by Mitchell Skelton

Names like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods roll from the lips of those who talk about golf’s premier event, the Masters. One name that will probably never surface in a conversation about golfing legends is Doug Ford. Few people would have any idea that Ford won the 1957 Masters. He never won another green jacket and he hasn’t made the cut since 1971 (four years before Tiger Woods was born), but he is invited to play in the Masters every year. The Masters’ rules include a lifetime invitation to every champion of the event. Ford only won the tournament once, hasn’t qualified with his golf skills in nearly three decades, and hasn’t been able to break par in the event since 1958. Nonetheless, he gets to play in the tournament every year because on one single occasion he won the jacket. Our salvation is similarly linked to a single event. Christ’s work on the cross was a one shot deal. He died once so that all could live eternally. /1

There aren’t many things on this earth that we do “Once for all.” In Hebrews 9:23 – 28, the Hebrew writer examines a job that Christ accomplished “Once, for All.” Moreover, this was the most important task ever completed.

Christ’s Sacrifice

Christ’s sacrifice is final and permanent. “For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Heb. 9:24 – 26). Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was complete perfection. In contrast with the sacrifices of the Old Testament, when Christ sacrificed himself it’s efficacy was such that it only needed to be performed once for all time.

Christ’s sacrifice took care of sin once, for all. “The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Heb. 9:13 – 14). Christ’s one act of redemption was so powerful that it cleanses our sins permanently. “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12).

Death and Judgment

The fact that Christ died and through his death we have eternal life should be a word of encouragement to all Christians. Yet the Hebrew writer continues with a curious statement that in no way sounds encouraging. “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people” (Heb. 9:27 – 28a). We will all die. We will all be judged. How can this in any way be construed as encouraging? Death and judgment have always been talked about with much fear and apprehension.

The encouraging word for Christians is that Christ took the sting out of death. “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:56 – 57). Christ’s victory over death equates to our victory over death. Judgment does not necessarily mean condemnation. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). For the Christian, there is no condemnation therefore death and judgment are events to look forward to, they signal a beginning instead of an end.

Christ’s Second Coming

The Day of Atonement was a special day to the Israelites. On this day, the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place to make sacrifices. Since no one except the High Priest is allowed to enter the Most Holy Place, the people waited outside to see if God had accepted their sacrifices. When the High Priest reappeared, the people shouted with the joy of salvation. In similar fashion, Jesus’ second coming assures our salvation. Those who are in Christ can look forward to the day Jesus, our High Priest, returns from the Most Holy Place. It is strange to think of the second coming of Christ as an assurance of salvation. The idea of salvation has many facets. Our salvation is past; Jesus died for our sins. Our salvation is present; Jesus continues to forgive. Our salvation is future; Jesus is coming again. /2

1 Houston Chronicle, April 10, 1998, p. 1B 2 Gary Holloway, “Certain Hope”; ACU Press, (Abilene) 1999.