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Once Offered
October 14, 2012
Jesus offered Himself for all sins, one time for all time. There remains no further sacrifice that can be offered, than that of the Son of God. Those who believe and are baptized have their sins taken away by the Lamb of God. Like Him, we should be ready to lay down our lives for our friends.
Bernie Parsons
Once Offered
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 10-14-2012
Presented to Load church of Christ on 10-21-2012
We have been looking at some of the attributes of Jesus Christ, and how we
are to be like Him. In this study, I wish to take a closer look at the
sacrifice that He made for us.
Jesus knew that He came to die for the sins of the world.
Mark 8:31 "And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many
things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and
scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."
Hebrews 12:2 "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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
John 12:31 “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this
world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die."
Jesus was willing to sacrifice Himself for the people who would become His
disciples.
John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for
the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are
not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf
catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 fleeth, because he is an
hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my
life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must
bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one
shepherd.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I
might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to
lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I
received of my Father.".
Jesus knew of His impending death upon the cross, and dreaded that event,
but prepared Himself for it.
Luke 22:39 "And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of
Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not
into temptation.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down,
and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless
not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it
were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found
them sleeping for sorrow,
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into
temptation."
Jesus dreaded the suffering of the cross, yet accepted it willingly – it was
God’s will!
Hebrews 5:8 "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things
which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all
them that obey him;"
After the suffering that Jesus endured, He became complete in that He was
our savior.
Ephesians 5:1 "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for
us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."
Always the obedient Son, Jesus willingly offered himself to be our eternal
sacrifice.
Hebrews 7:25 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that
come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth 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."
Rather than countless and endless sacrifices for sins, Jesus became the
final sacrifice.
Hebrews 9:23 "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the
heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves
with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are
the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the
presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth
into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world:
but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that
look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
For those who look to Christ, He is their offering for their sins.
Hebrews 10:10 "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of
the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the
same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat
down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had
said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith
the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I
write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin."
In God’s plan, the death of Jesus upon the cross was a means to reconcile
people to God. By becoming the final sacrifice for all mankind, for all
time, Jesus brought us back to God.
Colossians 1:19 "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness
dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to
reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in
earth, or things in heaven."
Jesus taught us a lesson, according to John. As He was willing to lay down
His life for us, we should be willing to lay down our lives for each other.
1 John 3:16 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his
life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and
shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God
in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in
deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts
before him."
