339. Appear unto Salvation
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.
Once in the past Christ bore the sins of the world. This sacrifice happened one time in human history, and the effect lasts for all time and forever. The first appearance of the Son of God was to offer Himself up for our sins, to bear them away. The infinite God died for our infinite sin. This once for all offering for sin invades our present day living with the forgiveness of all sins and the free gift of eternal life. This has happened; it is already done.
Those who look for him, the believers in Christ, are looking for Him to appear the second time. The second time Christ appears He will not come in humility, suffering and death, but He will appear in glory, power and life. The second glorious appearing depends upon His first humble appearing. The first appearing earned for us forgiveness, life and salvation, for He took upon Himself the sins of the world and our own sin. The second time He appears it will be without sin, because sin, death and the devil have already been dealt utter defeat. He will come again without sin unto salvation. He will not come to bear our sin again, but to bring eternal salvation. The Judge of the universe will consign all evil enemies to the lake of fire; and sin, death and the devil will never again be allowed to emerge and destroy life. Christ will finish the salvation already begun. Sin, death and the devil are presently allowed to try to continue their work of tempting and deceiving, stealing and destroying. We eagerly look for the second appearing to end the stresses and hassles and dangers forever. Christ will appear “unto salvation.”
Because of Christ’s first appearing we can walk by faith: we have the promise in actuality even though we do not see it. When the second appearance comes we will no longer walk by faith, but we will see salvation. That’s a promise we can live with.