Once for All Time

Walter Henegar | May 12, 2024

Hebrews 10:1-18 (ESV)

1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,

but a body have you prepared for me;

6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.

7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,

as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”

17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Sermon Summary

If Christians are permanently, perfectly forgiven, why don't we feel it? Hebrews 10 suggests that we still tend to lean on the old repetitive patterns of the law, including Baton Theology (Jesus saves us, and we take it from there), A Debtor's Ethic (we earn our ongoing forgiveness), and Gamifying God (we try to measure our performance rather than lean into his love). Because Jesus completed the work of redemption once for all time, none of these efforts work. Yet this very fact then becomes our greatest motivation to hate sin and love righteousness. Liberated from the burden of satisfying God's justice and indwelt by his own Spirit, we can progressively become more like him in practice.

Discussion Questions

What stood out or stuck with you from the sermon?
Do you personally struggle with feeling forgiven by God? If so, why? To the extent that you feel comfortable, share your experience with the group.
Which of the three distortions do you tend to drift into: Baton Theology, Debtor’s Ethic, or Gamifying God? Describe a situation where one or more of them shows up in your life.
Pick a favorite phrase from the passage. Why do you appreciate it? What does it tell your heart that you don’t always believe?

Resources Consulted

Africa Bible Commentary, ed. Tokunboh Adeyowo
African-American Bible Commentary, ed. Brian K. Blount
ESV Study Bible, ed. Lane T. Dennis
The Message of Hebrews, Raymond Brown
Hebrews for Everyone, NT Wright
Hebrews Crossway Classic Commentary, John Owen
Hebrews Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, Mary Healey
NIGTC Commentary on Hebrews, Paul Ellingworth
NIC Commentary on Hebrews, Philip Edgecombe Hughes
Hope Ain’t a Hustle, Irwyn Ince
Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul, R. Kent Hughes