Hebrews 9:27-28 Study Guide: Eagerly Awaiting the Return of Christ

Community Group Study Guide — Eagerly Awaiting the Return of Christ 
Hebrews 9:27-28

Study Information:
Followers of Jesus today live between the two appearing of Jesus. We celebrate his first coming during the Christmas season and we wait for the second coming, the second advent. Hebrews 9:27-28 instructs us that his first coming dealt with sin, and his second coming will save those who eagerly await his appearing. Many of us learn about the return of Jesus as we grow in our knowledge of the Bible, but we can often be confused about what that return means and sometimes, if we’re honest with ourselves, we do not really “eagerly” await his return. This study guide will explore the reality of death, the necessity of judgment and how Christ dealt with our sin, and what it means to eagerly await Jesus’s return. 

Living with the End in Mind
Hebrews 9:27
The message of the book of Hebrews can be summarized as “Jesus is better than everything else you can put your hope in, so do not shrink back.” Persecuted Jewish Christians in the 1st century were tempted to leave their faith in Jesus to alleviate their suffering, so the author of the book of Hebrews compared how Jesus was the fulfillment of the promises of the Old Covenant and how he is better than all of it. Hebrews 9 and 10 focused on how Christ fulfilled the sacrificial system once and for all by offering himself up “once to bear the sins of many (Hebrews 9:28).” This was really important for the audience of Hebrews to grasp because they were tempted to deny that truth and go back to their Jewish faith in order to alleviate earthly pain. Hebrews 9:27 connected two important realities together, first we all face death and second Christ also died and his death accomplished salvation once and for all for those who trust in him.

First, we all face death. The main application of the book of Hebrew was “do not shrink back, have confidence!” The writer tells his audience, “it is appointed for man to die once.” We do not like talking about death in our culture and often do not experience death as much as people in other countries or the ancient world. We should consider how we’re living with the end in mind. Imagine the persecution you might experience for your faith, or maybe you’ve been a little bit apathetic about fighting sin in your life… does the idea of giving up on Jesus seem worth it to you? Does the reality of death and the end of life influence how you life today at all? These are questions that are worth considering as we approach the end of this calendar year and think about changes or habits we want for next year. Do you live day by day like each moment matters and do you allow your faith in Christ to fill each moment of your life with meaning and purpose?

Second, of great theological importance we must understand that Christ, in his humanity, also died once to deal with sin. Unlike the sacrifices in the Old Testament, Jesus only had to die once. There is no need for repeated sacrifice to cover over sin like what happened in the Law. Christ in his human nature cleansed us and made us fit for heaven by the blood of his sacrifices (Hebrews 9:23-26). The high priest’s job was never done because they had to repeatedly offer sacrifice, but Christ’s work is finished and applied to us through faith (Hebrews 10:11-12). 

Judgement and How Christ Dealt with Sin
Hebrews 9:27
After death comes judgment. This is uncomfortable for many of us since our culture has trained us to think that God grades on a curve and as long as we can find someone worse than us we’re pretty good. Many world religions emphasize one’s ability to do good works through self discipline and we can think that as long as we’re making payments on our spiritual debt we’ll be good to go with God. Others think that God’s love means that he does not care much about our morality. However, the bible teaches that God does care how we live and it is not based on how we compare to everyone else because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23.)” Hebrews 9 emphasized Jesus as the atoning sacrifice and Romans 3 tells us that he is both the Just and the Justifier of our faith meaning that we can find righteousness by faith in Christ (Romans 3:26). Everyone will face judgment and for those who love Christ and have put their faith in him God will pass over our sins because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. For those who do not desire a relationship with God and have lived in rebellion to him, they will have to answer for their sin and how they lived their lives apart from God. Judgment means they will face separation from God in hell. The writer of Hebrews is pleading with his audience to not abandon their faith because the will not be able to stand the judgment apart from Christ. 

Many of us can wonder what facing judgment looks like for a Christian. We do not know specifically but we can be sure that it will not be condemning, shame inducing or God’s opportunity to pay us back for what we did because God does not require payment for sin twice since it has been paid in full in Christ (Romans 8:1). 

Eager Expectation of Christ’s Return
Hebrews 9:28
With all that in mind, followers of Jesus should eagerly await Christ’s return because he will come back to save. For the audience of the book of Hebrews, that meant an end to their persecution and suffering because things will not always be this way and there is an end to suffering as Christ makes all things new. However, many of us can be tempted to not want Jesus to return just yet because we got things to do, some of us love our sin too much, others have doubts about what it means to be in God’s presence or some of us fear that we may not really be in the faith. If that is you, it would be good to talk with God and trusted Christian friends and to do a deeper dive into what the Bible teaches about eternity and New Creation. And, we should remind ourselves of what the appearing of Jesus means for us. 

First, Jesus returning to save means that he will make all things new. Sin and death will have no place in eternity. God promised a new heaven and new earth where sin will be no more. Can you imagine friendship, work, enjoying the created world and your relationship with God without the presence of sin? No experience of doubt about God’s goodness or feeling like he is distant. No gossip, anger or lying in your relationships. Your work not fighting back against you or wondering if it matters. No temptation to sin or worship created things. These are all things we can hope for and long for in the return of Jesus. 

Second, Jesus returning to save means that he will be forever present with his people. Jesus in John 14:3 promised to return and take us to be where he is forever. Revelation 21 pictures the new heaven and new earth as a New Creation where God dwells with his people. Redemption means that God has done everything needed so that we can be with him and enjoy him forever. 

Finally, Jesus returning to save means that he comes back as the triumphant king. There will be no doubt or question who is the king of kings when Christ returns. He will vanquish death and sin once and for all and there will be no threat to his rule of truth and grace. 

At your community group:
Take 15-20 minutes to share about how God has been at work in your life, prayer concerns and pray for one another.

How did God speak to you through the scripture and the sermon this week? 

Discussion Questions:
Read Hebrews 9:23-28

What are some reasons the author of Hebrews focused on “it is appointed for man to die once?” 

How does Christ being offered once and for all the bear the sins of many effect what it means that “after death comes judgment?”

Hebrews 9:28 talks about Christ returning to save those who are waiting for him. Many of us think of being “saved” as forgiven of our sin, how does the writer of Hebrews use the word save and what does it mean for a Christian?

Do you eagerly await the return of Jesus? What are some things you’re hoping for with Christ’s return and what are some things that prevent you from eagerly waiting for his second coming?