In (Heb.10:10) it says: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” We are all going to stand before the Lord in judgment (Heb.9:27). Again and again that is a thought that is presented to us in the Word of God. In order that we may be able to meet the Lord in peace, we must conform to His Will and that Will is set out on the Sacred Page of His Word, and in our dispensation, in the New Testament.
It seems to me that it is not possible for us to over-emphasize the importance of that Book in our hearts and in our lives. As a matter of fact, Paul wrote in (Heb.11:6) “But without faith it is impossible to please him:”; he affirms in (IICor.5:7) that “we walk by faith, not by sight:” and since “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom.10:17), it doesn’t seem feasible to put too much importance on and in the Bible.
There has always been, and I guess always will be, problems among the Lord’s people. I have no doubt the difficulties that arise, grow out of a failure to recognize the authority of the Word of God. I am sometimes questioned: “What do you think is our chief problem in the brotherhood”. I have no hesitation in saying; it is a lack of respect for the teachings of God. When we talk about various and sundry difficulties and try to resolve them, most times we are simply dealing with the symptoms and not the actual disease. The disease is that people do not have a desire to understand and follow God’s Word when their eccentricities, innovations, and departures get in the way.
The Hebrew writer brings out some very important things along this line in the verse that we began with (Heb.10:10). We can quickly see that he says Christ died one time for all. He was offered for each and every one of us. There has not been another sacrifice like this since Jesus Christ willingly did it, and we will never need another one. His offering was and is sufficient for all time.
Also, we can notice that word “sanctified”. This simply means “set apart”. We are set apart by that wonderful offering of Jesus. Then we can take note of a word that is often overlooked and that is the word “will”. Although we may not be an attorney, we understand a little bit about a will. In fact (Heb.9:16-17) says: “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
When someone makes a will or testament, it does not take effect until they are dead. They can dispense their possessions any way they desire as long as they are alive. But once they die, their will, their testament goes into effect.
The same is true with our Lord and Savior. While He lived, He could dispense His gifts any way that He saw fit, such as with the giving of paradise to the thief on the cross that is often brought up from (Lk.23:43). But after He died, His testament took over. That is the dispensation that we are under, it is the last will and testament of Jesus Christ, and we will be under it until the end of time. Let us continually follow this will, this testament, and continually adapt our lives to fit what is written therein, for that is how we are sanctified or set apart. When we do this, and it comes time for our own will to take effect, Heaven will be our home. – Stan Owens
Tags: faith, Obedience, Will, Will of God, Will of Men, word of God