Burn Your White Flags (Hebrews)Sýnishorn

I remember one of my kids asking me: “Why do I need to have a shower if I’m going to get dirty again?” 

Now I had to make a decision about what the motivating force behind this question was. Was he just wanting to not shower? Was he pondering the depths of philosophical existentialism as he mused on the cyclical nature of his experience and life? 

I’m still not sure, but I sent him for a shower nevertheless.

We think we move on from this wrestle as we grow in our faith, but we still grapple with our text: Jesus died for our sins, but what about new sins that I commit? Does Jesus need to sacrifice himself again … and again … and again?

There is a phrase that resurfaces throughout the book of Hebrews which is driving home one of the central themes of the entire book: “once for all” (7:27, 9:12, 10:10) with other phrases used to explain the finality of Jesus’s sacrifice throughout. 

The purposes of God in the life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus happened once for all. This means that your past sin has been dealt with, the sin you are struggling with in the present moment no longer condemns you, and the sin you will struggle with in the future has already been forgiven. 

And when Jesus appears, we will not only be free from the penalty of sin, the weakening power of sin over our lives will be fully and finally eradicated. 

This is good news! God offers us freedom from the penalty, power, and (one day) presence of sin! 

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