October 14, 2004

THE ONCE-FOR-ALL SACRIFICE

"Who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself" (Hebrews 7:27, NKJV).

One of the monumental truths of the redemption story is the finality of Christ's sacrifice for the human race. In this title, "The Once-For-All Sacrifice," this truth is vividly portrayed.

At the cross, the Lamb of God offered Himself as a single, final, and efficacious sacrifice for the sin of the whole world. In Him the whole sacrificial system of Israel ended. Type met anti-type. The repeated offerings of animal sacrifices terminated when the veil of the temple was split wide open (see Matthew 27:51). This significant action occurred at the precise moment as the priest, dressed in his priestly attire, stood with lifted knife to slay the sacrificial lamb. At that dramatic moment, Jesus cried with a loud voice, "It is finished!" (John 19:30, NKJV). The once-for-all sacrifice was made, never to be repeated again. Jesus had completed every step in the great plan of redemption precisely according to God's divine time table (see Luke 2:49).

In that once-for-all sacrifice, the spotless Lamb of God died for every man, woman, and child who ever lived (see John 3:16). His vicarious death provided for all the sins of all humanity once for all. By this single redemptive act all who believe have full and complete salvation. "As the rock had been once smitten, so Christ was to be 'once offered, to bear the sins of many'... Our Saviour was not to be sacrificed a second time. As the great offering was made but once, it is only necessary for those who seek the blessings of His grace to ask in Jesus' name,... to pour forth the heart's desires in penitential prayer."--Signs of the Times, January 7, 1880.

My Prayer Today: Lord, I thank You for Your once-for-all sacrifice. In You, my salvation is settled. Amen.