Once for All

Title: "Once for All: The Power of Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice" Text: Hebrews 9:24-28 Key Verse: Romans 6:10 – “The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.”

Hebrews 9

To set the context for today I want to back up a couple of versus Hebrews 9:22-23 Chapter 9 talks about how all of the Laws of the Old Testament, the worship the sacrifice, the offerings, even the temple were pointing to something much bigger and better than we can even imagine.

Hebrews 9:22–23 (ESV)

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Now imagine a courtroom where you are on trial, you are guilty and faces an impossible sentence. Then, out of nowhere, someone willing steps us, taking the punishment so that even thought you are guilty you can now go free. Not even just that, it is the judge himself who is the one who has stepped up to take your punishment, dropping his robe, casting off his title, and goes into the prison himself, so that you can go free. This scene resonates because it mirrors our standing before God—guilty, unable to save ourselves, and yet freed because of Jesus own sacrifice.

Context: The book of Hebrews is written to encourage Jewish Christians who were tempted to turn back to the Old Covenant rituals. The writer explains that Christ’s sacrifice is the fulfillment of all the sacrifices, putting an end to the old system.

Big Idea: Jesus Christ’s single, perfect sacrifice on the cross is sufficient to cover all sin and secure our salvation forever.

I. Christ's Sacrifice Transcends Earthly Rituals

Hebrews 9:24 ESV

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

Jesus as a child had entered the temple, as you may remember, when he was left behind as a child when his family was returning to Nazareth and Jesus went into the temple and was teaching and asking question, they were amazed at a child with so much insight. Yet this was just glimpse of what was to come, for unlike the priests who entered the temple to offer sacrifices once a year. Jesus it says went into heaven itself, appearing in the presence of God on our behalf.

This is much like a child who drawing a picture of the house in which he lives, some with little detail draw a rough sketch of what could be a semblance of their home, others with great detail can get much more accurate. They however are not the home, they are mere types and shadows much as the Old Testament was pointing us to the real thing, Jesus.

II. The Unrepeatable Nature of Christ’s Sacrifice (v. 25-26)

Hebrews 9:25–26 ESV

Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Hebrews as you will notice keeps repeating this same idea, in different ways, showing how Jesus is the fulfilment of what was foreshadowed by the Old Testament. Year after year the priest would enter the temple to offer sacrifice over and over again, yet because the blood was not their own, they would have to repeat it for it merely covered sin, it never fully took it away.

Now Jesus it says appeared once for all, at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. In other words he fully satisfied the demands of the Law, with blood that not merely covered sins, but dealt the final blow to sin and death. By dying and rising again Jesus was able to defeat death by death. Paying the penalty so that we no long stand commended but forgiven. Simultaneously saint and sinner, we often use the Latin term simul estus et peccator. We are saved yet still in sin for this body is given over to sin, yet it is passing away along with this world, and all that has been corrupted by sin.

Even so we have the completeness that has been fulfilled by Jesus that “once for all” he has completed our salvation, and even still it is finished and will be finished.

III. The Judgment We Deserve and the Salvation He Brings

Hebrews 9:27–28 ESV

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Now the question all must answer is in that judgement, that when we die, we will face judgement to what will we give an account of for all that we have? This is where we have to be careful of how we answer for this is the very distinction between true religion and false religion, it is where the answer to all of life’s difficult questions come into play. Will we try and excuse our sin before a Holy and perfect God? Will we fall away in despair knowing our sin, how we have failed to keep the law perfectly? Or do we turn to Christ and say be merciful to me a sinner.

The only right answer is Jesus, for there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved. Nothing we have accomplished, nothing we can excuse away, nothing we can hide from God, all will be exposed, everything will be laid bare, and we will give an account. If that account has not been paid by Jesus then you are guilty and your punishment is death, for that is the wages of sin. Yet the free gift of God, is Christ Jesus, who paid the penalty, who has washed us clean and is returning one day, not to deal with sin again, that has been dealt with, but to save us who are eagerly waiting.

IV. Living in Response to Christ's Perfect Sacrifice

There are two passages that describe this last day Joel 2:31

Joel 2:31 ESV

The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

and

Zephaniah 1:14–15 (ESV)

The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

From these you see it is described as both a great and terrible day. Again it speaks to the difference between death and salvation, a terrible day for those who remain under condemnation, for there is no hope, nothing but terror and gloom, darkness and eternal death, separated from God for all eternity in that lake of fire which Jesus says the worm does not die nor is the thirst quenched.

At the same time we as Christian when we see this day come it will be filled with joy for our redemption has drawn neat, death will no longer have it sting, every tear will be wiped away and we will live in eternity with God seeing him face to face, what joy that will be. All because Jesus paid the price, our faith rest in him and scripture tells us that if we believe and are baptized we are saved. We are counted in that number among the rest of the saints who have gone before.

It is well with my Soul

The story of Horatio Spafford's is a profound example of faith in the midst of tragedy. Spafford was a successful lawyer and real estate investor in Chicago during the late 1800s, but his life took a series of devastating turns. In 1871, he lost much of his real estate holdings in the Great Chicago Fire, which destroyed large portions of the city. Despite this financial setback, he remained devoted to his Christian faith and involved in church work.

In 1873, Spafford planned a trip to Europe with his family to find some respite and assist in an evangelistic campaign led by the well-known preacher D.L. Moody. However, business delayed him, so he sent his wife, Anna, and their four daughters—Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta—ahead on the French ocean liner Ville du Havre. Tragically, while crossing the Atlantic, the ship collided with another vessel, and it sank within 12 minutes. All four of Spafford’s daughters drowned. Anna, his wife, was one of only a few survivors, and she sent a heart-wrenching telegram to her husband: “Saved alone.”

Stricken with grief, Spafford immediately set sail for England to join his wife. As his ship passed near the spot where his daughters had drowned, he was inspired to write the words that would become the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul." The lyrics express a deep trust in God despite overwhelming sorrow:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Through these words, Spafford poured out his grief but also his steadfast belief that, in Christ, all would ultimately be well. His faith, despite his tragedy, has inspired countless others, reminding them that even in life’s darkest moments, God’s peace and comfort can prevail.

Rest in the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus, who has secured our salvation and who will return to bring us fully to Himself. Until that day we rest assured looking to the heavens, going about the work by which are called to share with others this great joy that is just around the corner and sing together it is well, it is well, with our souls. Amen

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.