Jesus Died Once!

We are going to look at the reality of what Jesus did when He came to us in human form and lived the life you have all read about and seen over Christmas and Easter. Quite a story of how God arrived here and conquered sin and the death that results from sin.

Today, we will read about the sacrifice that God made and why He chose to suffer as a man. There was a purpose for what Jesus did on earth!

Our Scripture passages today come from the book of Hebrews, which is in the New Testament side of the Bible, between the books of Philemon and James.

We start in the middle of chapter 9, just after the discussion of how the priests were to set up an earthly tabernacle (church) and the proper procedures they were to use in their ministry and worship.

Now the writer of Hebrews switches from what man is to do and proceeds to tell us what Jesus did to show us a new way of ministry and worship.

Hebrews 9: 11-15 NIV

11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. (Read Hebrews 2 and Hebrews 8 and Leviticus 16)

Jesus is our high priest, mediator in heaven.

12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. (Read Hebrews 10:1-4 and Hebrews 19)

Old Testament priests would take people’s sacrificial offerings into the Holy of Holies as sacrifices for all their past sins.
Jesus was our sacrifice, His death redeems those who believe in Him, gives them a new start. Jesus was both sacrifice and high priest.
Rom 3:21-24 NIV
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,

Jesus predicted and it came to be. It matters not who or what we are, if we come to God repentant, we are all welcomed by God.

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified freely by His grace through redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

We fall short of God’s plan and are separated from Him. Jesus came to rebuild our relationship. Justified us by His grace.

13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. (Read Numbers 19)

Sacrifice and ceremony – it washes off your outside but not your inside – only God can do that.

14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Jesus had no sin but died for the worlds sin. He cleansed out thoughts of evil – Jesus died for that!

1 Peter 3:18 NIV
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Violations of Mosaic Law) (Read Hebrews 7)

9:15 The NIV Study Bible notes state: Eternal inheritance – on the basis of Christ’s atoning death, this inheritance has become real for those who are called by God (pg.1867 – notes)

What is “Covenant?” in the Old Testament, it is called the Mosaic Law.
In the New Testament, it is called the “New Covenant” between God and all of us. God grows with us and continues to lead us back to Him.
God is calling you to come have eternal life with Him.

Many ask the question, “if God is so good, why does He let bad happen?”
We bring on the bad, God promises to walk with us through it. That is why Jesus came and walked on earth with us.

Hebrews 9: 24-28 NIV

24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. (Read Romans 8)

Jesus is our mediator before God, allowing God to see us as clean. He did not go into the holy of holies to die, Jesus died on a cross on the top of the hill – visible for all to see.
Jesus was buried in a cave but it could not contain God so Jesus walked out of that tomb.

1 John 2:1-2 NIV
1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus died once for all people. The cross is an incredible image – high and visible, no hidden action.

25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. (Read Hebrews 9:6-10 and 10:19-23)

God came and died once, not coming to die again. His was the final sacrifice!

26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Read 1 Pet 1: 18-21)

For those who choose to follow Jesus, His death removed the penalty for the sin in your life.

27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Romans 5:12 NIV
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.

Sin is sin – something against God, not in different sizes.
I was running away from God and He came and said “come to me.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV
For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

There is a day coming when we face Jesus. He will say “well done” or “I wish we could have a relationship.” Which one do you want Jesus to say to you?

28 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. (Read Titus 2:11-14)

Jesus paid the price for all our sins. His return is to join with those who wait, believing in Him.

We read about the sacrifice that God made and why He chose to suffer as a man. There was a purpose for what Jesus did on earth! That purpose was to offer the gift of life with God eternally. Jesus became the final sacrifice for all our sins so that we could be with God. Jesus died once, for all of us, and now lives to be our link to God.

Now join me as we honor what Jesus did for us by observing Communion.

Communion: What is it?

It is a time to remember what Jesus did by dying on the cross, laying in a grave and then arising full of life. Jesus did that for all of us, so we could have the opportunity to reconnect to God.

Invite – We invite all who love the Lord Jesus, who have repented of sin and who have decided to follow Christ in newness of life to come to this Table. This is not a Baptist table nor Terry’s table. It is the Table of the Lord!

Bread – read 1 Cor 11: 23,24
Pray
Eat

Cup – read 1 Cor 11: 25,26
Pray
Drink

Barb’s Song “This is Amazing Grace”

Benediction – Go out into the world living for Jesus. Where there is darkness, take His light. Where there is despair, take His love. Where there is death, take His life. And know this, the Lord is with you as you live for Him. Amen.