Bible Bites
The One and Final Sacrifice for Sin
Sin has plagued the human race for quite some time. Adam had no idea of the far-reaching consequences of his choice to deliberately act against God by pleasing himself in Eden’s beautiful garden. Had he been able to look down the corridor of time to see the carnage and darkness his one rebellious act would cause, would he have slammed on the brakes? I doubt it. Sin is such a selfish monster and sinning is such a selfish act. Usually we are blinded by the temptation of the moment.
From that original age of innocence in the Garden of Eden down through the millennia, God tested the human race under various conditions and frameworks – often referred to as dispensations. Sin was such a potent and deadly force we proved repeatedly that we were fundamentally flawed and incapable of helping ourselves. Sin is such a tyrant!
Down through those very same ages people and their representatives made multiple and repeated sacrifices for sin. Innocent animals by the thousands were slaughtered and rivers of blood flowed from personal and communal altars. But the blood of all those sacrifices was only a temporary solution – not permanent. The problem of sin persisted. All the blood of all the animals of all times could never effectively once-for-all deal with sin.
Finally, the pivotal point of all the ages arrived.
“He has appeared once for all
at the end of the ages
to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
Hebrews 9:26
The story behind the Epistle to the Hebrews is that some of the people after 33AD who had been introduced to Christ as the only solution for sin were starting to crave the old way of doing things. Their thinking reverted back to the fleshly desire to see things with their own two eyes in order to believe. There was something very tangible and visible about watching the ritual sacrificing of sheep and goats. Somehow, if they could only see their religious people in robes splattering fresh blood in elaborate ceremonies it would seem more real than that one time Calvary experience.
Have you ever thought you’d feel better if you could see something with your own two eyes – rather than, by faith, appreciating the Lord Jesus Christ? Is Calvary growing dim in your experience? Is the value and appreciation of His sacrifice upon the Cross losing its original appeal?
Hebrews 9:26 tells us there are no more sacrifices to be made for sin. It’s all over. Final and complete. His sacrificial death was a Once-Forever sacrifice. No other sacrifices can be offered or are of any merit. His death will never have to be repeated. He did it ONCE! The problem of sin was dealt with once-for-all and based on His sacrifice for sin every one of my sins can be forgiven.
My past sins, my present sins today and my future sins tomorrow were fully answered for in that one sacrifice at Calvary. Based on that one sacrifice, God offers a full, free and forever forgiveness of sins.
Is it any wonder that Jesus cried from the Cross with a loud voice: “IT IS FINISHED!” John 19:30. Victoriously He cried: “Paid in Full!” Have you thanked God again today for that sacrifice?
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay