Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today, we’ll look at the end of sacrificial lambs, because of the sacrificed Lamb.

Today’s scripture is Hebrews 9:252-‬28 (NLT), which says…
In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals. For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

Consider…
Consider the phrase “once and for all”, which means a settled matter, finally, permanently.

That’s what today’s scripture declares…
Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people.

It’s what Jesus meant when He uttered His last words, “it is finished”, from the Cross (John 19:30)

Jesus’ last words, made me think of how death row inmates, who are given the opportunity to say their final piece before being executed.

Jesus was an innocent lamb, who was executed for sin that He didn’t commit (2 Corinthians 5:21), and his last words were, “it is finished”.

What makes those words so powerful and meaningful, is they represent the completion of God’s initial covering of sin with Adam and Eve. Let’s read what the scripture says…
The Lord God used animal skins and made some clothes for the man and his wife. Then he put the clothes on them. The Lord God said, “Look, the man has become like us—he knows about good and evil. And now the man might take the fruit from the tree of life. If the man eats that fruit, he will live forever.” So the Lord God forced the man out of the Garden of Eden to work the ground he was made from. God forced the man to leave the garden. Then he put Cherub angels and a sword of fire at the entrance to the garden to protect it. The sword flashed around and around, guarding the way to the tree of life. – Genesis 3:21‭-‬24 ERV

Notice, God covers before He executes final judgement.

That’s what Jesus was saying from the Cross, the final covering for sin is complete.

I noticed something else while reading today’s scripture, it said, “to take away the sins of many people”. That stopped me in my tracks, because I have always heard, and said, Christ took away the sins of the world. However, this verse challenges that interpretation. So I had to reread John 3:16 (KJV) to clarify. It says…
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, but have everlasting life.

I finally paid attention to one of the most quoted verses from God’s word. God’s sin covering through Jesus Christ, is only placed on those who believe in Him. That means, people who reject God’s Gift of salvation, remain uncovered and subject to final execution.

That realization made me remember Ephesians 2:8 (KJV), which says…
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Just now the Holy Spirit, flashed in neon letters, BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH. That’s like saying, I am from Texas (meaning live in), by way of Minnesota. In the same way, I am covered by grace, by way of my faith, in the One through whom it was extended.

So when Jesus said, “it is finished”, He was speaking on behalf of only those who believe in Him.

Something else that caught my attention in today’s scripture, was the distinction of the real from the replica. I saw that in the verbiage…
For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf.

Why did the song, ‘Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing’, just play in my head?

The Holy Spirit is emphasizing, when God sent The Real Sacrificial Lamb, the need to slaughter all the insufficient replicas was done. The Real Lamb, saved the senseless slaughter of the replacement lambs, used to sanctify God’s chosen people.

Wow, the Holy Spirit, just reminded me that God’s death angel only passed over the homes of those who chose to cover their doorposts with the blood of an innocent lamb (Exodus 12:3-13). In the same way, that same death angel will only pass over those who choose to cover their hearts with the blood of the innocent, and worthy Lamb who was slain.

So, yes when Christ said “it is finished”, He meant once and for all, God’s permanent covering for sin has been settled. His blood sacrifice was payment in full for the sin of those who believe in Him!

Christ died one time, for all time, but the choice to accept His covering must be made in this lifetime. On the Cross, Christ threw out the lifeline to all of us drowning in sin, but it’s up to us to grab hold and let Him pull us in.

Lastly, the Holy Spirit showed me that in the Garden, God covered the shameful reminder of sin (their nakedness) with a temporary covering. However, Christ covered, by grafting onto us His righteousness, and removing the penalty and power of sin in our lives. That’s an important distinction, because God is saying Jesus finished it, once and for all. But He’s also commanding us to finish it (yielding to our sinful nature) with Him. (Galatians 5:24-25)

The Holy Spirit is emphasizing, the fact that in the same way Christ died for you (once and for all), He wants you to live for Him (once and for all).

Today’s song is….
Once And For All

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)