Perfect Standing Before God

“every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again—sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God, where he is now waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy. And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us, for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws on their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds,” then he says, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer.” Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.” Hebrews 10:11-18 NET

The stark contrast between the capabilities of a priest and their limitations is painfully clear. The flesh cannot deliver a sacrifice that absolves sins, leading us to question the purpose of the priest's persistent efforts. Why persist with rituals that are inherently futile and yield nothing but failure? It is often said that insanity is defined as repeating the same actions while expecting different outcomes. Yet, God has already proclaimed that these rituals lack the power to produce the intended results, emphasizing the heavy burden of tradition.

Jesus offered a singular, all-encompassing sacrifice for humanity, a once-for-all act with unparalleled power to eliminate sin. His sacrifice was so profound that He now sits at God's right hand, indicating His salvation's completeness. This is a salvation that lacks nothing; it possesses the full authority to forgive and restore anyone who has been devastated by the effects of sin, empowering them to become whole and fully renewed in Him.

When we proclaim that Jesus sits at the right hand of God, we embrace a profound and transformative truth. The phrase "right hand" in the Bible embodies the highest honor and authority. In ancient cultures, to be seated at the right hand of a king symbolized unmatched prestige and strength. This powerful imagery underscores the reality that Jesus is the supreme ruler of all creation, with an everlasting kingdom establishing His ultimate sovereignty. The permanence of His position gives us a deep sense of security in His unwavering reign.

From this powerful vantage point, Jesus has triumphed over death, securing His rightful place as heir to the throne. But His seating goes beyond mere status; it signifies His role as our intercessor, continually praying for us to fully experience and embrace the richness of His victory. This extraordinary position not only emphasizes Jesus' immense power but also offers us profound hope and assurance that we can share in His divine triumph.

This passage powerfully illustrates that Jesus awaits the moment when His enemies will become a footstool for His feet, echoing the profound symbolism of the Ark of the Covenant, known as the footstool of God. It proclaims a future when every knee will bow, and every tongue will joyously declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, bringing ultimate glory to God.

Crucially, this vision does not portray Jesus’ reign as a tyrannical dictatorship where individuals are coerced into submission. Rather, just as the Ark contained divine laws, each heart will receive the law of love inscribed by Jesus Himself, a meaningful and personal gesture. The heavenly manna stored within the Ark—the true bread of life, embodied in Jesus—will nourish and embody the very core of His followers. This reign is defined by love, offering deep security and unmatched peace, allowing each believer to experience a profound sense of value and worth.

Through the profound sacrifice of Jesus, every individual has the opportunity to be made complete, holy, and transformed into His likeness. While some assert that God only saves a select few and condemns the rest to eternal punishment, this belief starkly contradicts the boundless love that God has for all humanity.

As stated in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world (all people) that He gave His only unique Son, a precious gift, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." The choice is ours: we can embrace this extraordinary gift and believe by drawing closer to God’s presence, or we can reject His love and remain at a great distance from Him.

God has already made His intention clear—He has provided a path to salvation for everyone. It is a universal offer grounded in His unwavering love, inviting each of us to freely receive the transformative power of His grace. The question is not whether He will save us, but whether we will choose to receive the salvation He freely extends to all.

When we receive Him, we have become the sacred dwelling place of God’s presence, much like the Ark of the Covenant. Jesus longs to reside within our hearts, not on a distant and unapproachable throne. The writer of Hebrews powerfully conveys that God inscribes His laws on our hearts; in essence, Jesus lives within us through love, empowering us to be living, portable temples—vibrant places of divine worship. As His vessels, we are crucial in the bigger picture of God’s design by drawing others to Him through our lives and our love for humanity. Through us and our believing loyalty in Him, Jesus reveals His boundless love for all people.

When we communicate the transformative message that the sacrifice of Jesus extends forgiveness and mercy to everyone who has sinned, we unveil a powerful truth: God no longer holds us accountable for our wrongdoing. Instead, He graciously forgives all violations of the law, granting us true freedom. With this gift of forgiveness, the need for sin offerings has vanished; Jesus stands as our Savior from the law.

Although we may not witness the full manifestation of God’s eternal plan in our world, we can be certain that Jesus is not just alive but is actively at work in our lives and in the lives of those around us. As we pray, “Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we tap into a powerful assurance that fuels our faith with profound security and confidence. We can trust that He is diligently cultivating a vibrant community of believers, attuned to His voice, and experiencing extraordinary growth and transformation through His grace. This truth empowers us to embrace our journey with hope and believing loyalty in His promises.

Stephen Barnett