“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:27-28).
Mankind experienced the first advent of the Christ. As Paul wrote, He came to earth, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). This sacrificial death is how He bore those sins, and served as a propitiation or appeasing sacrifice to the justice of the Father. We read in the New Testament the sacrifice, and the Father’s acceptance of that sacrifice. The Hebrew writer, “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).
What we haven’t experienced in the second advent of Christ. When He comes again, it will be apart from sin. The work of redemption has been accomplished in His sacrifice on the cross. In contrast His second coming will be as a conquering King! He will gloriously appear in the sky. He will bring all of His chosen ones to His bosom, and will deliver them to an eternity in His presence (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. “Therefore comfort one another with these words” (4:18).
