“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

In two key chapters, Hebrews 9 and 10, a small but important key word, “once,” occurs seven times—each one expressing a vital spiritual truth. The word is emphatic, stressing that each event mentioned occurred only one time. Note the order of these seven assertions:

First, “into the second [that is the holy of holies] went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people” (Hebrews 9:7). But this annual offering was only a type of the one great sacrifice to some.

“By His own blood [Christ] entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (v.12). “Now once in the end of the [age] hath [Christ] appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (v.26). This one great offering was given on our behalf. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many” (vv.27,28). All men die once, but Christ died once for all—for all men!

The next occurrence points out the inadequacy of the old sacrifices which had to be offered once every year. “For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins” (Hebrews 10:2).

Then, the seventh and last occurrence of once in these two important chapters is in our text for today where it is appropriately translated “once for all.” The Lord Jesus testified that He came into the world “to do thy will, O God” (v.7), and it was by that will that we have been eternally “sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (v.10). HMM