Going On to Perfection

Going On to Perfection

We must lay hold of this hope. In verses 18-20 we see that Jesus is our forerunner. Our hope is sure and steadfast within the veil.

If perfection had been possible under the Levitical priesthood, there would have been no need for a new priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek. For there is an annulling of the former commandment because it could not lead us to perfection, but a better hope was brought in so we could draw near to God. Heb. 7:16-22.

Jesus has become the surety of the new covenant, and He has an unchangeable priesthood because He continues forever. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them. V. 25.

Now the time of restoration has come. Jesus went into the sanctuary once with His own blood and gained an eternal redemption. For this reason He is the mediator of the new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, and Jesus appears in the presence of God for us. We read further that He appeared at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Here we need the exhortation in Hebrews 10:23-25, that we “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

By doing this we partake of the salvation with which He came the first time. Therefore we are waiting for Him in order to partake of the salvation with which He will come the second time. Heb. 9:28.