The Will of God

 

The Will of God

 

Hebrews 10:10

 

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

 

In the subject verse the words “for all” are in italics, which indicates that the words were added by the translators of the King James version of 1611. In its original language the verse ends abruptly with the word once, and emphasis is put upon the fact that the offering of the body of Christ was accomplished only once and never to be repeated. This is far different from the often repeated sacrifices of the law of Moses which were not effective in putting away the sin of the people. Christ Jesus offered himself only once, and the effect was that “by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). By one offering of Himself as the only acceptable and sufficient sacrifice for sin to put away sin forever, Christ Jesus perfected them forever who were sanctified (set apart) in the everlasting covenant of grace. They were set apart to be the recipients of the forgiveness of sins by the sacrifice of the body of Christ once. The persons who were chosen by God the Father to be the beneficiaries of the perfections which are inherent in Jesus Christ are the elect of God, who were chosen to salvation before the world began, as it is written: “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Thessalonians 2:13-14).

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ came into this world and joined our humanity to His Deity by taking our human nature (sin excepted) into union with Himself. The Son of God being made flesh was according the ancient agreements settled upon in eternity past by all the members of the Holy Trinity. The Word (the Son of God) was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). By taking a holy portion of our humanity (Luke 1:35) into union with Himself, the Son of God became the Second Man, the Last Adam (I Corinthians 15:45,47) the Surety, Spokesman, and  Sponsor, of the New Testament officiating in office for His people (Hebrews 7:22; Matthew 1:21). He also became the Mediator of the everlasting covenant (I Timothy 2:5) for those chosen to salvation (II Thessalonians 2:13) “out of” and “from among” the race of Men (Revelation 5:9; 14:4). By taking our nature (sin excepted) into union with Himself, the Son of God became the Son of Man who had the right of Redemption (Leviticus 25:25) concerning His brethren. The Son of David, Son of Abraham, Son of Man, and Son of God, (Matthew 1:1; 8:20; 14:33) came to do the will of God in taking away the first Testament and things concerning that testament, that He might establish the second, as it is written: “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second” (Hebrews 10:9). Christ Jesus abolished the law of commandments contained in ordinances, and made in Himself one new man, as it is written: “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace” (Ephesians 2:15). Our Lord Jesus took the law out of the way, it is written: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:14).

 

Consider for a moment the children of the covenant in themselves, as men in the flesh, under the law and without consideration of their eternal covenant inheritance of grace. In that situation, God could not have bestowed all the grace of the everlasting covenant on the children of the covenant because of the indebtedness of the children to the law of God. That indebtedness would have been accumulated by the first Adam in his fall in the garden, and their own sins which would have been imputed to them considered only in themselves. The Surety of the New Testament had been responsible to bare and put away the indebtedness of all the children of the covenant from everlasting, because the children were chosen in that Surety from the very beginning and viewed by the justice of God in union with Him. Since Christ the Surety has taken the law out of the way by His fulfillment of the law for the children of the covenant, God is free to bestow on the children of the covenant all the “good pleasure of his goodness” as it is written: “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power” (II Thessalonians 1:11). The people of God are free from the guilt of sin, and are not liable to the penalty of the law. The law viewing the children of God in the righteousness of Jesus Christ by the imputation of the Father, through their union with Chirst from everlasting,  requires their eternal blessing because they are the dear children and heirs of God, as it is written: “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:1-6). 

AJ Ison

 

See the writer’s blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the truth of the gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed service times.