A Few Clarifications

Dear Fellow Travelers,
Admittedly, Hebrews 10 is one of my favorite chapters, and it is because it put to rest so many of the “strange doctrines” that seem to permeate the church. Take this passage for example: ‘“Behold I have come to do Thy will.’ He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (vss. 9-10).
Clarification #1: Jesus came to do His Father’s will, i.e., to give His life, as the only acceptable sacrifice, in order that we might be made holy, through His imputed righteousness; He did not come to show us how to live better lives, so we could, eventually, measure up to the Law’s requirement.
Clarification #2: Contrary to popular belief, through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension, Jesus took away the first covenant [the Old Covenant of Law] and established another; namely, the New Covenant, a new and better covenant, with better promises (see. 8:6). In other words, we do NOT live under the Old Covenant of Law; it has no jurisdiction over us [be thankful that it doesn’t!], never has, never will. So get over it! We do not need 10 commandments (or 20 for that matter!); instead, we need the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us!
Clarification #3: Holiness is not something we achieve (acquire); instead, it is something He acquired for us, and freely gave to us—no strings attached. We have been sanctified, not by our works or efforts at better behavior, but through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Please do not attempt to dilute this by adding, “Yes, but . . .” There is no “yes, but!” Your behavior has no more to do with your being holy than the color of your hair have to do with your appetite. Remarkably, a pig is a pig because of his birth, not because he wallows in slop, eats acorns, has a curly tail, and makes good pork chops. You are holy because of your birth (your second birth into Christ Jesus!), not because you read the Bible every morning, fast every Tuesday, give to the poor on Friday, memorize Psalm 119, refrain from sex before marriage, and refuse to drink booze.
Clarification #4: The offering of the Body of Christ is of far more importance than the church seems to realize, as is evidenced by her continued efforts to manipulate people into behaving according to someone’s set of rules, and thus living more holy lives, rather than, simply, encouraging people to rest in His finished work!
Grace lavished,
Mac