Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In the passage in the book of Hebrews from which this verse comes, the writer is contrasting the system of animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins that God instituted in the Law given to Israel through Moses with the sacrificial death of Jesus. 

The shedding of the blood of animals that God commanded in the Old Testament books of Exodus through Deuteronomy (thousands of years before Christ) for the forgiveness of sins was meant both to emphasize the seriousness of sin in God's eyes (in that it required the death of innocent living creatures through the shedding of their blood to accomplish), and to serve as a prophetic foreshadowing of the ultimate and final sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins that Jesus (who was both true man and true God) would one day accomplish by His sinless life, the sacrificial shedding of His blood in death, and His subsequent resurrection.

Because the shedding of the blood of animals for the forgiveness of sins was only representative of the sacrifice that Christ would make, it had to be repeated at designated intervals that God commanded in order to continue to be effective.

However, because Christ was God incarnate, when He shed His blood in final fulfillment of the sacrificial system of the Mosaic Law, His sacrifice did not have to be continually repeated to be effective in obtaining God's forgiveness of sin, and also served to provide the means of forgiveness of sins not just for the people of Israel, but for all who put their faith in His death and resurrection (rather than in their own righteousness) to obtain that forgiveness, just as the people of Israel placed their faith in the shedding of the blood of animals in order to be forgiven of their sins by God.

In the verse being asked about, the writer of Hebrews is likening this "once-and-for-all" sacrifice on the part of Jesus, with the final nature of the physical death that each human will experience, followed by the judgment from God that each human will face when Jesus returns (as He promised He will) at the close of this age. As noted in verse 28 (immediately following the verse being asked about), the writer continues, "so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him."

November 01 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). The one thing that this verse does not mean at least is that reincarnation is possible. It is not.

The Bible calls death “the last enemy” (I Corinthians 15:26). Death is the effect of sin (Heb. 2:14), and not a "debt of nature." It is but once (He. 9:27), universal (Gen. 3:19), necessary (Luke 2:28-30). Jesus has by his own death taken away its sting for all his followers (1 Cor. 15:55-57).-- EBD 

And it is an enemy you must face because “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Since you are going to die, you need to know what the Bible says about death. 

The Bible tells us that death comes because of sin. When the first man sinned death passed down to all of his descendants. You and I have the seeds of death already in our bodies. Teeth decay. Hair begins to fall out. Then it turns gray. Our eyes grow weaker. Cancer cells begin forming in some--in the U.S:

Cancer Deaths in 2017: 599,108 
Percentage of total deaths: 21.3%; 
heart muscles weaken in others--and so in the U.S. deaths in 2017: 647,457
Percentage of total deaths: 23.5%-
-Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. This is the case in the U.S. and worldwide. More than half of all people who die due to heart disease are men.; 
blood pressure goes up. I have seen little children die from cancer, leukemia, and other diseases. Whoever you are, death is headed your way. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

But you may say, “All these facts don’t scare me.” They don’t scare me either, because I have placed my hope on Christ, who has conquered death. But if you have not yet become a born-again. Christian, you ought to have enough sense to be scared! Death will end all of your opportunities to be saved. And remember this – death may come upon you very soon. Your silk-lined coffin may be waiting at the funeral parlor right now!

The Bible warns of sudden death.

More than one half of all deaths are sudden deaths. Automobile accidents-- Unintentional injuries
Deaths in 2017: 169,936
Percentage of total deaths: 6%

Accidents, or unintentional injuries, are the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. overall, and the leading cause of death in the U.S. for those aged 1–44.; murders, suicides, war, and heart attacks are all sudden. The vast majority of those who die this way have no time to repent and trust Christ. They go out of this life to face God unprepared. The Bible says:

“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Proverbs 29:1).

If you were to die suddenly in the coming days, what would happen to you? Would you be able to say with the Apostle Paul, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”? (Philippians 1:21). Or would you go out into eternity with no hope of being with Christ? Will it be Heaven or Hell for you? That is a serious question, the most serious question you will ever face, because “It is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). 

Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr can be credited for only some of the above, but not for most.

May 02 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report