Good For All Time
You sinned again. It was that lie you told, a gossip you spread, hate you typed on social media, lustful thoughts you allowed to fill your mind, too many drinks the other night; you sinned again because we are sinners.
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23)
However, once we know the Good News, once we receive salvation, we then have a choice to pursue the desires of our sinful nature or those of the Holy Spirit. Once we have agreed to walk the path with Jesus, we no longer need to walk along other paths, but sometimes we stray from the narrow path. This world will flood temptation at us, but God has promised to always be with us and always provide us with a way out of those temptations.
“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
“Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” (Hebrews 10:11-12)
Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed and rebelled against God, every person has been born a sinner and because of this, our sins need to be covered by a perfect sacrifice, by Someone not flawed by sin. Under the old covenant, sins had to be paid for repeatedly; Jesus’ sacrifice, however, is good for all time. There is no need to continue to offer sacrifices for your sin because Jesus has covered it all. We will still sin but through the renewing of our minds by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will sin less.
“For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:14)
Notice the verb form here of “being.” The “ing” makes “be” a present participle, meaning that it is constantly or continually progressing. Holiness is a continual process and we are continually striving toward holiness through the power and grace of Jesus Christ. This process won’t be completed until we enter into paradise in our new bodies (Philippians 3:21), so while we are still here on earth in these sinful bodies (Romans 8) we are continually being made perfect through Jesus’ sacrifice as it continually covers our sins.
“Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.” (1 John 3:9)
“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)
There is nothing you can do to atone for your sins, no sacrifices you can make to cover your mistakes and shortcomings. Jesus paid it all and all to Him we owe. Jesus has covered our sins, a perfect sacrifice, good for all time.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
