“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” – Hebrews 10:14
You are not forgiven for your sins, made acceptable in God’s eyes, or declared holy because of anything you DO. There is nothing you can DO to make yourself worthy of God’s love. No amount of hard work, self-discipline, personal sacrifice, clean living, philanthropy, good deeds, or moral behavior can ever perfect you, because you aren’t perfect. You aren’t (and neither is anyone else). However, there is one sacrifice by which you are made perfect in God’s eyes – the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross!
When the sinless, eternal Son of God died on a cross and rose from the dead, He made a single, once-for-all offering to pay the penalty for human sin. When we put our faith in Him, embracing this Good News for ourselves, we are made perfect in God’s eyes. Our sin, guilt, and shame are all washed away. We are sealed and indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit. We are made new creations in Christ.
By God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, we are adopted by God, loved by God, embraced by God, and perfected by God. Not that we are actually perfect on this side of heaven, but God sees Christ’s perfection in us. By His Spirit, God then empowers us to be sanctified – to engage in a lifelong process (and struggle) to grow toward the perfection God already sees in us, a perfection that will be completed when we enter God’s presence forever. Praise Jesus, Whose offering has perfected for all time those being sanctified by God’s grace!!!