Hebrews 9:23-28 New King James Version
Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice
23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be [a]purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are [b] copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Jesus came to earth some 2000 years ago.
God, taking on human form.
Born into this world to a peasant girl.
He lived among us for maybe 33 years.
And then was brutally crucified on a Roman cross.
Three days later he rose up from the grave, conquering death.
He sits now at the right hand of God.
And from that moment his followers look for him to return someday.
But why did he do this?
The author of Hebrews tells us here that his death was a sacrifice.
A sacrifice that would take away the sins of many.
Jesus is the perfect lamb who could, once and for all, wash us clean of our sins.
His sacrifice was one of atonement.
His sacrifice was to take away the sins of many people.
1 John 2:2 tells us he was the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
But in a special way for believers, for those who accept him as savior and Lord.
And he is returning a second time.
This time it is not as a sacrifice.
It is not for the world.
He is returning, bringing salvation, for those looking forward to his return.
We rightly say that we have been saved.
But that salvation is not complete until he returns for us, taking us to be with him forever (John 14:1-3).
There are many things in life that we look forward to.
But which of them is better than Christ’s return for those who are his own?
But, are we 10/10 ‘EAGERLY’ waiting for CHRIST to RETURN?
Hebrews 9:27-28 Amplified Bible
27 And just as it is appointed and destined for all men to die once and after this [comes certain] judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once and once for all to bear [as a burden] [a]the sins of many, will appear a second time [when he returns to earth], not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly and confidently waiting for Him.
The anonymous writer of Hebrews presents a contrast between the Old and New Covenant in the above passage.
Under the Old Covenant, the law condemned sinners to die and face the judgment.
However under the New Covenant Christ, as God’s ‘perfect sacrifice’, was offered once to bear all the sins of humankind.
He finished that work at the cross, but will come to take us to His home in heaven.
This will be the culmination of our salvation; we will receive glorified bodies and be forever beyond the reach of sin.
The expression, those who ‘eagerly’ wait for Him, is a description of all true believers who belong to Christ (1 Cor. 15:23) – who are “the dead in Christ” and “we who are alive and remain” (1 Thess. 4:16, 17).
Hebrews 9:24–28 mentions three appearances of Christ: a past appearance for our salvation (v. 26), a present appearance for our sanctification (v. 24), and a future appearance for our glorification (v. 28).
This may be described further as follows:
- Jesus has appeared (v. 26). This refers to the first time when He came to earth to save us from the penalty of sin (the past tense of salvation).
- Jesus now appears (v. 24). This refers to His present ministry to save us from the power of sin (the present tense of salvation).
- Jesus will appear (v. 28). This speaks of His imminent return when He will save us from the presence of sin (the future tense of salvation).
Jesus Christ appeared on earth once to accomplish His atoning work (v. 26).
Then He entered “into heaven,” opening the way for our access to God (v. 24).
One day He will reappear to consummate our salvation.
Are we eagerly waiting and looking forward for our Lord Jesus Christ to return?
Are we maintaining a steady relationship with God on a day-to-day basis?
Are we seeking God’s interest and His kingdom before anything in our lives?
If not, let us make a new commitment to God’s kingdom values, and give Him the top priority in our daily living!
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)
“In the name of God, the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”
Praying …..
Psalm 27
By David.
1 Yahweh is my light and my salvation.
Who is there to fear?
Yahweh is my life’s fortress.
Who is there to be afraid of?
2 Evildoers closed in on me to tear me to pieces.
My opponents and enemies stumbled and fell.
3 Even though an army sets up camp against me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even though a war breaks out against me,
I will still have confidence in the Lord.
4 I have asked one thing from Yahweh.
This I will seek:
to remain in Yahweh’s house all the days of my life
in order to gaze at Yahweh’s beauty
and to search for an answer in his temple.
5 He hides me in his shelter when there is trouble.
He keeps me hidden in his tent.
He sets me high on a rock.
6 Now my head will be raised above my enemies who surround me.
I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy in his tent.
I will sing and make music to praise Yahweh.
7 Hear, O Yahweh, when I cry aloud.
Have pity on me, and answer me.
8 When you said,
“Seek my face,”
my heart said to you,
“O Yahweh, I will seek your face.”[a]
9 Do not hide your face from me.
Do not angrily turn me away.
You have been my help.
Do not leave me!
Do not abandon me, O Elohim, my savior!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
Yahweh will take care of me.
11 Teach me your way, O Yahweh.
Lead me on a level path
because I have enemies who spy on me.
12 Do not surrender me to the will of my opponents.
False witnesses have risen against me.
They breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I will see the goodness of Yahweh
in this world of the living.
14 Wait with hope for Yahweh.
Be strong, and let your heart be courageous.
Yes, wait with hope for Yahweh.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 