Christ needed to offer Himself only once because His one sacrifice completely obtained eternal redemption and fully satisfied God.
The Old Testament priests had to offer sacrifices daily and yearly, but Christ entered the holy place once with His own blood. Hebrews emphasizes the word 'once' to show that nothing more was needed. His resurrection confirms that He does not die again.
Hebrews 9:12 — This verse directly states that Christ entered the holy place once with His own blood and obtained eternal redemption for us.
Hebrews 7:27 — This verse contrasts Christ's single offering with the daily sacrifices of the high priests.
Scripture sets Christ's single offering against the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament priesthood. Hebrews 7:27 says, "Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself." The contrast is direct: those priests needed to repeat, Christ did not. Hebrews 9:12 draws the same contrast with the Day of Atonement: "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." The result of that one entrance is eternal redemption, so no further offering is required. Romans 6:9-10 points to the resurrection as final proof: "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God." And Hebrews 9:28 sums it up: "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many."
Les Feldick constantly draws attention to the word "once" repeated throughout Hebrews. He says that word is the key: "This Christ did once. This He did once, over and over." The Jewish high priest entered the holy place once a year with animal blood, but Christ entered once into the true holy place, the very presence of God, with His own blood. Because He did that, He obtained eternal redemption for us—a finished work that never has to be repeated. Les also connects the once-for-all sacrifice to the believer's identification with Christ's death. When we believe the gospel, we are dead with Christ; old Adam is put to death, and life begins. Since Christ died to sin once and now lives unto God, He does not need to be offered again. As Les puts it, Christ is not going to come back a second time to go to the cross.
The high priests were human and died, so others had to take their place. They exercised the tabernacle program year after year. Christ, as our High Priest, entered the heavenly holy place once—not once a year—and presented His own blood. That one act was enough because it was accomplished by the sinless Son of God.
Les explains that the tabernacle on earth was patterned after the one in heaven. Christ did not enter the earthly holy place with goat and calf blood; He entered the very throne room of God and presented His blood once. The word "once" in Hebrews guards against any thought of repeating the cross.
Scripture says that Christ, being raised, dies no more. Les applies this to believers: if we have identified with that death by faith, old Adam is put to death, and life begins. Since Christ died unto sin once, there is no need—and no possibility—of another death.
Death with Christ Ends Adam's Reign
Les shows that the once-for-all death of Christ is applied to the believer: being dead with Christ means old Adam is put to death, so the trial is over and freedom begins.
The Word 'Once' in Hebrews
Les points to Hebrews where Christ entered not once a year but once into the holy place, and in that one presentation of His blood He obtained eternal redemption.
Finished Work of Christ
Les contrasts human priests who had to repeat the process year after year with the finished work of Christ, which was done once and obtained eternal redemption.
Christ Alone Satisfied God
Les stresses that Christ is the only sacrifice God was satisfied with, because without shedding of blood there is no remission.
Once for All Sacrifice
Les teaches that Christ entered the heavenly tabernacle once, not with goats and calves but with His own blood—once for all.
Died Unto Sin Once
Les applies Romans 6 to the question: Christ died unto sin once, and that one death satisfies for all eternity.
High Priest of All
Les identifies Christ as the High Priest who entered the very presence of God once with His own blood and obtained eternal redemption for everyone.
No Second Offering
Les emphasizes the 'again' in Hebrews: Christ is not coming back to go to the cross; that was accomplished once and will not be repeated.
Hebrews 7:27: Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
This verse directly contrasts the repeated sacrifices of the high priests with Christ's single offering of Himself.
Hebrews 9:12: Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
This is the central verse showing that Christ's one entrance with His own blood secured eternal redemption.
Romans 6:9-10: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
The resurrection proves that Christ's death was once and final, since He dies no more and death has no dominion over Him.
Hebrews 9:28: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
This verse explicitly says Christ was 'once offered' to bear sins, showing the finality of His sacrifice.
No. Hebrews 7:27 says the high priests needed to offer first for their own sins, but Christ did not need to do that. He offered Himself once for the people's sins.
No. Les emphasizes that Christ is not coming back a second time to go to the cross. That was accomplished once, and nothing can ever cross that over.
Eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12 says by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 6:7-12 — Can a Believer Still Sin After Being Set Free?