"And being made perfect, he became the

author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."

                                                                                      -         Hebrews 5:9

     The letter of Hebrews is unquestionably a call to maturity. The writer emphasizes the need to go beyond just accepting the first principles of the fundamental teachings of Christ by embracing the full revelation of God's redemptive plan.

     In Paul's letter to the Hebrew believers, we find a very important truth concerning Christian growth. It involves the idea of "being made." There is a very distinct contrast between the words, "being" and "being made." The first word "being," is ÒN, and it means to be; to exist; to remain in its place. The idea lends itself to something that has always been and will always be. This second word "being made" is GINOMAI, and it means to become; to be made into something; to come into existence; to begin to be. We find these words spoken of Christ where he "being" the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person (1:3) was "made" so much better than the angels (1:4). We also find other references where he was made lower than the angels (2:9), he was made like unto his brethren (2:17), he was made a high priest (5:5; 6:20; 7:16, 20, 22, 28), and he was made perfect (5:9). These are all fundamentally important references that explain how God brought about our eternal redemption.

     This whole line of truth is best understood in the discovery that Christ went through a change from being the pre-incarnate Son of God to becoming the man, Jesus Christ.   It is   further delineated by him being made the author of our salvation - the spotless Lamb of God being made an offering for sin. The expression, "being made perfect" indicates that he became something more--that Christ, in all of his perfection, entered into something new. He became the perfect redeemer.

     How all of this applies to the Christian life is by recognizing that we "being dead" in our sins were "made" into a new creature. Christian maturity must start with identifying with what we have been made into. According to Hebrews chapter ten, it tells us: "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (10:10). Then it turns right around and says, "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (10:14). The same offering that sanctifies us has also perfected us! We are actually called upon to build our foundation upon a finished work. I know that sounds completely backwards, but the entire message of redemption is a revelation that we are already perfect in Christ Jesus (Col. 2:10).  

     The mystery of the faith is a calling. We are called upon to enter the Promised Land (our inheritance), the Rest (the unencumbered life of the Spirit), and to enter into that which is within the Veil (the hope of glory). The concept of entering in was expressed by Jesus Christ himself, in John chapter ten: "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9). We have the right to enter into what we already possess. Second Corinthians chapter three says, "...for we are changed from glory to glory" (2 Cor. 3:18). In other words, we begin in glory and continue until we are swallowed up in glory! This change is the outcropping of a perfect work within. We are becoming what we have already become. We are being made into what we have already been made. To the measure that we understand and walk in this incorporation of life defines our maturity. It is really all about discovering who we are in Christ and taking our rightful place in Him. It is entering into his finished work by stepping into our kingly and priestly role at his side!