Topical Bible: the High Priest Christ: Offered Sacrifice But Once

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In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is depicted as the ultimate High Priest, a role that is central to understanding His sacrificial work and its significance. Unlike the Levitical priests of the Old Testament who offered sacrifices repeatedly, Christ's priesthood is marked by the singularity and sufficiency of His sacrifice.

Biblical Foundation

The Epistle to the Hebrews provides the most comprehensive exposition of Christ's high priestly role. Hebrews 7:27 states, "Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself." This verse highlights the uniqueness of Christ's sacrifice, emphasizing that it was a one-time event with eternal efficacy.

Hebrews 9:12 further elaborates, "He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption." The imagery here contrasts the repeated and temporary nature of animal sacrifices with the permanent and complete redemption achieved through Christ's own blood.

Theological Significance

The concept of Christ offering sacrifice but once is foundational to Christian soteriology. It underscores the belief in the sufficiency of Christ's atonement for sin. The once-for-all nature of His sacrifice means that it fully satisfies the requirements of divine justice, providing a complete and perfect atonement for humanity's sins.

Hebrews 10:10 affirms this by stating, "And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." This verse indicates that believers are made holy through this singular act, highlighting the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice.

Contrast with Levitical Priesthood

The Levitical priesthood, as described in the Old Testament, required continual sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people. These sacrifices were a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice to come. Hebrews 10:11-12 contrasts this with Christ's work: "Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God."

This passage highlights the limitations of the old covenant sacrifices and the finality of Christ's work. The act of sitting down at the right hand of God signifies the completion and acceptance of His sacrificial offering.

Implications for Believers

For believers, the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ provides assurance of salvation and a direct relationship with God. Hebrews 4:14-16 encourages believers to "hold firmly to the faith we profess" and to "approach the throne of grace with confidence," knowing that Christ, as the great High Priest, has made a way for them to receive mercy and find grace.

The singularity of Christ's sacrifice also calls believers to live in the light of this completed work, resting in the assurance of forgiveness and striving to reflect the holiness imparted through His atonement.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 7:27
Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 9:25,26
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Christ Our High Priest.
... of others, to make atonement for the sins of Israel; but Christ, as the high priest
of the good things to come, has entered the holy place on high, with His ...
/.../xi christ our high priest.htm

Whether the Priesthood of Christ Endures for Ever?
... Now this consummation of Christ's sacrifice was foreshadowed in this, that the
high-priest of the ... a calf, as laid down, Lev.16:11, and yet he offered up the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the priesthood of christ.htm

The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Foreshadowed in the Ritual ...
... Second, Aaron offered "a bullock of the sin-offering ... condemnation to them which are
in Christ Jesus" (Rom.8 ... atonement had been effected, the high priest came out ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/5 the fact of the.htm

Whether the Effect of Christ's Priesthood is the Expiation of Sins ...
... that the very Word of God did not become our High-Priest and Apostle ... day in the Church
is not distinct from that which Christ Himself offered, but is a ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the effect of christs.htm

Fifth Sunday in Lent
... CHRIST OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST. 1 ... sacrifices. But Christ offered himself in the
heart before God. His sacrifice was perceptible to no mortal. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/fifth sunday in lent.htm

The Only Atoning Priest
... the veil, but there must be a new high priest appointed, for ... Now, herein is the glory
of Christ that he is but ... take up the work; here is but one priest for ever ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the only atoning priest.htm

Christ as Righteousness; as the Demiurge, the Agent of the Good ...
... of the greater than the demiurge; Christ we have ... in consequence He is a great
High-Priest, having offered Himself as the sacrifice which is offered once for all ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of john/40 christ as righteousness as.htm

The Great High-Priest.
... In the case of the great High-priest, Jesus the Son of ... a Priest after the order of
Melchizedek, and concerning Christ as the Melchizedek Priest the Apostle ...
/.../chapter iv the great high-priest.htm

The Day of Atonement
... us that only once should Jesus Christ die; and ... slaughtered; morning and evening they
offered sacrifice to God ... once a year that the high priest entered within ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the day of atonement.htm

Of the Popish Mass. How it not Only Profanes, but Annihilates the ...
... "This Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who ... right and honour
of the priesthood has ceased among mortal men, because Christ, who is ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 18 of the popish.htm