338. Put Away Sin
Hebrews 9:26 For 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.
Jesus appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. When the Son of God appeared in the world for the first time it was as a human being born of the Virgin Mary. He appeared as a man to sacrifice Himself once in the end of the world. This time is described as “the end of the world.” The whole period of time since Jesus’ first appearing until now is considered to be the end of world. It has been a long time since according to our short lifetime of reckoning, but from God’s viewpoint the whole time since His first appearing is the end of the world. That we are living in the “End Times” gives us pause to consider the meaning of the times in which we live. It is the end of the world because the actual end may come at any time. When it does come, Jesus will appear in all His glory to Judge the world along with all the people and spirits living on the earth. We are in the end times also because all the signs of Christ’s Second Coming are in place, and He may appear at any time.
What Jesus did the first time he appeared was to sacrifice Himself in order to put away sin. Sin is forgiven; Sin’s deserved penalty has been paid; the blood sacrifice has been accomplished, and it is once for all. Jesus put sin away, and we who believe in Him have sins put away with all of its just punishments. However, sin still remains in us and among us, continually leading us into pain and misery, but Sin will not have the last word; it is put away from us.
When Jesus gloriously appears the second time He will put away from us the presence of sin forever. Sin, Death, Hell, the Devil, the Beast (the world), and the False Prophet (false religions) will be confined to the Lake of Fire for all time. Sin and all of its painful effects will be absolutely gone from our presence. This is the promise we take hold of: the sure and certain hope of the resurrection of the body. For now, in this “end of the world” time, sin has been put away by faith. We renew our faith and eternal life on a daily basis, holding on to the promises of God through Jesus Christ. Whenever we are reminded of our sins and our sinful nature we turn immediately to the Gospel and we are reminded again that Jesus put away sin.