The perfection of the believer is brought about through the offering of Christ's body. He could say, "A body hast thou prepared me."
Christ's complete submission to God's will places the believer in the position of perfection before God, there being only one will-the will of God.
In that long eternal day there will be only one will-God's. When the Lord Jesus came into this world, it was to do God's will, even unto death. This was costly for Him, yet it was His delight.
"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." After offering one sacrifice for sins, He forever sat down on the right hand of God.
"For by one offering he bath perfected forever them that are sanctified."
"Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us."
The position in which the believer now is, as a result of the finished work of Christ, is one of perfection before God, all sins forgotten forever and the Holy Ghost making it all good to us in order that we might be at complete peace by believing the testimony.
We are sanctified.
We are perfected.
We are intelligent as to it all.
We have no more conscience of sins.
There is no more offering for sin.
We have liberty to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
There is a new and living way opened to us.
We have an High Priest.
We are invited to draw near in full assurance of faith.
This closes the direct teaching or doctrine of the epistle, the remainder being mainly an exhortation based upon the doctrine given, using examples of faith for our encouragement.
Hebrews 10:19-3919Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:19‑39)
In the old order of the tabernacle, the priest washed in the laver before entering the holy place.
Applying this truth, the believer now sees not only his sins gone by the application of the blood, thus having a purged conscience, but by faith he applies the truth of the offering up of the body of Christ, to himself, by the washing of the body with pure water. By this is meant the complete setting aside of the old order and by faith entering into the new by a new and living way, no more conscience of sins-and the entire man cleansed and in a new place before God. This is regeneration, of which baptism might be a figure.
The day of apostasy is at hand. Believers should find themselves more and more assembled together as the moment of our complete salvation nears.
To sin willfully is to insult the Spirit of grace by turning back to ordinances after having the full testimony of a risen, glorified Christ as presented by Stephen.
Vengeance belongs to God. The time is coming when God will judge His people, separating the precious from the vile (Mal. 4:1-31For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 4:1‑3)).
The believers are reminded of their first reception of the gospel and the zeal manifested in which they were partners with the apostles in testimony and suffering. As we near the end of the road there is an increasing need for patience.
The Savior will come for the salvation of His own. The just live by faith.