Ephapax and heis

For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 10:14

So, the title is a little bit nerdy.  But these two Greek words have been so sweet to me for the past few weeks that I wanted to include them in this essay.  The first word, ephapax, means once for all and the second, heis, simply means once or single. 

They occur multiple times in the book of Hebrews in regards to Christ’s singular, all-accomplishing, eternally-effective sacrifice for sins and are contrasted with the reoccurring, ineffective, sin-exposing sacrifices made under the law by the earthly Levitical priests. 

I have been so blessed by the reminders in Hebrews that Jesus Christ is the perfect, sinless Son of God who shed His own blood for the forgiveness of sins and the reconciliation of sinners.  His single, once for all, sacrifice was entirely adequate and has eternal benefits to all who would put our trust in Jesus for forgiveness and would repent of the rebellious way we have been living our lives for our own glory. 

But what has been equally sweet, if not even sweeter, is the practical application of these words and the truth that accompanies them.

Why is it so important that Jesus died once for all?  What does it really matter to me and the daily grind of this earthly existence?  Why should I dwell on this great mercy and how does it actually matter in the practical living of my life? 

Bear with me as share how it has mattered to me in the past couple of months.  This might be a bit unorganized because I’m just making it up as I go, but I hope it still gives you a sense of how sweet the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been for me and how it can continue to sweeten for you as your experience His forgiveness and mercy day after day.

It has mattered to me in the area of personal holiness.  Oh, so much has it mattered!  Jesus has, past tense, perfected me for all time by a single sacrifice for sins.  This is not some nice “feel good” sentimental, Hallmark card type of idea.  This is etched in marble, unfading, unchanging truth spoken from the mouth of God.  In His sight, I am perfect because of Jesus.  I don’t have to spend all of my time fretting over sin and worrying about measuring up.  Christ has measured up.  I am free to spend my time living up to the truth about how God sees me as a beloved son with whom He is well pleased.  I am free to spend my life seeking to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel.  I can deal with sin from the perspective of a victor because Christ is the Victor for me.  I never have to be discouraged about failure because Christ has perfected me for all time.  I can battle sin through Christ who strengthens me and who has sent His Spirit to sanctify and empower me to be transformed into the image of Jesus Himself.

It has mattered to me in the area of perseverance.  How easy it is to grow weary of doing good and pursuing righteousness when my sin is ever before me!  How easy it is to move away from God and towards sin because it is much easier for me to believe God should reject me than it is for me to think He accepts me…so if I sin more at least then I don’t have to face a holy God accepting a rebel…I can just run and hide in what is comfortable.  Does that make sense?  It’s hard to explain, but I guess I just mean that it is easier to flee from God’s holiness than to confront my sin in Christ and trust in His finished work.  Sin is messy, and, for me, it is messier to confront it in the presence of perfect holiness than it is to confront it by indulging in it. 

But God refuses to let me slink away from His holy presence.  And I am so grateful for that!  He pursues me and forces me to deal with sin in view of His mercy.  I hate it because it is so illogical that He would pardon me by slaying His perfect Son, but just because it doesn’t sit well in my heart, doesn’t mean that it isn’t true!  He loves me so much that He will continue to demand that I view sin in light of the truth of Scripture that He will remember my sins and my lawless deeds no more because Jesus has ransomed my life! 

When I remember that, I persevere with great fervor.  How could I run from the One who saved my soul and conquered death?!  Christ’s single sacrifice has perfected me.  I have great expectancy and hope in His eventual return and eradication of sin.  The Cross triumphantly declares His victory, which is mine and yours if your life is hidden with Christ, too.  Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…that’s what Hebrews 12 tells us.  And we do this because Jesus has won and that means that we have won too! 

It has mattered to me in the area of worship.  And I am so totally convinced that worship is the greatest thing that I can do for my personal holiness and my perseverance and my joy.  Did you read that?  Slow down and consider it for a moment.  Worship is the best thing we can do for our sanctification.  It is the posture we must use to address God.  Look at Revelation 4-7 and 20-22.  See how many times the theme of worship is prominently portrayed.  Worship is the bookends of all of the prophecy of the antichrist and the devil’s destruction and Christ’s war with evil.  It’s what we will do in Heaven.  And it’s how we must approach God. 

When we worship, we are relating to God rightly by ascribing to Him the glory and honor and power and majesty and beauty that is due to Him for being the Creator and Lord of all of us.  And if we don’t embrace the glorious truth that Jesus has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified by offering Himself as a once for all sacrifice for sins then we aren’t going to be able to worship the God of the Universe in spirit and in truth!  It simply can’t and won’t happen because apart from Christ we have no good standing before God.  We stand condemned waiting for the flood of God’s wrath to be brought down upon us. 

The only way that I can worship God is through the atoning work of Jesus Christ.  When I see that it is the merit of Christ that provides free and eternal access to God’s holy presence, then I am able to worship Him.  And how sweet it is to know what I deserve and instead be given fullness of joy found only in the presence of God!  The Cross is the foundation of worship. 

I close reflecting on this hymn:

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

Once for all did Jesus die to reconcile sinners to a righteous Father.  The Gospel is really Good News!  I pray it makes a difference for you “today.” 

For the glory of Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb who takes away the sin of the world…