“For the time that is past suffices…”

“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9.28 )

Why did Jesus come to Earth? Where is he now? Is he coming back? These are some of the biggest questions which people through all ranges of Christianity ask. They want to understand, need to understand, who Jesus is and what he’s done and plans to do. Of course, it would be arrogant (and dangerous) to say that any one verse explains all of this to us, but in my readings I have come across a passage which I think says a lot to us on this issue, especially in light of some of the current popular Christologies in our culture.

The whole of Hebrews 9 is an amazing chapter and is a very keen place which I would direct people to who want to understand better what the Old Testament sacrificial system was about and how it pertains to Christ’s workings on the Cross. However, the very last verse of that chapter is what I want to key on, verse 28. I believe that in this verse God is revealing to us through his inspired word a clear (though by no means comprehensive) picture of what Christ did and what he still intends to do.

“Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many.” Who “offered” him? He offered himself (vv.14,25-26)! And how does Christ’s offering of himself correspond with Isaiah 53.10 (“Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.“)? So, it was Christ offering himself and the Father executing the sacrifice!

Then did God send Christ specifically to die? Many people today will say that Christ came as our example to show us how to live and that that was his sole purpose in being brought to earth; that the Cross was an example of submission but was unnecessary for God to use in the forgiveness of sins. Yet what does it say: “will appear a second time, not to deal with sin . . . “ So if in the second appearance it is emphasized that he won’t be coming to deal with sin, it would seem logical to deduce that the emphasis of his first coming, the incarnation, was in order to deal with sin. And where do we see sin being dealt with? On the Cross (Isaiah 53.5, Romans 4.25, Colossians 2.13-14, 1 Peter 3.18)!

But what about the second coming: “[Christ] will appear a second time . . . to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” Thus when Christ returns it will be in glory to claim what is his and to save them from this dying world and to make them glorified with him forever in the New Jerusalem where God’s presence will forever dwell (Revelation 19-22).

This is great news! Christ came to deal with sin and will be coming again to gather those that belong to him for eternal fellowship with the one true God at the end of time! Amazing! Thank you!