ONCE FOR ALL
Suggested Reading: Hebrews 9-10
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Tabernacle of Moses replica can be visited at Timna Park in the Jordan Valley in Israel. You can see the divide of the Holy of Holies curtain through the Holy Place. The Golden Lampstand is on the left, and the Table of Showbread on the right. This picture illustrates the first five verses of today's reading.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Hebrews 9:12
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
In 100words.ca we have taken note of repeated words which help us to understand the “main point!” (Hebrews 8:1). In today’s reading “once” is repeated several times. In the Old Covenant, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies “once a year” (9:7) with the blood of animals, but now “ONCE FOR ALL.” Hebrews 9:7 tells us that “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.” Our Lord Jesus cried out from the cross, “It is finished!!!” Hebrews 10:12 tells us that “He offered one sacrifice for sins forever.” Then He “sat down at the right hand of God.” The words “sat down” indicates that the work is complete. Hallelujah! Believe it and rest in full confidence of salvation as believers in Jesus!
We have read words here in Hebrews 10, as well as back in Hebrews 6, such as “If they fall away…it is impossible…to renew them again to repentance…” (Heb 6:4-6), and Hebrews 10:26 which tells us, “If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” How are we to understand this and maintain the assurance of our eternal salvation? Remember, Hebrews is addressed to Jewish believers in Jesus who faced tremendous pressure to return to traditional Judaism and the animal sacrifices which, as these words were being written, were still being presented daily in the Temple in Jerusalem. This continued up until the Temple’s destruction in 70 A. D. The writer wants his readers to understand that since Jesus cried, “It is finished,” those sacrifices were null and void. If a person goes back to trusting those sacrifices, as Judaism taught, there is no eternal salvation there. This is why the last verse of today’s reading tells us, “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition [back to trusting the animal sacrifices], but of those who believe [in the once for all offering of Jesus] to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:39).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray for Your ministry gifts to enable me, more clearly than ever, to share with others the “once for all” salvation which gives me such confidence. May I fall into the loving, saving, nail-scarred hands of Jesus, trusting Him alone. I know that without Jesus it would indeed be “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!” (Hebrews 10:31). With complete assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ, I pray this in His Name! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I believe that God wants me to have as a goal putting my thoughts down in as close to 100 words as possible. That goal keeps me much more brief that would otherwise be the case. When my Pastor stands before our congregation to preach and teach the Word of God, I expect several thousand words. Rev. Kevin Shepherd has excellent gifts from the Holy Spirit which enable him to fulfill his ministry. I am faithful in attendance. I’m very mindful of Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” I presume the writer is referring to the Day of the return of Christ!
I think that this blog and other daily devotionals are supplemental to the teaching and preaching of my Pastor. “Assembling of ourselves together” is the main thing!!!
Yours to help us all to “Hold fast [firmly] the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful!!!”,
David
P.S. Our television network stations, the Crossroads Television System, are unique in approach to sharing the Good News of Jesus. There is great variety in the content. For example, the entertainment shows draw people to watch CTS who would not tune into a 100% Gospel ministry channel. With a broad appeal to a wide audience, there is much more “new good ground” (as in Jesus’ parable of the sower) in which to sow the seed of God’s Word. Here are some of the things happening on CTS for the Christmas season. This is the time of year when many who would not otherwise watch Christian content are open to do so. Let’s spread the Good News!
Here is a summertime photo of the Crossroads Centre in Burlington, Ontario, with "CTS" on the big rock out front. This is the home of the Crossroads' Ministry and of the Crossroads Television Network. The architect took the inspiration for this design from the victorian buildings which used to be on Huntley Street downtown Toronto. On the plaque at the bottom of the rock is the Scripture, "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16).
The Brazen Altar is placed before the replica of Moses' Tabernacle. You can see the Timna Cliffs and wilderness in the distance. The actual tabernacle was pitched in the wilderness by the children of Israel, taken down and moved many times. Hebrews 8:5 calls the earthly tent, "A copy and shadow of the heavenly things." This was very temporary, but the building in Heaven where Christ, our High Priest made His entrance, bringing his own blood, is eternal! Jesus, the lamb of God, is the final and complete sacrifice for sin!!!
Amen, David! Wow–Hebrews 9-10 is packed with valuable insight.
“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
‘For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
Now them just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.’
“But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who
believe to the saving of the soul.” Heb 10:35-39
Amen, amen, and amen! I know there is the question of whether Paul or one of his students wrote Hebrews. Originally, Hebrews was unnamed and hundreds of years later, was attributed to Paul. I am not sure if this has been discussed yet on the blog. Either way, today’s message is powerful, indeed. We are reminded how blessed we are, to have our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus, light our way, save our souls, and prepare a glorious place of eternity for us to look forward to.
Blessings, dear fellow saints, as we draw closer to the beauty of Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of our Lord, and Risen King!
And to the sanctity of the Holy Spirit, amen!
Amen
I am going to my family for christmas so I won’t be on here next week I might be Saturday and Sunday but I’ll try to catch up on my reading.
Merry Christmas Everyone and a Happy New Year to All !!!
Lianne Hogg
You too Lianne merry Christmas 🙂
Enjoyed seeing you and Norma-Jean yesterday at the luncheon. The choir was so wonderful. Many pieces I’d never heard before. Loved it so much that I stayed for a second performance at the Burlington nursing home in the p.m.! Sylvia was wonderful in speaking to the packed large meeting room. She spoke in ways that were identifiable to many, many, in wheelchairs, and those with difficult challenges. Older people face so much LOSS – physical and emotional. I saw that the choir was very moved. Several people in the choir and staff at the home were wiping away tears. (myself included – my sister is there and is very challenged). That Silver Cord Choir (I believe that’s what it was called) is a real instrument in God’s service. Now I’ll do my Bible reading! Bless everyone. Will be thinking of you. (DAVID – you look so much better now). Praise God.
Yes when Jesus cried out IT IS FINISHED praise God for those precious words our sins are under the blood of our saviour Jesus Christ the son of the living God
A river of blood
Flows for you and me
It was shed on Calvery
And for every wrong we do
We know we are saved through
The river of blood from Calvery
Thank you David for sharing witn us and knowing our sins are attoned
Amen Amen Amen !!!!!!?
🙂 Love you all Merry Christmas
Excellent teaching
Hold fast the confession of our hope…….because He who promised is faithful!!! AMEN!!
Patti went to the doctor yesterday and there was no change. Praise the Lord!!!! Thank you for your prayers. She is expecting identical twin boys, therefore they have one placenta and a very thin membrane separating the two of them. One of the babies is getting more fluid than the other so one is growing faster than the other. Right now there is a 24% difference in their weight. The doctors only want a maximum of 15% difference. But we know that our God is able!!!!! She goes back on Monday and will be seeing the doctor 2x a week from now on. If the difference increases any more, they will need to induce her. She would like to hang on for another couple weeks anyway. Please pray for the safety and health of both Patti and the babies and I thank you already for your prayers on her behalf.
Have a great day blog-buddies and be safe out there – there is some messy weather here in Eastern Ontario today. God bless!!!
I was a guide at the Tabernacle at Crossroads back a few years and I learned quite a bit then from the training/teaching we had BUT I need to read this section more than once. There’s a lot to think about and to take in. So grateful for this blog.
Blessing to all!
🙂
M.
Today’s reading brings home the assurance of our salvation and eternal life. How many times have some “beat themselves up” over past sin, almost like a kind sacrifice from which nothing but self-defeat and endless regret can be rendered. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Christ was crucified, died and was risen, once for all, for those who turn to Him and seek forgiveness and everlasting life! This is our hope. This is our promise. You are never alone with Christ in our lives! No matter the season! Blessings and cheer, to all!
*Happy Birthday to my daughter, Jessica! A blessing in more way’s than can be counted!!
That’s “kind of like a sacrifice …”
Nicely stated David! A lesson in which we would all do well to learn. God Bless.
Love these pictures.It sure helps envision our readings. Blessings to you all this Christmas.
Such a packed full reading today! 😀
I also enjoy ‘this’ assembling together each day…I don’t always comment but always here.
Blessings David M to you and your family, and all blog buddies.
May the best gift we unwrap this Christmas be the gift of Christ.
That is beautiful, Wanita!!
The Greatest gift is Christ our Lord and Savior ,Who takes away our sins.
Come Lord Jesus come quickly,Love you all and a merry Christmas one and all
….R….
Hebrews10:26-27
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Dear Pastor David, It is such a joy to see and hear how great you are looking.
God is so good. Thank you so much for this daily blog. I just read about your book being ready for us to call in for it . Thank you, I enjoyed your last one and learned a lot about you that I didn’t know. May you and yours have a great Christmas. Elaine B
Thanks for the enlightenment on this deep portion of Scripture, David. You highlighted the very part that troubled me about we would call backsliding. The one sure foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord. Have a very blessed Christmas David, Norma-Jean, Ron, Ann and Reynold who produced this 100words.ca and all the 100 Huntley St. family!!!
Also, Merry Christmas to all my precious blog-buddies for sure!!!
I was unable to read your 100 Words daily for the past 5 days, so today I firstly read Hebrews 5 – 10 consecutively and I do believe that I absorbed more in so doing. Hebrews has become one of my favourite books of the Bible. I subsequently read your comments, prayer, etc in which I really felt God’s presence and spiritually loved every second in savouring God’s word be it in the reading of God’s word or your ‘100 Words.’ Praise God and thank you so much. You and Crossroads are constantly in my prayers. Have a BLESSED CHRISTMAS.
Dear Rev David M,
How sweet it is to go through Hebrews to see how blessed we are! I am reminded of words from one of my favorite worship songs which resumes well what Jesus has done for us:
” my hope is based on nothing else
than your great love
your righetousness
I will not walk another way
I trust your love I trust your way
I’m holding on, I’m holding on to you Jesus…”
Dear Lianne,
I’m keeping you in prayers. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family!
Dear Ruby,
We’ll be keeping Patti and the twins in prayer.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Carolexxxx
After going through these scriptures and the various comments …I’m looking forward to continuing our studies through Hebrews in the New Year.
Thank you all and a Blessed Christmas and Joyous new year to all