Once for All

I was practicing my memory verses this morning, and was struck by the phrase "once for all". (By the way, if you are interested in practicing scripture memory, and have easy access to a computer-- or an iPhone, Scripture Typer is a great resource!) So back to the point, I was practicing Jude 1:3.

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Jude 1:3

This immediately brought a second verse to mind.

He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 7:27

But since I wasn't sure of the exact reference, only that it was in Hebrews, I used the search tool in our e-sword program. (By the way, e-sword is a great Bible study program. And the base program, as well as many translations of the Bible and commentaries, can be downloaded for free.)

So my search yielded seven verses with the phrase "once for all". In Psalms, God swears "once for all" that the forever king will come from his line (Ps. 89:35-36). In Romans and Hebrews, Jesus died for sin "once for all" (Rom. 6:10, Heb. 7:27). And because of His death, He entered the holy places-- that is God's presence in heaven-- "once for all" (Heb. 9:11-12,24-26), and sanctified His people "once for all" (Heb. 10:10).

With that in mind, and because of some of what I've been studying in the theology class I'm taking, I was struck by the fact that "the faith" in Jude 1:3 was delivered "once for all". The gospel was entrusted to the apostles, and ever since then the church has been handing that very same faith down through the ages! God is so amazing!!! =)

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7