Hebrews 9:27-28 - Homilies By W. Jones

The two deaths, and the two appearings after death.

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die," etc. The writer is still treating of the completeness of the sacrifice of our Savior. That sacrifice was offered once for all. Being perfect, it needed no repetition. And now he shows that its repetition was impossible. Notice—

I. THE TWO DEATHS . The death of man, and the death of the Christ. They are mentioned together here to bring out the fact that Christ's offering of himself will not be repeated. Notice these two deaths in the order in which they are here mentioned.

1. The death of man.

2. The death of the Christ. "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many."

(a) Its repetition is impossible. As man can die only once, so the Christ can only be offered in death once.

(b) Its repetition is unnecessary. His offering was perfect in itself and in its efficacy; its efficacy, moreover, is perpetual, so that it need not be repeated. Heaven asks no more. Man needs no more.

"His precious blood

Shall never lose its power,

Till the whole ransomed Church of God

Be saved, to sin no more."

(Cowper)

II. THE TWO APPEARINGS AFTER DEATH .

1. The appearing of man after death. "It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, judgment." "We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ," etc. ( 2 Corinthians 5:10 ). The fact of human responsibility to God suggests the coming of a great day of account. The Divine government of the world, and the inequalities between the characters and conditions and circumstances of men, which are so many and remarkable at present, point to the necessity of such a day. The holy Bible declares it as a certainty (cf. Ecclesiastes 12:14 ; Matthew 25:31-46 ; Acts 17:31 ; Romans 14:10-12 ). How unutterably solemn the consideration that all the myriads of the dead shall appear again in the great day, and before the awful and holy tribunal of the Son of God and Son of man.

2. The appearing of the Christ after death. "The Christ, also, having been offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time," etc.

(a) The attitude of his people in relation to his coming. "Them that wait for him" This implies:

( α ) Faith in his coming. "We look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ," etc. ( Philippians 3:20 , Philippians 3:21 ).

( β ) Desire for his coming. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

( γ ) Expectation of his coming. They "wait for God's Son from heaven," etc. ( 1 Thessalonians 1:10 ).

(b) The object of his coming in relation to his people. "Unto salvation." To perfect their salvation. He will raise their bodies, reunite body and soul, receive them into his glory. He will say unto them, "Come, ye blessed of my Father," etc. They shall enter into the joy of their Lord. "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things," etc. ( 2 Peter 3:14 ).—W.J.