" ONCE "

Free from the law O happy condition ! JESUS hath bled,

               and there is remission, Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
               Grace hath redeemed us ONCE for all.
               ONCE for all O sinner receive it! ONCE for all O brother believe it !
               Cling to the cross, the burden will fall, CHRIST hath redeemed us
               ONCE for all !

     For those of you who do not know the above quote is actually the first line of a hymn by Phillip Bliss. When I was working on and waiting for the LORD to impress upon me what to Blog about this week, the word ONCE kept standing out in my readings and so did the above hymn. How many things in our life do we have to do over and over and over again. Go to work, do the dishes, dust, laundry, chores of all kinds. We have a never ending list of things that we have to do over and over again. But there was something that JESUS did that was done ONCE and would never have to be repeated. This great and wonderful accomplishment was so horrible to endure, so degrading for our most HOLY SON of GOD, and yet HE did it willingly and without hesitation. Hebrews 12:2 states - looking unto JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith, WHO for the joy that was set before HIM, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of GOD.

     We as humans, in our finite minds, cannot even come close to grasping how horrible it was for the SON of GOD to take upon HIMSELF, like a cloak, the sin of every man, woman and child who ever existed and who will ever exist. Go ahead think about some of the most criminally hearted men that have walked this earth - Hitler, Stalin, Nero, Henry the 8th., Son of Sam serial killer, Jeffrey Domer also a serial killer,  and YOU and ME.  We say our sins are not as bad as those listed, but to an all HOLY GOD, sin has separated us from HIM, whether a white lie or a murder, all is sin and must be paid for, and that is where JESUS's one time gift comes in.

     In the book of Hebrews it talks of JESUS as our HIGH PRIEST. Heb.7:26 thru 27 states - For such a HIGH PRIEST was fitting for us, WHO is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; WHO does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for HIS own sins and then for the people's, for this HE did ONCE for all when HE offered up HIMSELF........Then again in Heb.9:11 thru 12 and 24 thru 28 states - But CHRIST came as HIGH PRIEST of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with HIS own blood HE entered the MOST HOLY PLACE, ONCE for all, having obtained eternal redemption.     For CHRIST has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of GOD for us, not that HE should offer HIMSELF often, as the high priest enters the MOST HOLY PLACE every year with blood of another-HE then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now ONCE at the end of the ages, HE has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of HIMSELF. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so CHRIST was offered ONCE to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for HIM, HE will appear a second time, apart from sin, unto salvation.......... And lastly in the book of 1st.Peter 3:18 it states - For CHRIST also suffered ONCE for sins, the just for the unjust, that HE might bring us to GOD, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the SPIRIT.

     Now to those of us who are Truly Born Again Believing Christians, the above hymn goes on like this:
               Now are we free there's no condemnation ! JESUS provides a perfect
               salvation, Come unto ME O hear HIS sweet call ! Come and HE saves
               us ONCE for all.

To those who have never come to JESUS or have heard HIS WORD before and continue to turn away, HE says to YOU that, " today is the day of salvation ". As a sinner, bough your head and pray to the LORD JESUS that you know that you are a sinner, in need of a SAVIOR. Tell HIM that you know that HE died for you and rose again on the third day as the Scriptures has said. That you believe in HIM and ask HIM to come into your heart and life to save you.  HE WILL !!!   If you truly come to HIM in repentance and for salvation, this is something that you will only have to do ONCE and you will be HIS forever !!!   AMEN & AMEN !!
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie