Hebrews 9:28
So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.
Our verse today brings an interesting perspective on the Second Coming of Christ and His purpose. Here in the Book of Hebrews we find some weighty theology that should perk our attention, so let’s put our verse into additional context:
Hebrews 9:23-28 (NIV)
23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.
What we find here is a comparison and explanation of the Old Testament sacrificial system to the New Testament reality in Jesus Christ. The writer brings theological emphasis that Jesus gave Himself “once” – in as much as people are destined to die once (Christ died once as well), and after that to face judgment – so we find in Jesus, by the sacrifice of Himself, a superior sacrifice that does not need to be nor will it ever be repeated. We can reference Hebrews 1:3-4 in this regard: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So He became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs.”
When the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (The First Advent of Jesus), He was sent by God the Father to be a sacrificial lamb – the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (Cf. John 1:29). “So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many” is probably an allusion to Isaiah 53:12 (Cf. 1 Peter 2:24); however, the most prominent issue of this verse for me now is that “He will appear a second time!” The Writer indicates that the purpose of this “second” coming is not to bear the sins of the world, but to bring salvation (eternal life) to those who are “eagerly” awaiting His return…. One commentator felt this may be another allusion to the ceremony of the Day of Atonement, where the Israelites eagerly waited for the High Priest to come out of the Holy of Holies alive, which symbolized YHWH’s acceptance of his intercessory ministry. But I believe for us, in this context, it probably refers to the return of Christ to gather His own.
John 14:1-6 (NIV)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I pray each of us find comfort and joy in the hope of His soon return. He is coming! He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Cf. Revelation 22:20-21)
So Now You Know 