Hebrews 9:26-28
The Hebrew writer says that one of the weaknesses of the OT priesthood and sacrificial system was that sin was never dealt with decisively and definitively (9:25 and see 10:1-3). The Levitical priests appeared ceaselessly before the Lord offering countless sacrifices for sin.
The Hebrew writer said Jesus appeared a first time to deal with sin (9:26). I say he said Jesus appeared a first time to deal with sin because he goes on to say that Jesus would appear a second time not to deal with sin (9:28).
The first time Jesus appeared is the only time he appeared to deal with sin. There is no other appearance that deals with sin so he had better have dealt with it the first time or we're all in trouble. But he did deal with it and he did deal with it in his first appearance.
He dealt with it in his first appearance with a once-for-all atonement (9:26).
The Hebrew writer distinguishes that first appearance from a second appearance.
He doesn't make them one appearance—he says they are two.
He says they are different from one another and he spells out the nature of the difference.
He says the first appearance annulled or took away sin in a definitive and once-for-all action.
He says more than that. To make it clear beyond doubt, he explicitly says the second appearance has nothing to do with dealing with sin—that's a done deal. He makes this remark to underscore the truth that Christ dealt with sin once and for all in his first appearance and that his sacrifice is nothing like the Levitical arrangement.
He insists that Jesus will appear again (9:28) but that it will not be to offer sacrifice to take away sin (that was completed in a previous appearance!).
He says that for those who have experienced the taking away of their sins Jesus will appear a second time to bring them salvation. The salvation he will bring will be for those who eagerly look for him and have received his completed work done in a previous appearance. [The implication for those who have refused and want nothing to do with him is stark.]
Any doctrine then that is grounded on the view that it was at this second appearance that sin was dealt with is far wide of the mark. We occasionally hear that this second appearance speaks of the 70 AD judgement on Israel and that it was then, at 70 AD and not before, that the atonement was accomplished and sin was deal with. It's plain to see that that view runs in direct opposition to the text here.
Any doctrine that offers hope for forgiveness to those who impenitently spurn Jesus lives in tension with this text.
What the Hebrew writer says buries numerous interesting speculations.
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.