ONCE FOR ALL

In the Book of Hebrews we read, “By this we know we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.” And, “For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Also, “How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under the foot the Son of Man, and regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which He was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace.”

This is the concept of the word for cleansing. Blood cleanses us of our sin by the sacrifice of Christ. Water washes the word into the cleansed person. The word washes into every struggling corner of our mind and conscience and cleans out the impurity. We are clean by the blood of Jesus, but sanctification is the on going and forever washing with the word into those areas that are less than pure and perfect. The Holy Spirit delivers the word in power.

The Psalmist cries out, “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul, the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple, the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart, the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes, the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, the judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous all together.”’ (Psalm 19:7-9). The law, testimony, precepts, commandments, fear and judgment of the Lord are His words to mature us. They are a fresh washing for our everyday contaminations.

“Sanctify them in truth; your word is truth.” Jesus