The Law was only a shadow of the good things to come. It could never, by the same sacrifices, perfect a worshipper’s conscience. If it had, its continuation would have been unnecessary. Animal blood won’t remove sins, it can only serve as a reminder of them. (a paraphrase of Hebrews 10:1-3)

The Law hinted at good things to come but it was kept, at least in part, to avoid a consequence. Parents aspire that their children eventually do the right things because they are right, not because the will suffer if they don’t. Parent’s don’t want their children living out of fear, but until they are mature, disobedience and punishment are essential. When my grandchildren disobey (or are considering it) they are warned, “If you disobey, you will receive a consequence.”

Earthly parents are trying to raise their kids so that they can one day integrate into society as healthy, independent and responsible people. Spiritual parents are trying to integrate those around them into the kingdom of God as healthy, God-dependent and God-gifted people.

God’s objectives are higher than ours though; He initially gave his children the Law to help them live in harmony with Him, each other and His creation and as a tutor, who was pointing them toward Jesus – the Lamb of God. The tutor’s primary message was this: All those millions of gallons of animal blood never cleansed a single conscience. The Law was designed to reinforce their need and point them to their coming Remedy.

He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (from Hebrews 10:9-10)

Father took away the the Law (which was pointing to Life) in order to establish Jesus (Who is the Life). He took away what had first been chiseled in stone in order to plant the Second in our hearts. In Christ, we have been sanctified, once and for all!

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

We have been made into a holy people, standing continually as priests – stewards of the Life of God within us. Our sacrifice is our acknowledgement of the finished nature of our salvation and sanctification. We have been made holy! Our enemy makes inroads when we think of sanctification as those continuous offerings we must perform as mere sinners saved by grace. In this mode, we take on a false holiness that lives in continual remembrance of its sin. This is sold at some outlets as discipleship but it is not. This busy religious life leaves God’s children in a place of adolescence and impotency. The practical outworking of our salvation (aka sanctification) is completely dependent on our dependency on Christ. He (who dwells in us) is the hope of glory.

I concur with Jesus; “It is finished!” Everything required for our salvation and our sanctification is complete, in Christ. Yet, we do not live in sinless perfection because of our flesh. Even as new creations we are left to work out this salvation that is in us. I have no fear or trembling of God’s intentions toward me or of final outcomes. God is good and there are very good things to come. However, I am not above a little fear and trembling when it comes to the process aspect of sanctification which involves consequences.

We are not orphans nor are we illegitimate. God is our Father and He is actively transforming us into the image of his Son. Christ is in us. For His holiness to find its way to the surface while the flesh is protesting, at the very least, will provoke (if not fear and trembling) a little awe and wonder. I am right there with my grandkids. I am progressively learning obedience and consequently, I am (more often) doing the right things for the right reasons. These right things are not burdensome because they are coming from the new rightness in my heart.

Father, bring many sons and daughters into maturity for your name’s sake. We look forward to  the day when the world sees you as our perfect Parent.

 

 

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