As we enter into another Memorial Day Weekend, we remember those who fought for us and sacrificed for us in wars to maintain our freedom. It is good that we do this every year. My father and uncle both fought in WWII and I am proud of them.
But God’s Word reminds us of the greatest sacrifice for our spiritual freedom. The last few epistles (letters) of the New Testament remind us of this with the words “Once for All”.
In Hebrews 7:27 we are reminded that Jesus died “once for all”, sacrificing himself for our sins. Then he entered the Holy of Holies in heaven “once for all” by his blood and as our High Priest (9:12). Hebrews then reminds us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (13:8)
Jude, the Lord’s half-brother, writes that we are to “contend for the faith once for all delivered (entrusted) to the saints.” Jude 3. Just a few decades after Jesus, some were already using God’s grace as an excuse for immorality. We must remember that Jude is talking about the early church’s definition of morality, based on the Old Testament, not the culture around them at the time.
Today we should remember that the biblical gospel was given “once for all”; that Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever, and that God’s definition of morality hasn’t changed. Jesus is not some 21st century product of man’s imagination or wishful thinking. What was sin in his day is still sin. But the good news is that he is still the one who saves us from sin. The good news of the early church is still good news today; Jesus appeared “once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Heb. 9:27
This same Jesus and the same power that raised him from the dead is available to us today. Receive him while you can. The text from Hebrews 9:28 continues: “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.”
Furthermore, once for all Jesus replaced the sacrificial system to make us holy before God. (Heb. 10:10). That’s a lot of once for all’s! He forgives, He makes us holy, He intercedes for us in the heavenly holy of holies (the throne of God). Let us contend for this truth together. Many have compromised this or tried to water it down. But the Scriptures show us the true Jesus, the true Gospel, and the true faith. Don’t settle for anything less. Finally, we should beware of heresies and false teachings that have always challenged true doctrine, and continue to arise in our day.
One memorial we get to observe every week is communion. We are thankful to have this time to take bread and wine “in remembrance of Him.” We observe his sacrifice regularly, knowing that it was given once for all! And so, each time we do it, we remember Him and our forgiveness because of His shed blood. We also realize that He is always interceding for us as our great High Priest in the Holy of Holies.
Lord, thank you for times of remembrance. Thank you for those who have gone before us and sacrificed in any way or many ways for our country, our freedom, and our safety. Thank you for examples that were set for us. Thank you for those, as Lincoln said, “who gave their last full measure of devotion.”
Thank you for our Savior and great High Priest, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Thank you for His sacrifice “once for all” on the cross. Thank you that “he who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might have the righteousness of God.”
Thank you for communion and a church that regularly observes it. It gives us the chance to examine ourselves before the Lord Jesus and apply His blood to our sins for cleansing. We thank you that as we confess our sins, you are faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.