“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14 ESV).
What the law with its repeated offerings was unable to do, Christ with His single perfect offering has done. What is this impossible thing that Christ has accomplished? He has made those who trust in Him “perfect” before God for eternity. The word “perfect” is from the Greek word τέλειος (teleios), which can be translated, “complete, mature, to reach the goal, or perfect.”
When we place our trust in Christ’s “offering,” we are already “perfected.” We are already made whole and complete in Christ, so that we are fully accepted by the Father for eternity. Positionally, we are already at the right hand of the Father in Christ Jesus. We are already counted holy. We are considered saints.
Yet in the present, we are still “being sanctified.” We still experience the battle between the flesh and the Spirit, and sometimes give into the flesh. Even so, all our sins are already forgiven. The Spirit empowers us to repent and walk in His power, growing in maturity. This is our experience. This tension between our position in Christ and our experience in this world has been called the “already/not yet” of the Christian life. In Christ, we are “already” perfected, but “not yet” perfect.
However, on that Day, our position and our experience will be the same, for we “shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2). Those that are in Christ, will become perfectly like Christ. This is God’s purpose for those who believe.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are amazed at what You have done for us in Christ Jesus. We therefore yield ourselves afresh to Your sanctifying work in us, so that we become like Christ in every way. Fill us with Your sacrificial love and unconquerable joy. In Jesus’ name, amen.