November 2, 2004

THE PURIFIER OF SINS

"After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" (Hebrews 1:3, NIV).

This title introduces Christ's cleansing power in addition to His creative and sustaining power. By His atonement, Christ accomplished two essential aspects of cleansing from sin. First, Jesus cleanses in the universal sense by His vicarious once-for-all atonement. By this act, full provision was made for all to be saved. The second cleansing aspect of the atonement is the cleansing of the individual from sin. Each individual who by faith appropriates the provisions of the atonement on Calvary is personally cleansed and made right with God. This phase of the atonement will continue until the last soul is saved.

On the cross, Jesus Christ finished His work as the sacrifice for sin (see Zechariah 13:1). The atonement was fully settled at the cross. However, as our intercessor, Christ's work of atonement continues in heaven where He is our advocate before the Father (see Hebrews 7:25). The final purification of sin is yet to come when Christ, the purifier of sin, will finally eradicate every vestige of sin from the universe forever. Then a purified people in a purified world will praise God for all eternity.

Speaking of Christ as Creator, Sustainer, and Purifier, Ellen G. White comments, "There is a personal God, the Father; there is a personal Christ, the Son. And 'God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son... who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.' "--Review and Herald, November 8, 1898.

My Prayer Today: Lord, I pray that You will purify and keep me until the final restoration of all things. Amen.