ONCE FOR ALL
ONCE FOR ALL
HEBREWS 10:11-18
We read here of the work of the Son and the witness of the Holy Spirit.
On a number of occasions the author has insisted that Christ suffered once and for all, and this is the central point of this passage. Once again we are reminded that the Levitical priests offered repeatedly and that their sacrifices were totally unable to deal with sin (10:11). In contrast, Christ offered “for all time a single sacrifice for sins” (10:12). Since his sacrifice really deals with sins there is no need and no place for a repetition.
The same point is brought out in a different way when the author speaks of Christ as sitting down at God’s right hand. This imagery is repeated a number of times in the New Testament. It is, of course, a metaphor, for we cannot conceive of spirits as having literal right hands or of adopting a sitting posture. But the meaning of the metaphor is important. Sitting is the posture of rest. It indicates that the One sitting has completed his work. The fact that Christ is seated means that the work of salvation is accomplished. Nothing can be added to its perfection. The fact that he is at the right hand of God means that he is in the place of highest honor. No longer is he despised and rejected. He is in the chief place in all of heaven.
Our author’s interest in forgiveness is seen in the way he quotes Jeremiah chapter 31. In chapter 8 of this letter he has quoted fully. Now he has the opening words about the new covenant, but omits a considerable section as he goes straight on to those about forgiveness. The new covenant is what really brings forgiveness. The same point is brought out in another way when he speaks of Christ as having “perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (10:14). The sanctified are those set apart for God by Christ’s one offering. They are perfected because their sins are put away and they see them no more. This is for all time, for nothing more is needed. And we come back to this thought at the end with the reminder that where sins are forgiven there is no more offering for sin (10:18): nothing can be added to perfection.