While We Wait

The finality of life

Hebrews 9:27–28 ESV

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

A comparison

The author of Hebrews introduces a comparison between the life of human beings and the work of Christ.

The state of the lives of men is stated very plainly: man is appointed to die then comes the judgement.

Human life is not repeated over and over again. Death ends life as we know it.

But after death, the preacher tells us, comes the judgement. One observation we can make here is that death is not followed by nothingness. When human beings die, they encounter the Creator God as the Judge of all.

So, that the first half of the comparison in verse 27. The second half begins in verse 28. The comparison is this Since death is a once-for-all event, so too Christ’s death cannot be repeated. Verse 28:

so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many

Christ’s singular death removed the curse of sins forever, so when He comes again, He will not come to die. He’s already done that. Instead, He will come to establish final and complete salvation.

The wait

We observe and celebrate the Lord’s table today out of recognition of these truths.

All of us have been appointed once to die, and when we do, there’s no coming back. Sobering to be sure, but for those who are in Christ… for those who know Him and have placed their faith in what He accomplished through His death, the finality of death need not be feared.

Why? If we believe what the author of Hebrews declares, that Jesus died once to bear the sins of many, then we believe that Jesus’ death satisfied the penalty of sin in total. That there was nothing lacking in the sacrifice of Christ.

We do not prefer to contemplate our death. It’s difficult to not think of it. We hear of death, perhaps we have seen death. Do you know the hope that Jesus has secured through His own death and now freely offers to dying men?

In this moment, our hope is that Jesus will appear again to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. Salvation from the penalty of sin, salvation from the sinfulness of this world, salvation from death itself comes through Christ.

The caution

Are you in Christ? Are you living in sin?

Prayer of repentance

Prayer of pardon

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Explain Process

Give elements to elders

Invite people to come forward

Put plates back on table

Serve elders

Ask if anyone needs to be served

Ask elder to bless bread

As Jesus made clear, the bread represents His body which was broken for us. Take now and eat.

Ask elder to bless the cup

Jesus explained that the cup is the New Covenant in His blood. Let us drink in remembrance of Him.

Know brother, know without a doubt sister, Jesus paid the price in full, and on this basis we are members of the New Covenant community. Praise the Lord.

We will sing a hymn together, but before we do, it is our custom on this particular Sunday of the month to take an offering for our benevolence fund that will go towards the immediate physical that exist among us, so that offering will be taken as we sing together.