ONCE FOR ALL

It was necessary, then for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things with better sacrifices than these. 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 before 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 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. Just as people are destined to die once, after that face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many, and He will appear the second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation for those who are waiting for Him. (Heb. 9:23-27).

Isn’t it comforting to know that sin has been dealt with and done away with, once and for all? Once – that’s all it took for Jesus to do a complete and final work of salvation by being the sacrifice to which all other sacrifices pointed. There is no need ever again for an animal to be killed in the vain hope that its blood will deal with sin.

What about all the sacrifices that are still being offered by people who hope that animal blood will atone for their sin? A vain and futile hope since it is only the blood of Jesus than can take away sin. How tragic that people either do not know or do not want to know that their sins have been forgiven and will be removed from God’s record book once for all if they would only accept what He has done for them.

There are major religions in the world, including the religion of God’s own people, who fiercely defend the right to be wrong, even to the death, their own or others, if necessary. How many millions have been sacrificed for Jesus on the altar of lies because people refuse to believe and receive the truth? Why? Because false religions, not matter what they teach as long as they dodge the truth, are spawned by the devil so that, at least for a season, he will get the worship he craves.

He leers at the worshippers from behind the mask of every grotesque so-called god, be it carved in stone or engraved on people’s minds, no matter how vile or cruel that god happens to be. Whatever human minds conjure up to worship, they are all mere copies of themselves at their worst – and that’s how the devil likes it. Fear! Hold people in bondage by fear, and they will fight to the shedding of their own blood if necessary, to defend their fear.

What god would demand that his worshipper strap explosives around himself or even a little child, in order to murder as many people as possible, for the right to be wrong? What god would take delight in watching three masked and armed men pointing machine guns at the head of an innocent child because his parents refuse to deny the truth? What god would demand the death of a child by crucifixion to defend the lies they persist in believing?

What god would perpetuate the lie that filthy river water, which cannot even cleanse the body, would be able to wash the soul clean of sin? What god would demand the futile exercise of endless rituals in the hope that he would be satisfied, when they know in their hearts that their enough is never enough?

There is only one true God – the One whose name is Father. He sent His Son, not to take but to give. He knew that there was nothing His sinful children could do to atone for their sin or meet the demands of His holy nature. He is the only God of true justice and true mercy. No one could live up to His holy standards so He came Himself. He lived as a human being in the midst of temptation and sin, subject to the same conditions as His people.

He was killed for being right, but He rose from the dead to prove He was right. Now He offers forgiveness because He took His own blood into the heavenly sanctuary and washed away the sin of the world. Justice has been satisfied. Now mercy prevails, once for all. What other god did that?

Death comes to all people, once, and then it’s over. Judgment! In the light of God’s radiant purity and holiness, no one will escape. He will not need to utter one word. God is not the accuser. He is the justifier. Everyone who has embraced His mercy will receive mercy because they have already been justified – acquitted because of the blood of Jesus. It’s a done deal.

The devil himself will be exposed for the liar he is. Jesus did that when He died, innocent as He was, as though He were a criminal. Every knee shall bow, Satan too, because his is not Lord, never was and never will be. Jesus is Lord! Those who bowed the knee to fake gods will go with him – to where he belongs. How tragic that they believed the liar!

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.