. The world has this so backwards that it is beyond sorrow or amusement.

This one offering was perfect in every way, and it requires no additions or corrections today or any other day. This offering perfects for ever. It will not be conditional upon our acceptance, rejectance, godliness, ungodliness, etc, etc. This offering completely removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12) They have been turned away from Jacob so that he cannot find them ever again no matter how hard he searches. (Romans 11:26) Oh, Jacob (you and I) does engage in sins constantly, but we can never find that just reward for them as there is no condemnation upon us right now. We are alive in Christ Jesus never again to be dead in sins. Those are the only two states for a man, and he cannot put himself in the category that he is not.

God took us from death in sins to life in Christ, and He left the rest dead in sins. That brings us to the final phrase of the verse. Christ's offering was not for the whole human race. Logically, it could not have been. If Christ's offering was for the whole human race, then we must be one of two things. We are either a univeralist or a no-universalist. If Christ is God (which He is), then all for whom our God died for will live with Him. However, if He saves all but one, then He is no longer God, and He loses them all. Those are the only two logical conclusions that can be reached by that way of thinking. However, that is not the case here.

He perfected forever those that were already sanctified (set apart for a holy purpose). He did not come to redeem all of Adam's race, but He came to give life to as many as the Father had given Him. He came to save His people from their sins. He came to forever remove our shame and legally redeem us. Therefore, when He comes the second time without sin unto salvation, we will appear with Him with His likeness, for we will be clothed with His righteousness and covered with His blood. So, let us ever look to that day without fear (but rather rejoicing) and not seek to save those that are lost (He has already done that), but let us seek to show Rebekah the riches of her wonderful Husband. (Genesis 24)

In Hope,

Bro Philip