Skip to main content

Once for All Forgiveness - Part-1

Picture the scene. An Israelite camp in the desert, several thousand years ago. The tabernacle, pitched on top of a hill in the center of the camp. The high priest, running down the hillside shouting that he has found the perfect spotless lamb, which will be sacrificed on behalf of all the people, taking care of their sins for the rest of their lives.

Imagine the excitement! After that one final sacrifice, all the men of Israel gather to begin tearing down the tabernacle. Then they move on with a whole new way of life.

 No longer do they have to worry about sacrifices to clean up their track record. Instead, they can live guilt-free, knowing that a perfect lamb has done away with their sins once and for all.

 Of course, this never happened. Instead, what we see is the Israelites having to offer animal sacrifices over and over throughout their history, because no single sacrifice was sufficient to perfectly cleanse them. Hebrews explains clearly:
“[The law] can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.” — Hebrews 10:1–2

Although we never read of an Old Testament priest finding the perfect lamb, this announcement was, in fact, made. When? Not long before the sacrifice that would initiate the New. Upon seeing Jesus, John the Baptist declared, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

 Today, we have a perfect Lamb in the person of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice rendered the temple ceremonies null and void. There’s no longer any purpose for the tabernacle, the temple, or the daily sacrifices.

 Because Jesus Christ’s sacrifice cleansed us once for all, not repeatedly over time, there’s no method or procedure required for us to remain forgiven. We’re invited to depend on the onetime sacrifice as the means to lifelong forgiveness, without any strings attached: “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

 Today, we have a perfect Lamb in the person of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice rendered the temple ceremonies null and void. There’s no longer any purpose for the tabernacle, the temple, or the daily sacrifices.

 Because Jesus Christ’s sacrifice cleansed us once for all, not repeatedly over time, there’s no method or procedure required for us to remain forgiven. We’re invited to depend on the onetime sacrifice as the means to lifelong forgiveness, without any strings attached: “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Blessings

I am created for blessing. As a result, I am fruitful in every good thing and I multiply and increase in blessing. Because my God has blessed me, no curse can touch me. In the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of His blood, I decree His covenant of blessing around my life and all that pertains to me. Nothing but blessing is permitted to come into my life or sphere of influence. If the enemy attempts to attack me, he will be caught in the act and pay sevenfold what he stole and then I will plunder his house, for I only accept blessing. His attempts create testimonies of God’s increased blessings in my life. Like Abraham, I am blessed and am called to be a blessing. Through my life in Jesus, nations are blessed. Blessings come upon me and overtake me. Blessings are attracted to me. I am a blessing magnet. I am blessed coming in and blessed going out. I am blessed in the city and blessed in the field. The heavens are open over my life and  the rain of God’s abundant goodness falls...
Post a Comment
Read more

Intimacy with the Most High

Intimacy With the Most High How important is it to us to dwell in the place of communion with God? What price will we pay to experience the presence and glory of God? That I may know Him Philippians 3:7-11 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Apostle Paul made “knowing Christ” His primary passion. He laid aside everything else s...
Post a Comment
Read more

THE POWER OF THE WORD

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.  EPHESIANS 3:9 Another unfathomable treasure we have obtained as believers is the revelation of the immeasurable power of God’s Word. This revelation begins with understanding that God “created all things by Jesus Christ.” Like the “fellowship of the mystery,” in these few words we are presented with a truth that is foolishness to the natural mind.  All of creation is the work of Jesus Christ because He is the living Word of God, and God created all things by His Word. John the apostle began his account of the Gospel with this same truth: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  JOHN 1:1-3 And the Word was made flesh,...
Post a Comment
Read more