Once Was Enough

Did you ever do something that hurts, or taste something so bad that you wanted to spit it out immediately? You probably thought, if not said out loud, “once was enough” because you never planned to do that again. “Once was enough” usually has bad connotations when said by us mortals. But when it comes from the one who spoke creation into existence, we probably should take notice.

I’m glad He didn’t say once was enough

when He destroyed the earth with a flood. Or when he considers which sin of mine deserves immediate judgment. But He did say it once, and it changed history. Remember how the Old Testament priests had to daily offer sacrifices “time after time” for their own sins and the sins of the Israelites (Heb. 10:11)? I guess in one sense it was job security for the priests. But then Jesus shows up, and His coming to earth was a game-changer on many levels.

Our last post, No Middleman,

tells one of the biggest changes that opened our access directly to the Father. We’re told in Scripture, “By this [the new covenant in Christ’s blood] will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Heb. 10:10). And again in Hebrews 10:14, “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”

Why did He do it?

1 Pet. 3:18 gives us the answer. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” How do we know that once was enough for God? Again Peter, “For when He [Jesus] received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased’” (2 Pet. 1:17).

God never goes back on His word.

We can take it to the bank. There never has to be another sacrifice for sins. With God’s Son, once was enough to cover every sin of every person of all time. And it’s a gift to you and me. Free. No strings. For eternity with Christ in heaven. So what’s the catch? It’s not a catch. It’s an attitude adjustment. Recognize our sin and our inability to pay the debt, and accept humbly that Jesus paid it for us. Do that and your slate is wiped clean. Don’t do that and, well, there are consequences you won’t like. Thanks for reading.