One sacrifice for sins forever… Sometimes I just repeat that phrase over and over. Do I really get? Is it possible to ever uncover how perfect the work of Jesus is for me? Will I ever truly understand the reality that my repeated offerings (even subconsciously) could never purge a single sin? It is finished!
“Every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10:11-12)1
Here are a few things to take note of in this passage:
“Every priest stands.” The only seat in the Holy of Holies was the Mercy Seat, and that was reserved for the blood of the sacrifice. The priest could not sit because the work was never finished.
“Offering repeatedly.” Why? Because the offerings only worked temporarily.
“One sacrifice.” Jesus offered ONE sacrifice for sins because the first time worked!
“Forever.” How long did the sacrifice of Jesus work? Eternally.
He “sat down.” After He offered the sacrifice, Jesus sat down because the work was finished!
“At the right hand of God.” He sat down at the right hand of God because that is the position of honor, power, acquittal, blessing, righteousness, and AUTHORITY.
Stop for a minute and recall the meaning of this truth for us today: no amount of confessing sin, promising to do better, praying, fasting, serving, giving, or any other work can add to what Jesus did! Anything good that we do should be IN RESPONSE to this great act of love! IT IS FINISHED!
“…when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3)
Jesus BY HIMSELF purged our sins without any help from us!
In Hebrews 10:12, it says that Jesus sat down at the right hand of God as “this Man.”
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the MAN Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all…” (1 Timothy 2:5-6, emphasis mine)
Although Jesus is eternally God, it was as the “Man Christ Jesus” that He died for us. It was as the “Man Christ Jesus” that He rose for us. It is as the “Man Christ Jesus” that mediates for us at the right hand of God the Father.
(from pages 314-315 of Unveiling Jesus)
Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!
Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.
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1All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
