Once and for all - Hebrews 9

But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:26-28

I think that this “once and for all” theme continues through the chapters of Hebrews. The all is in reference to sins from the foundation of the world forward to the cross…and any and all sin from the cross into eternity. The last verse even states that when Jesus comes back….his second coming will NOT be in reference to sin….that’s already been taken care of….but he will be coming in all his glory…..not in the body of a man. (Titus 2:13)

The beginning of this chapter talks about the tabernacle and the Holy and the Most Holy Place….the priests and the processes and the blood, atoning for the sins of the priest and any sin that his people had committed in ignorance.

The one thing that really stands out to me is that the priest….in no way could forgive his own sin. He couldn’t say enough hail marys, our fathers or do penance. As a matter of fact, the last thing the priest would do before heading into the Holy of Holies is tie a rope around his leg…..just in case he had any unconfessed sin. If he did….he would die…and the rope was to pull his dead body out of the Holiest Place.

Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. Jesus didn’t die to impart special favor to some, to dole out to others….he died to do away with sin, once and for all.