Hebrew 9:27-28 (2 of 2)
Today we want to close out our studies from Hebrews 9:27-28. In the last part of verse 28, we read: "…and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Now who are the ones who are looking for Him? Obviously they are the believers, those who have trusted Christ as their personal Savior. Such have believed the truth stated in the first part of the verse, that Christ was once offered on the cross to bear the penalty of death for their sins, as their substitutes.
The promise of Christ's substitution is found in II Corinthians 5:21: For He[God] hath made Him [Christ] to be sin for us [substitution], who knew no sin: THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM." Do you believe this?
Since true believers believe in Christ's substitution for their sins, they also believe in His promise to return again and resurrect them from the grave or, if still alive, to rapture them to be with Himself, as seen in I Thessalonians 4:13-18:
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, they ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Christ is coming again. He came the first time to bear man's sins on the cross. He is coming the second time to take the believer to Himself. Are you ready?
Life Lines is a Bible based inspirational series authored by Brother Lowell M. Barnard of Grace Baptist Church, New Castle Indiana; and Blessed Hope Baptist Church, Huber Heights, Ohio.