Tuesday 16-09-2025

Tuesday 16-09-2025 Sanctification. Heb. 10:15–18. (111) In vv. 11–14 the perfection of Christ’s sacrifice is declared: first, comparatively in 11–14, and then singly in 14; while in vv. 15–17 a further proof or confirmation of this is given from the Old Testament Scriptures. So efficacious was the mediatorial work of Christ that, “by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Said the Puritan Charnock, “That one offering was of such infinite value that it perfectly purchased the taking away of sin, both in the guilt, filth, and power, and was a sufficient price for all the grace believers should need for their perfect sanctification to the end of the world. There was the satisfaction of His blood for the removal of our guilt, and a treasure of merit for the supply of our grace” Further in v. 14, “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified,” now he describes those marks by which the “sanctified” are to be identified. How may I know that I am one of that favored company for whom Jesus Christ offered Himself a sacrifice for sin? What clear and conclusive evidence do I possess that I am among the “sanctified?” Answer to these weighty questions is furnished in the verses which we are now to ponder. 1. “Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us” (v. 15). “Three questions are suggested by these words. First, unto what is the Holy Spirit a “Witness?” Second, what is the “also” to relate to—who else has witnessed to the same thing? Third, how does the Holy Spirit “witness?” Let us, then, seek answers to these queries. Unto what is it that the Holy Spirit is here said to be a “Witness?” Unto the fact that the one satisfaction which has been made by the Redeemer secures the eternal perfection of all who are sanctified; what follows in vv. 16–18 bears this out. The satisfaction made by the Redeemer was the fulfilling of the Divine “will,” the performing of that which had been stipulated in the everlasting covenant. The Holy Spirit was present when that wondrous compact was made between the Father and the Mediator, and through Jeremiah He made known a part of its glorious promises.” Pink A. W. 2. Second, “whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us” looks back to v. 9. There we have the testimony of the Son unto the eternal decree which God had made, and which He had come to execute; here (in vv. 17, 18) that of the Spirit to what the Father had promised the Mediator He would do unto His covenant people. Thus, we may behold the three persons of the Godhead concurring. The leading thought of the context (and of the epistle) is the sufficiency, finality, and efficacy of the one sacrifice of Christ. That was “witnessed” to when the Mediator “sat down on the right hand of God” (v. 12); and the Holy Spirit is also a witness to us of the same blessed fact by means of His work of sanctification in the hearts and minds of those for whom Christ died. 3. As to how the Spirit witnesses to us, the first method is by means of the written Word; specifically, by what He gave out by the prophet Jeremiah. The apostle had argued the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice from its singularity (v. 12), in contrast from the many sacrifices of Judaism (v. 11); and the finality of it from the fact that He was now “sat down,” indicating that His work of oblation was finished. The Hebrews can only be persuaded by the testimony of Scripture; as quoted from the prophecy of Jeremiah 31, which clearly established the conclusions he had drawn.” Pink Arthur W. 4. “Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us.” As we have seen, the first reference here is to what is recorded in Jer. 31:31–34. The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Scriptures, for “The prophecy came not at any time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake moved by the Holy Spirit” 2Pet. 1:21, Jn. 15:26, Act. 28:25, 1Pet. 1:11, 12, 2Pet. 1:21, Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22. But more, the Holy Scriptures are also the testimony of the Holy Spirit because of His presence and authority in them continually. As we read the written Word, we are to recognize the voice of the Spirit of truth speaking to us immediately out of them. As we do this, we shall recognize that Word as the final court of appeal in all matters of conduct. That Word alone is that whereunto our faith is to be resolved. 5. “Whereof the Holy Spirit is also a witness to us.” The last two words need to be carefully observed in these days, when there are so many who (under the guise of “rightly dividing the Word”) would rob the children of God of a part of their needed bread—let us guard against such men. What the prophet Jeremiah gave out was for the people of God in his day. True, and hundreds of years later the apostle did not hesitate to say that they written equally “to us”; note particularly, not only “for” us, but “to us”! The whole of God’s Word, beginning to end, was written for the good of His people until the end of the world.