Once For All

When Jesus gave his life on Calvary, he gave his life as a sin offering for all in Adam. This was a one time offering for all the sins of mankind inherent in Adam, and the entire race of mankind that was to descend from him throughout the ages. When Jesus gave his life as the offering for sin -- and God accepted it, a perfect life for a perfect life -- there would never have to be a need for any subsequent offering for sin on the part of anyone or any group. Jesus’ offering was once for all.

The Scriptures illustrate, in several passages, that Jesus’ sin offering was given only once, and that on the one occasion only. The clearest presentation of this is found in the Book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 7:27 - “Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for

the people: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.”

(KJV)

Hebrews 9:12 - “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (KJV)

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

The word “once,” is Strong’s #2178, “ephapax.” It is from #1909 and #530, with the full meaning of, “upon one occasion only.” Driver’s definition of this word specifies the thought of, “all at once,” or “once for all.” The NAS renders these three verses more precisely, clearly showing the one time sin offering of Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 7:27 -- “Who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” (NAS)

Hebrews 9:12 -- “and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” (NAS)

Hebrews 10:10 – “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (NAS)

The word is used two other times in the New Testament, both showing finality and singularity. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, shows that Jesus’ offering for sin -- his death on the Cross -- was once for all. When Jesus died, the sin offering for the world was complete:

Romans 6:10 (KJV) - “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.”

Romans 6:10 (NAS) - “For the death that He died, He died unto sin, once for all: but the life that He lives, He lives to God.”

The final use of this word, once, is in the resurrection Chapter, 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul recounts several occasions on which the resurrected Jesus was seen. His last appearance to a large crowd of witnesses was the conclusion of his various appearances when he was seen by more than five hundred at a single time:

1 Cor. 15:6 (KJV) - “After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”

1 Cor. 15:6 (NAS) - “After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.”

Four times the word, “ephapax,” is used with respect to Jesus’ sin offering. Its use stresses the singularity and the finality of his sacrifice for sin. The other one time the word is used shows the singularity of His appearance that was seen simultaneously by more than five hundred people.

“Ephapax” is grammatically a stronger version of the source word, Strong’s #530, which itself has the similar thought of singularity. Peter, again demonstrating the once for all characteristic of Jesus’ sin offering, says:

1 Peter 3:18 (KJV) - “For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”

1 Peter 3:18 (NAS) - “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit.”

When Jesus Christ gave Himself on Calvary, He had completed His life of full obedience to the will of God. He willingly gave that life to satisfy God’s justice, which was required for Adam’s disobedience to the will of God. By His death on Calvary, Jesus fulfilled several prophecies with this final act of obedience:

John 19:30 - “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (KJV)

The Greek word rendered “it is finished,” is Strong’s #5055, “teleo,” and has the meaning of, end, done, execute or complete. It is sometimes used to signify the discharge of a debt. Thus, Jesus’ sin offering was the final and concluding sin offering, opening up a new and living way.

The conclusion that Jesus made the only offering for sin and that it was once for all, is further strengthened by such scriptures as:

Heb. 10:12 - “but he, having offered up one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.” (NAS)

Heb. 10:18 - “Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer (any) offering for sin.” (NAS)

Jesus died once for all, paying the price in full, with no remaining offering required in God’s Plan to satisfy justice. One day soon, when God’s promise to bless all the families of the earth is fulfilled, mankind will say, as John the Baptist once declared on the banks of the River Jordan, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

Herb Snyder

Free from the law, O happy condition!

Jesus has bled and there is remission:

Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,

Grace has redeemed us once for all!

Chorus

Once for all, O sinner, receive it!

Once for all, O brother, believe it!

Cling to the cross, the burden will fall

Christ has redeemed us once for all!

Philip P. Bliss