Some people wonder if they need to be “saved again” if they have fallen into sin after first believing. But that’s not the case. Jesus is enough, even if you have fallen into sin since you first believed.
What Is the OT Background of Salvation?
In the Old Testament (OT), the high priest of Israel was to offer a sacrifice once year on the Day of Atonement (called “Yom Kippur”) for himself and for the nation (Leviticus 16). The blood of these animals was not ultimately able to cleanse sin, but only to make temporary atonement.
Hebrews 10:1-4 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Jesus Is Both Priest and Sacrifice
Jesus was able to provide a once-for-all sacrifice for sin. He did not need to repeatedly make sacrifice like the Israelite priests of the OT.
Hebrews 10:11-12 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
What If I Fall Back into Sin?
You don’t need to get saved again if you fall into a pattern of sin, or even for individual sins. Jesus died for all sins for all time. That means the sins you haven’t even committed yet are already forgiven in him. You don’t have to live in fear or guilt. Instead, come before his throne of grace and let Jesus set you back on the right path.
Hebrews 4:16 (NASB) Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
This does not mean we have a “license to sin.” Christ saved us not so we can do whatever we want, but so we can be the people he created us to be.
Ephesians 2:8-10 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Hebrews 10:14 fleshes this out.
Hebrews 10:14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
Our Christian lives from our salvation forward are all about being made more and more like Jesus, which is called “sanctification” in theological terms. Our “justification” is when we are first saved. When we get to heaven, we will be fully sanctified and will be exactly who God truly created us to be.
All of us are going to have moments when we need to refocus on God – when we fall into sin and forget our first love. Because Jesus is our perfect priest and sacrifice, when he said “it is finished” on the cross, it truly was finished. Walk in the grace and peace he has given to you, leave your sins behind you, and remember that you don’t need another sacrifice for sins. Jesus is and always will be enough.
Article for this topic by Daniel Martin.
