Once for all !

“We have been made holy by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ once for all.” – Hebrews 10:10

This morning, during my Khmer lesson, I was learning how to say this verse in the local language here in Cambodia, and I had to stop at the words ‘for all’ because, depending on what the word ‘all ‘ refers to, depended on the correct word to use in Khmer.

I discussed with my teacher, does ‘all’ refer to ‘all people’ ? We certainly believe Christ died for all people – although Isaiah 53 says He died for ‘many.’

Or does the word mean ‘all time’ i.e ‘forever’ ? Christ has made us holy by one sacrifice forever. This would tie in with verse 14 of the same chapter which says ‘we have been made perfect forever.’

Or does ‘all’ refer to ‘sin’ ? We have been made holy by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ once for all of our sin.

Actually, all three are true. But my teacher and I high-fived at the last version, my teacher pointing out that ‘sin’ connects to our being ‘made holy’.

Christ died for all people, for all of our sin, forever.

Now