November 9

Once For All 

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 119:145-152 | Ezekiel 20:1-49 | Hebrews 9:11-28 | Proverbs 27:11

Today’s Scripture Focus: Hebrews 9:11-28

So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28 NIV).

In the Old Testament sacrificial system, the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place once a year to make atonement for his sins and the sins of the people. It was a most holy event and not taken lightly. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (9:22).

Jesus came with a better sacrifice: himself. He had lived a perfect, sinless life. He was the perfect Lamb of God who had come to take away the sins of the world. In his one time, once for all act of dying on the cross, Jesus made atonement for all our sins for all time.

Our writer puts it this way: For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself (Hebrews 9:24-26, NIV).

Jesus will come again one day. This time is focus will not be to bear sin. This time he will come once for all to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Yes, we’ve tasted it, life eternal and abundant. But in that day, we will experience the fullness of his salvation. Glorified at last—entering the glorious freedom of the children of God. Entering into the fullness of our inheritance as adopted children of God; bodies redeemed and glorified (Rom 8:20-25). This is our blessed hope.

Lord, we wait in hope for your coming and look forward to receiving the fullness of our inheritance. Amen.