These verses speak of three appearings of Jesus Christ. Two of them are His appearings on earth.
The third one is His appearing in heaven for us. Verse 27 is probably the best known and the most quoted verse of Hebrews 9. But it is a part of a sentence which is completed with Verse 28. Since man dies one physical death, so Christ died once and for all for our sins. All whose sins are forgiven will live with Him eternally.
The verses of this chapter are a brief summary of the life and work of Jesus Christ on our behalf.
HIS APPEARING TO PUT AWAY SIN
Verse 26. NOTE Verses 24-26: 24For Christ is not entered into the holy places
made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to
appear in the presence of God for us: 25Nor yet that he should offer himself
often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of
others; 26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world:
but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of himself.
The purpose of His birth
Matthew 1:21, "And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name
JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins."
Luke 2:10, 11: "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this
day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
The proclamation of His purpose
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John 1:29, "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Luke 19:10, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was
lost."
The picture of His death
Matthew 26:26-29: 26And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it,
and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all
of it; 28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins. 29But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit
of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
The purpose of His death
Hebrews 9:26. ".. .to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." (See also Hebrews 9:27, 28a.)
Matthew 20:25-28, "But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Ye know that the
princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great
exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever
will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief
among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not be
ministered unto but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for man."
John 10:15-18: 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I
lay down my life for the sheep. 16And other sheep I have, which are not of this
fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one
fold, and one shepherd. 17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down
my life, that I might take it again. 18No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down
of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment have I received of my Father.
I Timothy 2:3-6: "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of
the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."
1 John 3:5: "And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in
Him is no sin."
Romans 5:6, 8, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died
for the ungodly, But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us."
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Ephesians 5:1, 2: 1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And walk
in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Galatians 1:3, 4: 3Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our
Lord Jesus Christ, 4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from
this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
HIS APPEARING NOW IN HEAVEN FOR US
Verse 24: 24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which
are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence
of God for us:
After His resurrection.
John 20:11-17: 11But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she
wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12And seeth two angels
in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of
Jesus had lain. 13And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith
unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they
have laid him. 14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw
Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15Jesus saith unto her, Woman,
why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener,
saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid
him, and I will take him away. 16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself,
and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17Jesus saith unto her,
Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren,
and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God,
and your God.
In the heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 9:11-12, 24-25).
With His own blood (Hebrews 9:11-15, 24-26).
HIS SECOND APPEARING ON EARTH
Verses 27, 28: 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them
that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
NOTE Acts 1:9-11: "And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld,
He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they
looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them
in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into
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heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come
in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."
His promise to His church.
John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in
Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also."
His promise to come again.
Matthew 24:29, 30: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun
be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from
heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear
the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth
mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory."
His plan to set up His kingdom.
Luke 1:31-33, "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a
son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and be called the Son of
the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father
David; And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom
there shall be no end,"
Matthew 25:31-40: 31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the
holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before
him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another,
as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on
his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on
his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me
meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and
ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when
saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When
saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when
saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer
and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one
of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Acts 1:6, 7: "When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying,
Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto
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them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath
put in His own power."
His plan to reward every man's work.
Heb. 9:27, 28: 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them
that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Matthew 16:27: "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with
His angels, and then He shall reward every man according to his work."
Romans 2:5, 6: "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto
thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment
of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds."
II Timothy 4:7-8: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have
kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give unto me at that day: and not to me only,
but unto all them that love His appearing."
Revelation 22:12, "And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with me, to
give to every man according as His work shall be."
Conclusion
After reading this chapter, the Hebrew Christians who received this letter had to realize that there is no middle ground. They had to make a choice between the earthly or the heavenly, between the temporary or the eternal, between the incomplete or the complete. Why not return to the temple but also practice the Christian faith? Why not have the best of both worlds? Because that would be compromising and refusing to go "without the camp, bearing His reproach" (Hebrews 13:13).
Therefore, there is no middle ground.
Hebrews 13:13: Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his
reproach.
The believer's sanctuary is in heaven. His Father is in heaven, and his Saviour is in heaven. His citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), and his treasure should be in heaven. His hope is also in heaven. The true believer walks by faith, not by sight. No matter what may happen on earth, the believer can have confidence because everything is settled in heaven.
Philippians 3:20: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look
for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Do you have that assurance which causes you to know that your sins are forgiven and that heaven is your eternal home? Are you willing to be identified with Jesus Christ here on the earth? Are you 148
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a member of His Church, and are you walking in fellowship with Him?
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