The scripture in the book of Hebrews 7:19, starts with a striking phrase "For the law made nothing perfect,". This phrase is as simple, straight forward and clear as it is. This phrase communicates two (2) vital truths which are;
What is the Law? Canonically, the Law comprises of the first five (5) books of the Bible which were written by Moses. In application, the Law is actually the Ten (10) Commandments given by God to Moses (read Exodus 20) and other laws developed from the Ten Commandments. The whole body of the law is called the Torah.
Why could the law not make anything perfect? The answer to this question is derived from both the creation of the earth and the nature of the Law itself. The law cannot make anything perfect because, it is not perfect. This is due to the truth that after creation, God called everything "very good"(that is, exceeding) but, not perfect as seen in Genesis 1:31. Likewise, the law succeeds and must follow the order of creation. God made the earth very good and put Adam/ Man on it to make it perfect but, Adam failed at this. The failure of the first Adam in the task of making the earth perfect gave rise to the emergence of the Law which came through Moses. Thus, we understand that the law at best can make us function in very good but, cannot make us perfect or function in perfection.
Having understood the preceding, we know that the law could not achieve the task that Adam failed at. Due to the failure of the first Adam and the inability of the law, God sent the last Adam in the person of Jesus Christ to achieve this task of making the earth and Man perfect.
How did Jesus accomplish this task? Jesus accomplished this task by carrying out two (2) actions as, both Adam and the Law respectively were unable to achieve the task. Hence, Jesus had to do for them what they both could not do.
1. For Adam - Jesus accomplished the task by his death, finished work and resurrection. By this He reconciled all things to God the Father and gave us a perfect life in and through Himself. Romans 5:10; 2Corinthians 5:18.
2. For the Law - This Jesus did by enforcing the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus to set mankind free from the limitations of the law of sin and death which is performance at the maximum of very good.
By virtue of the finished work of Christ Jesus, the grace of God became fully operational, thus Grace makes a man function in perfection i.e perfectly. This implies that the new creation in Christ Jesus is not meant to function in very good, because this realm is a limitation to the new creation, no matter how good very good may be, it devalues and reduces the potentials of the new creation. This is because the new creation is created in Christ Jesus to live in and function in perfection which is of Christ Jesus, this perfection manifest as good works. Ephesians 2:10
What is does it mean to be perfect? To be perfect means to complete,add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full, and to bring to a close or fulfillment by event, this entails the prophecies of the scriptures.
Grace to you.
Jesus is Lord.
Ps:Listen to this teaching, God has something in it for you
