Once… for all!

​

And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10

The doctrine of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ has fallen on hard times of late. There are a lot of churches that used to be biblically faithful that avoid the gospel in favor of “feel good” messages of social activism and human effort. But to deny this doctrine is to deny the gospel and clear biblical teaching. Jesus is the final sacrifice to atone for all sin, for all time, for all people… everywhere. It doesn’t get any more direct than this verse here in Hebrews 10:10! God willed that we would be made holy by Jesus offering His body as a once for all final sacrifice for sin. This is our salvation! There is no other way. There is no more important truth.

Critics sinfully accuse God the Father of being an indifferent “child-abuser” by putting His Son to death on that cross. But what is forgotten with that bold lie is two-fold: 1) the “wrath of God” is not capricious or violent like human anger often is. God’s wrath is an eternal displeasure against what is unholy. And it must deal with sin because He is absolutely righteous and just. Jesus became the sacrifice of love for the world, given by God the Father, so that faith in Him and His complete sacrifice would save those who come by faith. Love was the motivation, not some kind of divine fit of rage! 2) Jesus gave Himself freely to the cost. He told His disciples in advance. He was not “abused” by God, but by the people He came to save. And He gave Himself humbly to the indignity, to the rejection, to the scourges, and to the nails so that we might enter His family and find full relief from sin, death, and hell!

An old hymn speaks this doctrine better than many made impotent by social and politically correct idolatry:

Now we are free, there’s no condemnation

Jesus provides our perfect salvation

Come unto me, O hear His sweet call

Come, and He saves us, once for all.

Once for all, oh sinner, receive it;

Once for all, oh child, believe it;

Cling to the cross, the burden will fall;

Christ has redeemed us, once for all!