“First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:8-10)

Have you ever felt like your spiritual life is a treadmill? You run hard, try to do all the right things, and check all the religious boxes, yet you still feel like you haven't moved an inch. There is a nagging voice in the back of your mind asking, "Have I done enough? Am I holy enough?"

If that resonates with you, there is good news hidden in the book of Hebrews. It’s a truth that suggests we might be approaching the entire concept of holiness from the wrong direction.

We tend to think of holiness as a ladder we climb through good behavior. But the Bible presents it differently. It’s not a ladder; it’s a gift.

“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)

The Problem with Repetition

To understand the beauty of this gift, we have to look at what came before it. For centuries, the relationship between God and His people was mediated through a system of endless sacrifices.

Imagine being a priest in that time. Your work was never finished. Day after day, year after year, the fires burned, and the sacrifices were offered. But God was never truly pleased with the repetition of it all. Why? Because the repetition itself was proof that the problem wasn't solved.

The Law required these sacrifices, but they were never the destination. They were a signpost—a "catalyst," as Paul writes in Galatians—designed to point people toward something better. They were a shadow cast by the reality of Christ. They served as a constant reminder that humanity needed a Savior, but they couldn't actually fix the brokenness of the human heart (Galatians 3:21-22).

God didn't want a ritual; He wanted a relationship. He didn't want a cover-up; He wanted a cure.

The Reading of the Will

Hebrews 10 introduces a fascinating legal concept to help us understand what Jesus achieved. It talks about a "will"—specifically, God's will.

Think about how a Last Will and Testament works in our modern world. You can write a will today, outlining who gets your house, your car, and your savings. But that document is just a piece of paper for now. It has no power. It cannot transfer a single penny to anyone as long as you are alive.

As Hebrews 9:16-17 explains, a will only comes into force when the one who made it has died. Death activates the promise.

When Jesus came, He said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He set aside the old system of shadows to establish the new reality. When He died on the cross, the "Will and Testament" of God was officially activated. The inheritance was released.

And what is the inheritance? It isn't just a ticket to heaven. It is holiness.

A Status Change, Not Just a Behavior Change

This is where we often get tripped up. We read "we have been made holy" and we look at our own lives—our mistakes, our bad attitudes, our struggles—and we think, I don't feel holy.

But the text says we have been made holy. It’s past tense. It’s a done deal.

The Greek word used here is hagiazō. It’s a rich word that is often translated as "sanctified." It carries a weight of finality. It implies a definitive act by God that sets someone apart for a special purpose.

Looking at the definitions, we see a multi-layered reality:

1. Separation: To be separated from common things and dedicated to God.

2. External Cleansing: To be purified from the stain of sin.

3. Internal Renewal: To be freed from the guilt of sin and renewed in the soul.

When Jesus died, He didn't just give you a rulebook to follow. He gave you a new identity. He took you—with all your imperfections—and set you apart as His own. He cleansed your conscience from guilt and declared you righteous.

Unlike the animal sacrifices that had to be repeated every year because they wore off, the sacrifice of Jesus happened "once for all." It doesn't need a top-up. It doesn't expire.

Stopping the Strive

So, what do we do with this amazing truth?

We renew our minds. The battle for holiness often isn't fought with our hands, trying to do better things; it's fought in our minds, agreeing with what God has already said about us.

If you believe you have to work to become holy, you will always be tired. You will always be insecure, wondering if you've prayed enough or given enough. But if you believe you have already been made holy by the blood of Jesus, your life changes.

You stop striving to get acceptance, and you start living from acceptance. You don't avoid sin just to follow a rule; you avoid sin because it doesn't match who you are anymore. You are a holy person, sanctified by the blood of the Lamb.

This is the freedom of the New Covenant. You are accepted by God forever, not because of your performance, but because of His provision. The Will has been read, the price has been paid, and your status has been changed forever.

You are holy. Now, you can go and live like it.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. Are you striving for holiness as if it's something to earn, instead of receiving it as a gift?

2. Do you find it hard to believe you're already holy because of Christ's sacrifice?

3. How might your choices change if you lived from acceptance, not for it?