Spiritual Growth

It is common knowledge that Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world and that He was raised up, like the serpent in the desert. However, the fact that He has been appointed to be our High Priest for our sanctification and transformation into His image, that He is a High Priest of good things to come (Hebrews 9:11), and that He also has something to offer (Hebrews 8:3), is almost completely unknown.

Spiritual growth occurs by being renewed in the spirit of our mind through the knowledge of God. Ephesians 4:15 and 23. Conse­quently, it is very important that the doctrine concerning the way of the Lord (Acts 18:24-25) is taught accurately.

“For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God.” Hebrews 5:1. It is extremely impor­tant that this ministry is carried out in us. The forgiveness of sins is the first ministry—it is the foundation, the beginning (Hebrews 6:1); we are exhorted to press on past that point. The high-priestly ministry in us begins with our complete surrender and continues to the end of our lives.

The High Priest has something to bring into the Holiest of All when we resist sin to bloodshed (the death of Christ in us). Hebrews 12:4. It is kept there as a testimony to the fact that we are partaking of the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. It becomes the foundation for our resurrection with Him (Romans 6:5) and for our partaking of the glory of the sun and of the stars. 1 Corinthians 15:40-41.

In Hebrews 3:1 we are exhorted to consider Jesus, our Apostle and High Priest. He gave Himself as an offering for us, as an apostle (one who is sent out), and as the Lamb of God. But He requires a sac­rifice through the high-priestly ministry in us. In the first instance grace and righteousness are “for us;” in the second instance grace be­comes righteousness “in us.”

He works together with those whom God has put in the church (Ephesians 4:11), to the end that the offerings from each of the saints might be acceptable before the Lord. Romans 15:16. The perfect goal is that the aroma of the offering might be an acceptable aroma before God, just as Christ’s sacrifice was. Ephesians 5:2.

We must be finished with being children; we are called to grow up to be mature men (Ephesians 4:13) and to be a spiritual house for the Lord. Hebrews 3:6. Through this ministry, the virtues of Christ will be made manifest; it will also bring forth the prayers to which is added much incense. Revelation 8:3. The High Priest has something to offer. At the same time, a foundation is laid for the good things to come.

All His life, Jesus walked in God’s light. All God’s will was car­ried out. That is why, at the end of His life, He could say that the prince of this world had nothing in Him (John 14:30), and He could fulfill the prophecy that His garment would be seamless. John 19:24. Not a single stitch or thread was broken. There have been breaks in our life, but Jesus is a merciful High Priest who has compassion with our weaknesses. His judgment is merciful when He sees that it is our hearts’ desire to follow in His steps.

May we be apprehended by the fact that there is not much time left for us to be saved and sanctified by Jesus’ life (Romans 5:10), that Jesus is looking forward to having something to offer—an offering that must come from us—and that God desires a pleasing aroma of sacrifice from us.

Jesus was made perfect. Hebrews 5:9. We shall also follow Him in this point, according to the election of grace that God has given to each and every one of us.