“One is the Loneliest Number That You’ll Ever Do”

Ro 6:10  For in that He died, He died unto sin once (ephapax) ; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.

1Co 15:6  and that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once (ephapax)  of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some have fallen asleep.

Heb 7:27  who needeth not, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice daily first for his own sins and then for the people’s; for this He did once (ephapax) when He offered up Himself.

Heb 9:12  neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, entered in once (ephapax) into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Heb 10:10  By this will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once (ephapax) for all.

There are few Biblical words more formidable than the Greek (Ephapax).

This little word appears only five times in the NT.

The enigma of Ephapax is that though its Biblical significance is staggering,  it is ignored by the reader due that its English counterpart is the little word, “once.”

Once is one.  We don’t want one, we want many.  When our eyes survey “one” or “once” it insignificant, unimportant.

As those prophets of old , Three Dog Night once sang,  “One is the Loneliest Number That You’ll Ever Do.”

Shortly after marriage to my beloved Mary, she became by default, a New Testament widow. I say this tongue and cheek, of course.

I received a calling from God right after our vows to learn New Testament Greek. For every birthday and Christmas I requested Greek reference books. Mary could never surprise me! In our early wed days, she’d watched TV, and  I’d be hiding in our bedroom poring over Greek grammar, cases and tenses.

The revelation knowledge of the Word which sets us free was hyperbolically heightened to me in the Greek. Once I learned to read in Greek I have never gone back to English. It’s like comparing Filet Mignon to ground turkey.

I tell all my readers that if they truly want to become free in Christ, learn some NT Greek. Now it’s all free in the free Bible programs.  There is no excuse not to become a Greek NT scholar if you want to.

Ro 6:10  For in that He died, He died unto sin once (ephapax) ; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.

Heb 7:27  who needeth not, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice daily first for his own sins and then for the people’s; for this He did once (ephapax) when He offered up Himself.

Heb 9:12  neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, entered in once (ephapax) into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Heb 10:10  By this will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once (ephapax) for all.

But this lonely word Ephapax ; “at once, all at once, and once and for all” is colossal to the work of Christ. If I did not know Greek, Ephapax would have been One is the Loneliest Number That I’ll Ever Do.

Ro 6:10  For in that He died, He died unto sin once (ephapax) ; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.

When Christ died for sin, it was “at once, all at once, and once and for all”.

What does that signify to us?  When Christ died on the cross, the Christian died with Him.

To be born again is to be placed In Christ. Think of yourself, a piece of paper, stuck in a book. The book is Christ.  Being born again is to be stuck inside the pages of the book. If the book is dropped you are dropped because you are inside the book. When the book is picked from the floor, so are you, because you are inside the book.  When Christ died you died. Thus you have entered inside His death. A dead man cannot be sick, neither can he sin. The death of Christ set us free from the sin producing nature which generates all this junk. Now mind you, the sinful habits stay. This is where your mind’s renewal comes in. But it’s an undisputable historical fact that you are dead. A corpse is free! Epahapax!

Ro 6:10  For in that He died, He died unto sin once (ephapax) ; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.

When Christ died for sin, it was “at once, all at once, and once and for all”.

At once you died with Christ, all at once, or every part of you at once died, and once and for all you died. No more is needed. At once on the cross, all parts of you at once, and once and for all for eternity died, you are free. If you think  that you are still dying, you won’t become free. Ephapax!

Heb 7:27  who needeth not, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice daily first for his own sins and then for the people’s; for this He did once (ephapax) when He offered up Himself.

When Christ offered up Himself for your sins, it was “at once, all at once, and once and for all”.

Again, you are free from sin because of Epaphax.

2Co 5:21  For He hath made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might be made the (a) righteousness of God in Him.

Not “the righteousness” but “a righteousness.”

The righteousness of God is the invisible perfections of God made visibly manifested. We are as healthy, as perfect, as holy, as free, and as glorious as God is. Of course we will not see  it completely in this life, but we certainly can make a dent into this new life now.

Ephapax; dead to sin, alive to righteousness.

Heb 9:12  neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, entered in once (ephapax) into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Christ entered into the Holy of Holy’s (ephapax): “at once, all at once, and once and for all”.

Because of this, you are not only guaranteed eternal life, but eternal life in a glorious and free body.  Redemption is the purchase price paid for the liberation of a salve. For you, it was the slavery to sin. The purchase price for your liberation was the blood of Christ.  You have been bought not with things that will perish such as silver and gold, but with the most precious blood of The Lamb without spot and wrinkle. Ephapax.

Heb 10:10  By this will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once (ephapax) for all.

Righteousness is the product of sanctification. We are as perfect, as free and whole as God Himself, because we are His righteousness. Righteousness has been attained because we have been sanctified through the offering of Christ’s body on the cross. Ephapax.

So when in doubt “Ephapax”!

Don’t despise small things, or small beginnings. Don’t think of “once” or “One is the Loneliest Number That You’ll Ever Do,” in a bad way.

“ One” Three Dog Night

One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It’s the loneliest number since the number one

No is the saddest experience you’ll ever know
Yes, it’s the saddest experience you’ll ever know
`Cause one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
One is the loneliest number, worse than two

It’s just no good anymore since she went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday

One is the loneliest, number one is the loneliest
Number one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
One is the loneliest, one is the loneliest
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
It’s just no good anymore since she went away
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do