F.E. Marsh
288. “Once”

ONE of the key-words of Hebrews 9 and 10 is the term “once,” which occurs seven times.

1. The once of limitation (Heb. 9:7). The High Priest could only enter the Holiest of all, one day in the year, though he went in several times on that one day.
2. The once of completion (Heb. 9:12). The Revised Version says that Christ has entered into the Holiest “once for all,” therefore His atoning work is complete. Mark also the contrast-Christ entered in with His own blood.
3. The once of manifestation (Heb. 9:26, R.V.) Christ was hidden behind the veil of His Godhead before His incarnation, but He is God manifest in the flesh. Ponder the purpose of His appearing; it was to “put away sin,” which sin kept man from God, and God from man.
4. The once of condemnation (Heb. 9:27). Death on account of sin, and judgment for sin, are the common heritage “laid up” (R.V., margin), for the natural man.
5. The once of substitution (Heb. 9:28). Those that believe in Christ, and know Him personally as their Saviour and Lord, are not looking for death or judgment, but for His second coming, because Christ has stood in their place and borne the judgment for them. Mark the “as” and “so” of Heb. 9:27-28.
6. The once of purification (Heb. 10:2). The sacrifices under the Levitical economy were only effectual in atoning for the sins of the past year, and even then could not give a cleansed conscience; but Christ has, once and for ever, dealt with the question of sin in its penal aspect. Hence the believer is no longer a condemned criminal at the bar of justice, but a child in the family of God, with a perfect conscience, because freed from guilt by the blood of Christ.
7. The once of sanctification (Heb. 10:10). The blood of Christ, which is the purchase price of our salvation, is also the means of our separation to God. As those who are sanctified in Christ to God, which is our privilege, we are responsible to be separate in heart and life to the Lord in all things. We do not seek to be saintly to become saints, but as saints we are to do those things that are consistent with our calling (1 Cor. 1:2-the words “to be” are in italics; Eph. 5:3).