Hebrews 10:10 — “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Extended Explanation of the Verse
This verse brings the message of the gospel into sharp focus. It says that “by that will”—God’s plan, carried out through Jesus—we have been made holy. Not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Jesus did. His sacrifice, offering His own body, is what set us apart and made us clean in God’s eyes.
And here’s the key part: it happened once for all. Jesus doesn’t have to offer Himself over and over again. His one-time sacrifice was enough to fully pay for sin and make those who trust in Him holy. That means if you’ve put your faith in Jesus, you’ve been made clean—not temporarily, but for good.
This verse is a declaration of the power and finality of what Jesus did for us.
Historical Context
This verse comes at the end of a series of verses in Hebrews 10 that compare the old system of sacrifices with what Jesus accomplished. Under the old covenant, priests offered animals again and again, but those sacrifices couldn’t truly remove sin. They were part of God’s law for a time, but they pointed forward to something greater.
Jesus came to do God’s will, and that will was to offer His own body as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice. This verse wraps up that truth by showing that God’s will wasn’t just about replacing a system—it was about saving people.
In the first-century Jewish world, this was a major shift. People who had grown up under the law were now being told that the law had been fulfilled—not erased, but completed in Jesus.
Theological Implications
This verse is loaded with core truths. First, it teaches that holiness isn’t something we earn—it’s something we’re given through Christ. When the Bible says we’ve been “made holy,” it means we’ve been set apart, forgiven, and made right with God. That’s not based on effort or performance. It’s based on Jesus’ sacrifice.
Second, the verse reminds us that Jesus’ sacrifice is once for all. That’s incredibly important. There’s no need for repeat sacrifices or rituals. Jesus did what needed to be done, and it was enough—for everyone, for all time.
Finally, it shows that salvation is tied to the will of God. Jesus didn’t act on His own; He fulfilled the Father’s plan of redemption, showing that our salvation is part of a bigger, intentional story.
Literary Analysis
The structure of the verse is simple, but the message is rich. It starts with “And by that will,” which links it to the previous verse where Jesus says, “I have come to do your will.” That makes it clear—Jesus’ obedience is what brought about our holiness.
The phrase “we have been made holy” is stated as a fact. It’s not something we’re hoping to earn, and it’s not something we do ourselves. It’s done. And the foundation of that reality is “the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
The contrast with the repeated animal sacrifices from earlier verses is clear: those were temporary, Jesus‘ is permanent.
Biblical Cross-References
- Hebrews 10:14 – “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”
- Hebrews 9:12 – “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”
- Romans 5:19 – “Through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”
- Ephesians 5:2 – “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
- 1 Peter 3:18 – “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
Each of these verses points back to Jesus’ single, perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice as the foundation of our faith.
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
This verse should give every believer comfort and confidence. If you’ve trusted in Jesus, you’ve been made holy. That means you’re no longer under guilt, shame, or fear of punishment. You’ve been set apart as God’s child.
It also means you don’t need to add anything to what Jesus has already done. You don’t need to perform or prove yourself. You are accepted, forgiven, and made holy through His sacrifice.
At the same time, this truth invites us to live in response. Being made holy should lead us to live holy lives—not to earn God’s love, but because we already have it.
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
God’s love is seen clearly in this verse. His will wasn’t to burden us with endless rules or impossible standards. His will was to save us. And He did it by sending His Son.
God didn’t ask us to fix ourselves. He made a way—through Jesus—to bring us into His family, cleanse our hearts, and give us a new life. That’s love in action.
This verse reminds us that God’s will is always good, and it’s always aimed at redemption.
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
This verse is all about Jesus—His obedience, His sacrifice, and His victory. It tells us that He didn’t just die to set an example. He died to accomplish something: our holiness. His physical body was the offering, and His death was the moment God’s will was fully carried out.
- Hebrews 2:17 – “He had to be made like them… in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest.”
- John 17:19 – “For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”
- Isaiah 53:10 – “It was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer… and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.”
Jesus didn’t come halfway. He fulfilled the will of God fully and perfectly—and because of that, we are made holy.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- What does it mean to you personally that you have been “made holy” through Jesus?
- How does knowing Jesus’ sacrifice was once for all affect the way you view forgiveness?
- Are you still trying to earn God’s approval, even though Jesus has already secured it?
- What changes when you live as someone who has already been accepted and made clean?
- How can this verse shape the way you worship, serve, and trust God daily?