Easter Sunday 2022

God did it ONCE!

At the beginning of creation, when God created the world, He gave the earth the ability to sustain itself. He created plants with seeds so they could spread and procreate. He created animals with seeds so they could procreate and survive. He created man the same way - He gave man seed to procreate, fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28). God only had to create ONE man and ONE woman; He only had to create earth, plants and animals ONE time. He only had to do it once because He created it with the ability to handle itself; with the ability to sustain and continue life.

And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

Genesis 2:2

The Hebrew word used for “rested” in this verse is shabat, which means to stop, to rest, to cease, to end (Strong's concordance). God ENDED His work that day. There was nothing else to create because He created it already complete. He rested, not because He was tired, but because His work was finished.

Well, as most of us already know, man introduced sin into the world. When sin entered in, atonement for sin was introduced. In the Old Testament, animal sacrifices had to be made in order to atone for sins of the people. There were specific rules and laws in place to tell exactly what kind of animal sacrifice needed to be made for each sin. But these sacrifices were never a permanent solution to sin. How can man be saved and be in right relationship with God if our sins aren’t permanently atoned for?

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshippers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Hebrews 10:1-4

Animal sacrifices simply could not take away the guilt of sin. If it did, then there would have been no need to repeat the sacrifices year after year. This simply was not a permanent solution.

This is where Jesus enters the picture! Jesus was the permanent solution!

And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 10:11-14 (emphasis mine)

When Jesus died on the cross, He bore every single sin that mankind could ever commit. He bore all the punishments and effects that sin caused. And He did it ONCE! His work has been finished! Jesus paid for it all when He died on that cross and rose again. He paid the penalty of your sins and has completely forgiven you. There is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus (Romans 8:1). That means there is no more guilt, shame, or punishment in you for your sins! You don’t have to experience sickness, anxiety, pain, depression, or any other type of punishment that sin originally brought. We have been set free from it all! We now have the opportunity to obey and follow God based on love rather than fear of condemnation.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Just like God created the world and everything in it ONE time, Jesus only had to die ONE time. All our sins, past, present, and future, are atoned for! Thank you Jesus!