318. Eternal Salvation
Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.
Jesus became the author of eternal salvation for all who believe in him. Jesus wrote the book on eternal salvation. He carried out, began, and finished salvation for all. “Eternal” means salvation is available all the time for all time. Salvation from the Enemies that would destroy us is right now, when we are assailed, and for the eternal future. One Day the enemies of life will be put away forever. Then we shall be free, because Jesus wrote it up for each person. And it is legally valid.
Jesus had to be made perfect in order to author our salvation. Jesus, according to his Divine nature was already perfect, since God is perfectly righteous, pure, and holy. But He still had to be made perfect according to His Human nature. First, He had to be made human by the miraculous virgin birth, and being human he was made subject to the possibility of sin. He was tempted to sin as a human, but He overcame the temptation throughout His life and remained sinless. Second, He had to live a sinless and holy life to be made a perfect human being. And so He was made a perfect Human, born a human and lived fully as a man but without sinning. He was neither born nor lived in sin.
Jesus had to be “made perfect” as a human being so that He could properly and fully take our place as the perfect man. He accomplished that goal, for our sake. Then His innocent suffering and death could be substitutionary. He took our place under Sin and the Wages of Sin, which is death. Since He was perfect as a man in our place, He did not suffer punishment for His sin but for ours. By faith in Christ we have what Christ has, as a man: unassailable perfection that saves us from Death for the eternal kingdom of God. It saves us from a wasted life of sin for good works. This is enough to make life worth living. Jesus Christ authored such an eternal salvation.