14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
“Beautiful” is the word that comes to mind when reading this verse. Worthy of memorization, as all Scripture is, but in particular as an excellent summary of eternal truth. Melodic, poignant, in four-part meter, simple yet profound, all encompassing, implications elucidated, the climax of crescendo in the nine previous chapters. We have another of the perfections of Christ.
First, there was one offering. The writer of Hebrews can’t emphasize this enough (see 7:2, 7:12, 7:26, 9:28, 10:12, 10:10)! While the priests repeatedly offered many sacrifices, Christ as the superior priest offered one and only one sacrifice—it was complete and sufficient, because it was perfect.
Second, through that one offering Christ has brought perfection to believers. The word translated “perfected” has the sense of completion, reaching the goal. John 4:34 uses the word to indicate completing a task: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work (see also Luke 13:32). When God does something, He completes it according to His intended purpose; there is nothing lacking, no addendums and no amendments.
Third, notice this act of perfecting happened in the past and is good for the entire future ahead. In other words, the completeness extends forever into the future. One might say, as long as there is time, the work of Christ is complete. One could even argue that Christ’s sacrifice, while occurring in time created an effect that was beyond time and into eternity, where God eternally exists. So in that sense, Christ was slain from the foundation of the world and we were perfected (or chosen) in Him before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). This is probably one of the truths “hidden since the foundation of the world” of which Jesus spoke (Matt 13:35).
Finally, the beneficiaries of Christ’s once for all perfecting are “those who are sanctified.” This is better translated as “those who are being sanctified,” (as rendered in ESV, NIV, NLT, NKJV, etc.) The form of the word in the original language indicates an ongoing action. While perfection is a once for all completed event (in that we are perfectly related to God), sanctification is an ongoing process (in that we are continually being transformed into what we should be). What confidence we have as those who believe in the once for all sacrifice of Christ. Paul affirms this when he writes, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6).
Lord, You have made me complete in Christ, and You are making me holy.
Chuck, You have undoubtedly heard of the position being taught around today that there is no such thing as “progressive sanctification” though I have always believed and taught this. Your comment about the translation of verse 14 being better translated, “those who are being sanctified” leaves me wondering when I read in The Knowledge Bible Commentary by Walvood and Zuck that a better rendering is “them who are sanctified”. Their commentary says that the translation “are being made holy” sounds like a continuing process. But this ignores the force of the expression “made holy” in verse 10. Obviously both opinions can’t be right. Any thoughts?
Jim,
First of all it is good to know there are those like you who do read these blogs with a keen mind. Thanks. As for Walvoord and Zuck’s commentary (actually the commentary on Hebrews was written by Zane Hodges, who is noted for some of his more “innovative” interpretations), the actual word used in 10:14 for sanctification is a verb in the present tense form (actually it is a participle, in case you are grammatically inclined). The present tense has a common means of “on going activity.” A completed action is better expressed in either what is called the “imperfect tense” (an action happening in the past, but with present results) or a “perfect” tense (happening in the past and may or may not stay in the past). So, I would disagree with that commentary’s conclusion simply on the basis of the original Greek.
However, if one were to use this passage to support an anti-progressive sanctification, I suppose it is could be constructed something like this: “He has perfect for all time those who are part of a community in which God is continually sanctifying people with a once-for-all non-progressive sanctification. But, I think that taking verse 10 (where the “perfect” tense is in fact used), we have the traditional sense where a believer has been set apart completely in Christ (or as we often say, “positionally sanctified”) vs. 10; and yet the believer is being conformed to the image of Christ (or as we often say, “progressively being sanctified.”)
It is similar to other concepts in the NT. For example, Hebrew 7:25, “He always live to make intercession for them.” But, why would he need to intereced, if we have already been perfected by the once-for-all-time sacrifice? He did intercede, and as high priest has “sat down” indicating the intercessory job was done. I think we too often think of these things in static terms rather than dynamic. We are saved (completely and perfectly) because God keeps us saved (dynamically, outside of time).
As much as I respect and recommend the Walvoord and Zuck commentary as a whole, I would respectfully disagree with Zane Hodges. However, I would think he does believe in progressive sanctification, albeit not looking to Hebrews 10:14 for support.
Does that all make sense?