| “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified”. Hebrews 10:14
Ten years after I became born again, I still found it difficult coming to terms with the verse above. I read it like I did to many other verses of scripture that tells me who I am in Christ; my preconceived ideas preoccupied my mind such that these powerful verses meant nothing to me. My theology just couldn’t stand it. I knew that a person born again is also someone who has been sanctified by God (I Corinthians 6:11). I agreed that Jesus’ sacrifice was done once and for all. But, the part that says “he made me perfect …. forever” was just too much for me. I could stand the word “perfect”, but the word “forever” was like a terrible uppercut.
Perfect forever? The bible says “YES!” but my perception said “NO!”. What about the sin of yesterday? What about that pastor’s story that you heard 3 years ago? What about that movie you watched early this year? What about …. ? And many questions kept coming to choke this revelation. And as it always happened, I stopped looking at the verse and continued analyzing my perceptions. Before long, I returned to zero level again.
But thanks be unto God, who opened up many other scriptures to me. I wish you could understand the thrill that rubbed my spine when I appreciated 1st Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever”.
My mistake then became obvious. I wanted to conceptualize being made perfect forever based on my deeds, but the bible says it is based on His seed. His seed cannot be corrupted; no amount of external imperfection can affect its state. It is simply “incorruptible”. Also, the seed lives forever. It therefore makes sense to say that the incorruptible and forever living seed gave birth to creatures of its kind; a breed of believers who are perfected forever. Hallelujah!
Where does this leave us? “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” Hebrews 10:23. Let us make our deeds to be constantly influenced by His seed. Let the thrust of our perfect being be felt by our doings. Let what people see on the outside be similar to what God sees on our inside.
– tope aladenusi |
