Hebrews
9:28, "So 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."
This
morning, many live in a state of confusion about what is coming with the
eventual return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Too many people
are anticipating that day fearfully - for a number of misguided
reasons. Others deny its reality. Still others expect several things
to happen before it arrives that the Bible does not support. Regardless
of the confusion, we should never let the counterfeit teachings about
Christ's second coming discourage or cloud our joyful anticipation of
that glorious event. While I do not claim to have a lot of insight into
certain difficult texts that men sometimes use to prop up their errant
teachings (such as Revelation, Daniel, or Ezekiel), one need only
observe the clear texts in Scripture to discount the "house of cards"
teachings that many hold to. Our study verse this morning is one of the
clearest stated teachings on His second coming in all of Holy Writ, and
our desire is to focus upon Paul's thoughts and draw strength for today
and hope for tomorrow.
Quite
often in Scripture, we find simply stated and succinct texts that give
an encapsulation of a grand teaching. Such is the case of our verse.
Let us notice a few of the phrases that scope out the subject of
Christ's second coming. 1. It is unto them that look for Him. 2. He
appears the second time. 3. He appears without sin. 4. He appears
unto salvation. These four plain statements dispel many of the
misguided - but popular - thoughts of the day about this event, but more
importantly, they give some of the greatest comfort to God's family.
Many
texts in the Bible are taken by Arminians to throw their slant onto it.
Our text is one such verse that is sometimes used to support the idea
that only people living right will get to enjoy Christ's eventual
coming. They say, "If you're not looking for Him, then you'll get left
out of ." However, such thinking will not stack up to
Scriptural exegesis, as Paul in another place declared that the only
thing affecting our eternal state in glory was that Christ died for us.
Whether we are awake (spiritually) or asleep (spiritually), it matters
not. Christ's death for us secures our home in glory. (I Thessalonians
5:9-10) So, what does Paul mean by this statement? In another place,
Paul uses some similar language to teach the same point. As he was
writing his last epistle, he declared his desire to depart and enjoy
what God had prepared for Him: a crown of righteousness. (II Timothy
4:8) However, this provision that God prepared was not to be singularly
enjoyed by Paul. Everyone would equally enjoy that state who "love his
appearing." Paul's statement of people loving His appearing and looking
for His appearing speak to something that God has already done for His
regenerated people.
God has
given us - in the new birth - a creature that is wholly righteous. (I
John 3:9) This new man longs and yearns for that blessed day of being
with Christ with all the family of God. (Romans 8:19) In the heart, new
man, new creature, etc. there is a longing to be where He is. No matter
what happens in this world, that nature is there, for it is anchored
beyond the veil where Christ sits. (Hebrews 6:20) Regardless of what
Satan and all the world throws at us, God has planted something within
us that cannot ever be undone or taken away. Truly, we do not always
act obediently to the inclination of this new man and nature as we are
still tainted with our old nature in the body of this death. (Romans
7:25) Yet, that new nature is intrinsically yearning and reaching out -
longing - for home. Our course is to manifest outwardly the desire that
is already within. Live with the longing and outward desire that is
already worked in by God. (Philippians 2:12-13)
The
second phrase "shall appear the second time" is so clear it takes help
to misunderstand it. Here Paul adamantly and clearly slams the door on
the idea of multiple future appearings of Christ. Since He has already
appeared once to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Verse 26),
there can be nothing since then other than this second appearing that
Paul speaks of. There will be no secret appearings, special raptures,
reigning future kingdoms of Christ on earth, etc. Whenever people go to
Revelation to try to prove such concepts, I may not have a definitive
answer about what those texts mean, but I can assuredly have the
conviction to answer that they do not support such teachings as our
verse clearly refutes those ideas. Another important point to make here
is that His appearing the second time shows that there was not a bodily
appearing on earth other than these two. Some have the misguided idea
that Christ has been coming in bodily form ever since the days of the
Old Testament. While He certainly existed, He did not assume flesh
until His first appearing, and that fleshly - albeit glorified - form
will not be seen again until this time that Paul speaks of.
Paul
further asserts that this appearing will be without sin. That is a
somewhat curious statement since He appeared the first time without sin
as well. While in a real body, it was only the likeness of sinful
flesh. (Romans 8:3) However, Paul's thought here refers to not only the
perception of Christ but also the scope of the occasion. Since His
first appearing had the likeness of sinful flesh, there was the
perception by some that He was no different or better than anyone else.
Such will not be the case on that last day. As He appears in the clouds
of glory, all will see Him and know who He is. The brightness of His
glory will be really and fully seen. His majesty will be on full
display, and not one person or thing - even His enemies - will be able
to do anything other than bow their knee and confess that, "Jesus is
Lord." (Philippians 2:9-11)
Also on
that occasion, the scope is so grand that sin will be manifestly taken
away. His appearing is not to finally vanquish sin, but rather to show
His past conquest of it on our behalf. All the sins that plague us now
will be manifestly gone. Sinful bodies will be changed and forever made
sinless. Sinful, wicked men will be forever removed from us and cast
into the lake of fire. Evil principalities and the powers of darkness
will likewise be taken away. The only vision and sight that the family
of God will have on that day is the clearest most unclouded sight of
glory ever to behold. No longer seen through broken vision, we will
behold the King in the fullness of glory and honor. No longer plagued
by weakness on every hand in this low ground of sin and sorrow, we will
know and understand for the first time what the term "without sin"
really looks and most importantly "feels" like.
Just as
the expression "without sin" does not imply Christ's final conquest but
rather a manifestation of conquest over sin, so also the expression
"unto salvation" shows that Christ's coming is not to "finally get the
job done." It is to show that His job and mission has already been
accomplished. Some think that His coming is to set the affairs on earth
in order as He sets up His kingdom. Friends, His affairs are already in
order. He has spoiled the grave. He has victoriously defeated Satan.
Praise be unto God, He has already saved us from our sins. His coming
in the clouds manifests the reality of all these things. Hebrews 2:8
tells us that all things are put under His feet, but we do not yet see
all things put under Him. We still see death on every hand and the
wiles of Satan trying to ensnare us in this world. On that day, we will
realize the fullness of His salvation. For the first time, we will be
able to talk of the story in the rich fullness that it deserves.
Since
we only know and see in part here, we cannot possibly hope to scope out
the blessedness of His mercy, compassion, and grace. On that day, we
will know Him even as He knows us. We will be able for the first time
to understand fully and completely His love for us. We will be able to
bask in the blessed Light of His rapturous mercy as the endless ages of
eternity roll.
Putting
all of these thoughts together, we can see that regardless of what
happens in this old world, nothing is going to keep us from Him. The
next time He appears, all will be over. We will know and understand the
fulness of salvation, void of sin. The only thing left is to improve
our manifestation of that first principle - looking for Him. Friends
looking for Him outwardly should be done in the same vein that occurs
inwardly. Yearning and pining for home. May our walk here be marked
with free and cheerful confession that this world is not our home. May
our thoughts be directed upward with the hope and confidence that He
will appear from that place. Truly, what does this world have to throw
at us that compares with that? What fancies of the world are worth
taking our mind and attention away from it? What troubles of the world
are worth depressing us to the point of failing to see or look forward
to it as we should? Friends, an old cliche says, "All's well that ends
well." While that cliche fails in so many human endeavors, it will be
abundantly true in the end of all ends here on earth. All will be
well. All is well right now, but all will eventually be well to our
sight and vantage point.
In
Hope,
Bro
Philip
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