Once and for All Recap

Pastor Rod said, of course, as we read in the text, but he said again that Jesus’ sacrifice was once and for all. Even though the author of the book of Hebrews is unknown, Jesus is seen as being superior, greater than, better than Moses and the angels, the prophets. He is God Himself. Jesus’ sacrifice was enough. Unlike the sacrifices that were mentioned in the book of Leviticus—the sacrifices of bulls and goats that had to be offered for the sins of the people—but yet it was never enough. But he said, Jesus—Jesus’ sacrifice was one time and for all. And that, of course, is right in our text from Hebrews chapter 9:24, and it says, “For Christ did not enter holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” And somebody say amen to that.

And He now lives right now to make intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25: “Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Thank God that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is making intercession for us, and we do need it daily.

Nor was it to offer Himself repeatedly, as the high priest who entered the holy places. For Christ has entered not into the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself. He offered Himself once and for all. Once and for all.

Have you ever used that phrase, “once and for all”? I know you’ve heard it many times throughout your lifetime. And maybe there are times when you got to a place where you said, “I’m done with this once and for all.” I know somebody on this line understands exactly what I’m saying. I’ve said it myself.

Sometimes there are relationships you need to end, and you don’t need to go back there again. Sometimes it’s a habit that you have that’s detrimental to your spiritual life. It could even be detrimental to your health. And you say, “I’m done with this once and for all.”

Sometimes a parent has spoken to a child and said, “Come on. This is it. Once and for all.” But Jesus Christ did it on a whole other level. When He went to that cross, He shed His own holy blood. He only had to do it once for us—once and for all. The writer said the high priest had to go into the holy place every year to offer sacrifices, and he had to go in with the blood that was not his own.

You find that in Leviticus chapter 16. The high priest’s blood was not enough to cover the sins of the people, but he went in with the blood of bulls and goats to atone for their sins.

Israel different from the other nations around them. The nations around them practiced human sacrifices. This was not acceptable to God. After all, it was God that gave the command regarding the bulls, the shedding of the blood and the presentation of the blood of bulls and goats.

But the nations around them practiced human sacrifices—Deuteronomy 12:31. Human life, was valued. It was worthy. Humans are made with a certain dignity, made in the image of God.

In Genesis, what did God say? We all know Genesis 1:26. It says, “Let Us make man in Our own image.” In the image of God.

So we have value. We have dignity. God wants us to walk with dignity and to know that we are highly valued.

God’s people were required to sacrifice animals to atone for their sins, but because the blood of goats, was not enough to appease the wrath of God, Jesus Christ, by sacrificing Himself, put away sin once and for all.

And Jesus appeared at the right time, at the end of the ages.

John 3:16—which we know backwards and forwards. If we’re witnessing to others and maybe it’s your first time, you can just quote John 3:16. And we can tell them, “For God so loved you.” And encourage them: when you read in the Bible “for God so loved the world,” that means you.

So you can start with John 3:16. But Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross. And Jesus had to put away sin. He had to be the sacrifice Himself. God did not spare His own begotten Son.

Even when the Son said, “Father—if it be possible”—God did not spare His only begotten Son. He gave Him on the cross. Jesus cried out, “My God, My God”, we cannot even begin to comprehend the weight of that sin on Jesus on the cross. He said, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34.

And He was bleeding in agony—a slow, methodical, torturing death. A crown of thorns was placed on His head and pressed in. And the New King James Version said, “And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” It was placed above His head in mockery by the Jews. But He said, He didn’t come to be just the King of the Jews, He said, “My kingdom is not of this world,” John 18:36.

And what does it say again in Hebrews 9:26? He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and by His blood, and He only had to do it one time. Oh, there’s power in the blood of Jesus. There’s power in the name of Jesus.

And just as it is appointed unto man once to die, and then comes the judgment—Hebrews 9:27. So Christ had an appointment with death.

And Pastor Rod said, the people that struggle with mental health come into the house of God. Yes, that’s where they need to come. They need to come.

And he said “for those of you who may be struggling with mental health, and sometimes you hear a voice in your head saying, you’re not worth anything. You’re washed up. You’re finished. God won’t forgive you of that sin”—I encourage you, if you know someone, encourage them that the devil is a liar. Jesus died because you were worthy. You were worthy of Him sacrificing everything.

What about those thieves on both sides of Him? And the one that turned to Him in faith, and He said, “This day you will be with Me in paradise.” You are worthy. You are precious.

So he encouraged those that were struggling with mental health.

None of us knows what we are going to go through in life. And he reminded us, none of us knows when we’re going to die. We all have a date with death. None of us knows. We may say by the end of this day, it could be by the end of this hour. So we need to live prepared. Live prepared. Live ready. Amen? I’m speaking to myself.

And after death—what?

The Bible says then cometh the judgment. We hear that at almost every funeral we go to: “It’s appointed unto man once to die, and after this comes the judgment.”

So before you get ready to do that thing you know you should not be doing once and for all, let it go. Let it go. And if you’re not right with God this morning, before you come off this prayer line “Lord, have mercy on me. Forgive me. You know that sin I keep running back to? Forgive me.” Let’s stop calling it a weakness. Forgive me. And, Lord, I repent. We gotta repent and turn. Amen.

So death is not the end.

Jesus Christ offered Himself once to bear the sins of many. But He will appear a second time not to deal with sin, He’s coming for His bride.

For those who are not ready to meet God, you will stand before the judgment, and you are not going to get a second chance. That’s not the place to come and get whiter than snow.

No—get it right now. Right now. Get right with God, and do it now. Now.

I’m encouraging somebody this morning.

Come on. For those who are eagerly waiting and you are watching —are you waiting and watching this morning? Sin has already been dealt with.

And when we come to Jesus Christ and we confess our sins—you can’t enumerate them, because you can’t remember them all, and neither can I—but when you confess your sins and you come in true repentance, God knows your heart. Give it up. Let it go. Let it go.

The people that come into the house of God and they’ve gotten comfortable enough with sin that when the altar call is given, they don’t even feel a tremor—not even a tremor—’cause they’ve gotten comfortable with sin.

But I want to encourage you this morning: get right with God. There are some who are going to mourn. Let that not be you. Let that not be me, in Jesus’ name.

So let’s look. Let’s be looking. Let’s be found watching and waiting.

Remember, as I end here: Jesus Christ died once and for all for our sins. So we can celebrate it, and we can rejoice.

But those of you that need to get it right, I encourage you to do it now.

I pray for those on the line that may be in the valley of decision. Father, it may seem difficult for them to break off that relationship. Some are seeing people in secret, but whatever is done in secret will be exposed sooner or later. If not before us, Father, You already see.

So, Father, I pray for anyone dabbling in sin that once and for all this morning they would make up in their minds, through the power of the Holy Spirit—Father—that You would send conviction, and that they would repent and turn.

And, Father, for those of us that need to move on to higher heights and deeper depths, You grant us the grace and the strength, Father God.

We thank You. This is a very serious subject—once and for all—that we can make up in our minds by the power of the Holy Spirit. We’re moving onward, in Jesus’ name.

Oh, Father God, we give Your name the glory and the honor and the praise, in Jesus’ name, amen.