Bible Studies

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The New Testament Book of Hebrews was written to new Jewish converts to Christianity. They were accustomed to their former religious traditions and beliefs. Their most important belief was that temporary sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins were made by human priests. The new belief was that Jesus is the perfect “high priest” who offers once and for all forgiveness. This is the subject of Hebrews, chapters 7-10. The words “once and for all” or words similar to that, are used seven times in this section.

     This section opens in 7:26 with these words: “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up Himself.“

     Next is written in 9:12-14, “Jesus entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.“

     After this is 9:26-28. Jesus “appeared once for all at the end of the ages  to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 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 eagerly wait for him.”

     We now turn our attention to 10:10. “...we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” This continues in verse 11: “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifice, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God (vs 12). For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (vs 14). 

     Dr. David Jeremiah says this in his notes concerning verse 12: “The OT high priest never sat down because his work of interceding before God for the sins of the people was never complete. But this priest, Jesus Christ, sat down at the right hand of God-at his place in glory-after he offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, effectively declaring: Mission accomplished.”*

    This section of Hebrews closes with these encouraging and comforting words from 10:19-23:”Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,...and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our  hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

     Christians, we have much for which to rejoice, don’t we, in our once for all salvation! 

     *The Jeremiah Study Bible, page 1710

(All citations in this article are from the English Standard Version).

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