Just one sacrifice for sin paid the debt. And when you and I find ourselves in that holy heaven above, our only title to be there will be based upon what that blessed One accomplished on the cross of Calvary for us. He paid the price; He made the purgation; He purchased our entrance into that holy, happy place, where we can be in the Father’s house forever. What a wonderful thing to be a Christian!
And, too, it is wonderful to give all praise and adoration to the One who opened up the way for us. Apart from Him, we were hopeless, without God and without Christ—poor Gentile dogs! Yet here we are now, enjoying God’s favor, accepted in the Beloved, and brought nigh through the blood of Christ.
“By one offering He hath perfected forever [or, perfected in perpetuity] them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:1414For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)). This is no halfway salvation! There is no trial and error here. Oh, no, we are not on probation; it is a settled thing—it is a finished work (see John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)). If you and I have crossed the line, if we have in truth come to Christ and a real work has been wrought in our souls, regardless of what happens, we will never find ourselves in outer darkness with the lost. Never!
It says, “He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Oh, believe it; let your soul rest upon it. There will never be a soul in hell who will be permitted to look up and say to the Lord Jesus, “Once I was safe in your arms.” Never! Those blessed, pierced hands of His have never lost a person. Isn’t that good news?
Have you trusted yourself to Him? Then relax in His arms. You can be sure He is never going to let you be lost. Of course, this is one side of the truth—the other side is the showing of our appreciation for what He has done for us. But first we need to be firmly grounded on the work of Christ—that it is all of Himself—that it is final. There are no questions to be raised about it. He has given us His Word. He has shown His title to do that work. He had His credentials with Him when He came into this world.
C. H. Brown (1963 address; adapted)