Perpetually

In yesterday's post about God's Great Love, I quoted this passage from Hebrews:

...Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but (Jesus), having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Heb 10:11-14 NASB

Other English versions of the Bible use the word "forever" instead of "all time." I think both interpretations are good, but someone pointed out to me the other day that the Greek word here means "perpetually," and I think that makes a stronger statement. This stands out in the Darby Bible translation of verse 14: "For by one offering he has perfected in perpetuity the sanctified" (the same word is used in verse 12).

"Perpetually" means:
- continuing or enduring forever; everlasting
- lasting an indefinitely long time
- continuing or continued without intermission or interruption; ceaseless

There is one perpetual sacrifice for sins (one sacrifice that has continuing, ongoing, everlasting, never-ending, without intermission or interruption, ceaseless consequences). And by this one perpetual sacrifice He has perfected (made complete) in perpetuity (continuing, ongoing, everlasting, never-ending, without intermission or interruption, ceaseless) all who are sanctified. (No need to mention that all who are sanctified are sanctified by grace, through the perpetual sacrifice of Jesus)!

Your behavior may change from moment to moment or from day to day but your behavior has nothing to do with your being sanctified. You have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus - the one sacrifice for sins for perpetuity! We have "the boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus" (Heb 10:19). We "have been brought near (to God) by the blood of Christ" (Eph 2:13). His blood supersedes your behavior! Thank God that as we abide in Him, and stand in awe of Him ("fear and trembling"), we "work" this out - from the inside out - as He works in and through us to will and to do according to His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). It's not up to us. It's His work through and through! Trust in the perpetual sacrifice of Christ and the perpetual work of God in you. Rest in that.

In the next post I'll address those who think this type of preaching leads to licentiousness. :)