¹⁰For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established. ¹¹So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. ¹²With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. (Hebrews 9:10-12 NLT)

‍

What songs get stuck in your mind after you hear them? “Baby Shark”? “YMCA”? Or if you recently watched the US at the World Cup, “Take Me Home, Country Roads”? Are there any phrases or words that have stuck with you as we have been studying Hebrews? For me, the phrase “once-for-all” is stuck repeating in my mind.

‍

In the original Greek text, ephapax is the adverb translated as “once-for-all,” describing a final, complete, and decisive action that can never be repeated. There are few actions that this can describe: A particular tear of joy or sadness can never be shed twice. Words spoken cannot be unspoken. Blood shed from a wound cannot be restored to the body. Birth nor death can be repeated.  

‍

Contrast once-for-all actions with repeatable actions: Eating, sleeping, and working are just some actions we repeat daily. The first nine verses of Hebrews 9 briefly describe the physical altar where Old Testament priests repeated animal blood sacrifices day after day, again and again. The sin offering described in Leviticus 4:27-32 was offered by the priests for the unintentional sins of the people so that they were forgiven. People sin; thus, the sacrifices were made over and over again! Mercifully, this old system was only temporary, “until a better system could be established.”

‍

Through Jesus, the better system, ephapax is established! Jesus’ shed blood and death upon the cross was the final and complete sacrifice that can never be repeated! We are spared repeated animal blood sacrifices that never completely dealt with sin. I John 1:7 tells us that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin – past, present, and future!  Why does Jesus cry out on the cross, “It is finished,” (John 19:30)? The old covenant is forever finished by the sinless, shed blood of Jesus! He does not need to die over and over. God did not demand more animal blood sacrifices; He offered the blood of His own Son as the ephapax sacrifice! In this final, complete sacrifice, Jesus is both our High Priest and the sacrificial blood for our sins!  

At the moment when Jesus entered the more perfect Tabernacle in Heaven, imagine that as the veil of the earthly Tabernacle was torn from top to bottom, a triumphant song of rejoicing echoes from Heaven! The veil between God and His people is gone forever! Imagine this song of rejoicing entering hearts that accept Jesus as Savior! It might not be audible at first, or it made be loud, but it can grow even louder by praying and seeking God. It might be softer in times of drifting, but while turning back to God, it will grow louder. As you form a stronger relationship with God, it will continue to grow in volume. This could be a song that is stuck on repeat in the minds of His people for eternity!

‍

We will be in Heaven with God forever because Jesus’ ephapax changes religion and ritual to relationship. The veil is forever open, giving us access to a relationship with Abba, Jesus, and the Spirit. We now have something far greater than religion; we have redemption forever with relationship!

‍

Abba, thank you for Your Son, the once-for-all, perfect sacrifice that You offered for each of us. Jesus gives us assurance of eternal forgiveness. Help us to grasp this wonder and offer Jesus and relationship with Him to others. We love you, Jesus.