Once for All: Freedom from Guilt Through the Sacrifice of Jesus
Do past sins pop into your mind, reminding you where you’ve stumbled? Do you ever find yourself asking for forgiveness over and over, even though you’ve already confessed them?
If so, you’re not alone. Many believers wrestle with guilt long after they’ve been forgiven in Christ. But the Bible shows us that through the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus, we have complete freedom from guilt and shame.
The Old Covenant: A Temporary Covering for Sin
In the Old Testament, the Day of Atonement came once a year. Sacrifices were made to cover sin—but only temporarily. Each year was a reminder that the people weren’t truly free. The guilt lingered.
What they really needed was lasting forgiveness—something only our Savior could provide.
Hebrews 10:9–10 (NIV) reveals God’s greater plan:
“Here I am, I have come to do your will.”
He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The “first” was the old way—repeated sacrifices, rituals, and constant reminders of guilt. The “second” is Jesus—who gave His life to establish a new way, making us holy through His once-for-all sacrifice.
What ‘Once for All’ Really Means
Sister, once for all means it’s finished. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, you’ve been made holy. Your sin doesn’t define you. Your guilt has no hold on you.
Colossians 1:22 (NIV) says:
“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
Imagine standing before a judge and hearing, “Not guilty.” No charges. No shame. No record. That’s what Jesus has declared over you.
Why We Still Struggle with Shame
Sometimes, we live as if we’re still on trial—condemning ourselves and carrying guilt God has already erased. This shame doesn’t come from God. It’s a tactic of the enemy, meant to make us forget that Jesus paid it all on the cross.
Even when your heart struggles to feel forgiven, God’s Word stands true:
“It is finished.” – John 19:30
Trust His truth over your feelings. You are no longer bound by your past. In Christ, you are clean. You are free. You are forgiven—once and for all.
Walking in the Freedom of Forgiveness
Living in the reality of biblical forgiveness means:
Holding fast to the truth that there is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1–4).
Silencing lies of shame with Scripture.
Remembering you have been washed clean by the blood of Jesus.
When the enemy tries to bring up your past, point him back to the cross. That’s where your sin stayed.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for reconciling me through Your body on the cross. When guilt creeps in, remind me there is no condemnation in You. Teach me to silence shame with Your truth and to live boldly as Your daughter, made new in You. Amen.
Read More in the Word
Romans 8:1–4 – No condemnation in Christ
Psalm 103:12 – Sin removed as far as the east is from the west
1 John 1:7–9 – Cleansed from all unrighteousness
Meet the Author
Liezl Roux
Liezl is a South African-born Aussie, wife to the man of God she once prayed for, and mama to two Jesus-loving littles who keep her on her toes and on her knees. Somewhere between school runs, managing projects, and her household, she’s learning — again and again — who she is in Christ, and finding that grace shows up right in the mess.
Her greatest desire? That her words carry heaven’s breath—that, like the woman with the little jar of oil in 2 Kings 4, God would multiply what she offers in faith and obedience to overflow into the lives of many.
