Last Judgment (3)
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24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 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.
24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 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.
My wife and I watched a feel good movie on NetFlix on Wednesday night. It did not start out too well. A young lady went to look for a lost dog and soon found it hiding under a car next to the street. When she turned around with it in her arms, she and the dog were hit by a city bus. (This was not shown.) The next scene they are at the gates of heaven waiting to get checked in but the arch angel in charge (who had replaced St. Peter at the gates 100 years earlier) could not find her name on the list. She had not done enough good things to get into heaven and stood in jeopardy of going to hell which was described as sitting on a bench just waiting for all eternity with some real evil looking people. Well, according to the movie, she would have a second chance . . . or more. She could go back to earth as an angel (visible to only one person) and correct some things so that she would “earn her wings”. In spite of the horrible theology, it was entertaining. But it conveys some ancient misunderstandings about our eternal future which many people still believe today. The main misunderstanding was is that our entrance into heaven is dependent on who we are and what we do and believe rather than on who Jesus is and what has done to save us. Thankfully, we have the guidance of the Bible to teach us what God has to say about that day when we will be called from this life and about to face our eternal destination. That guidance centers on Jesus Christ.
We Must all Appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ
Context: To best way to understand the book of Hebrews is to be well versed in the Jewish religious system and to have a working knowledge of temple worship including sacrifices and the priesthood. This is because the author compares repeatedly that system (which foreshadowed Jesus and his office of high priest) with what Jesus did and still does for us. In this text alone we have references to the sanctuary, the Most Holy Place, the Day of Atonement, the high priest, and sacrifices. Note how the author compares this with Jesus.
24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.
24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.
This is a reference to the Day of Atonement (summarize)
From it appears that even the high priest could not enter the holy of holies at all times and without special ceremonies; he and his household needed reconciliation, as did the people of Israel and even the sanctuary itself. The Day of Atonement was proclaimed a fast, reminding the Israelites of Yahweh’s holiness and their own sinfulness (including the most holy persons). A number of sacrifices were offered, fifteen altogether (sixteen counting the goat of Azazel): twelve burnt offerings and three sin offerings (; ). Including the ram (mentioned separately at ), there were thirteen burnt offerings and four sin offerings. The Israelite sacrifices of reconciliation were similar in function to the purification ceremonies of the ancient Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans.
The Day of Atonement was “a sabbath of solemn rest” (), which included a purification ceremony in the tabernacle as well as a general fast. After the high priest had bathed and had put on his linen clothes (rather than his radiant office vestments; v. 4), he chose for himself and his house a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. From the congregation he took two goats as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering. He then had the two goats placed at the entrance of the tent of meeting where he cast a lot, assigning one goat for Yahweh and “one for Azazel.” The goat assigned by lot to Yahweh was to be sacrificed as a sin offering, but the other goat was placed before the Lord alive in order to reconcile, i.e., to be dedicated as a scapegoat (vv. 20–22) and subsequently to be driven into the desert, bearing the guilt of Israel’s sins.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Significance
Significance
The Day of Atonement was the central atoning rite for the entire nation. As the people created a religious calendar, atonement seemed to be a natural part of a new year’s worship. The Day of Atonement thus became a central feature of the seventh month new year celebrations, which were built around the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles. The Jews established such a feast on a yearly basis to give it regularity and ensure that the sanctuary and people were regularly purified and restored to their holy condition. God could only visit His people when the place of worship, the priests, and the people were pure. The ritual was also the major cleansing and atoning ritual in the Bible.
After lots were cast between the two goats, Aaron killed the bull of the sin offering for himself and his house. Taking next a pan of glowing coals from the altar of burnt offering, he placed ground-up incense on the fire before the face of Yahweh—inside the veil while a cloud of smoke from the incense covered the mercy seat. Then with his finger he sprinkled blood of the bull seven times on the front side of the mercy seat and seven times in front of it, killed the goat of the sin offering, and added the blood of that animal to that of the killed bull, sprinkling the holy place and the horns of the altar of burnt offering.
An indispensable detail of the ceremony was the placing of the live goat before the altar of burnt offering. Leaning with his two hands on the head of the animal, Aaron confessed all the iniquity of the Israelites as well as their transgressions, symbolically placing them on the head of the goat. After this act an appointed person took the animal to the wilderness outside of the camp where he was to free it (cf. ). (In later years the person customarily threw the goat from the cliffs so that it died.)
Finally, the high priest went to the tent of meeting, took off his linen clothes, bathed himself, put on his regular vestments, and offered the two rams as a burnt offering in the court, thus reconciling himself and the people. The bull and the goat of the sin offering were placed outside the camp, to be burned totally, including skin, flesh, and dung (; see ). Like the person who had sent the live goat to the wilderness, the one who burned the animal had to wash his clothes and bathe himself. It may have been that the feast offering prescribed at was given.
On this day the High Priest would enter the Most Holy Place to make sacrifices to God.
The only fast day prescribed in Mosaic law, the Day of Atonement (cf. ) gained particular importance in postexilic times (cf. ). Although the fast retained significance in New Testament times (cf. ), the event came to be reinterpreted among Christians in terms of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the Great High Priest (.; cf. 5:5).
Myers, A. C. (1987). In The Eerdmans Bible dictionary (pp. 106–107). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
As our high priest, Jesus sacrificed himself as the payment for the sins of the world. He did this on the cross. Because his sacrifice was holy (perfect life and innocent death), he did not have to sacrifice for himself first nor does he need to sacrifice himself again and again. The author tells us that even though Jesus died on earth, he entered heaven to present this sacrifice. He is still in heaven and now he intercedes for us.
This is the central teaching of Christianity. Our relationship with God isn’t about us. It is about Jesus. Unlike other religions and even misunderstandings in popular culture, our relationship with God is not dependent upon how good we are, our intentions, or even how sorry we are and the promises we make after we have sinned. It is dependent on who Jesus is and what he has done to save us. As we sing “In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song” . . . “ Or the more traditional “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare to make no other claim But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
When he shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in him be found,
clothed in his righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before his throne.
This hope is based on what St. Paul teaches in Romans.
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
St. Paul concludes this thought with the reminder that God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ. But instead of being judged based on our own works (which he argues are worthless and therefore no one will be saved), we are judged based on the works of Jesus which we trust in through faith. Note the difference. We are saved by faith in Jesus and not by our own works or even faith plus works.
This does not rule out our godly response to what Jesus has done. The Holy Spirit brings us to faith in him. And the Holy Spirit strengthens us through word and sacrament to respond in thankfulness. But God does not judge us based on how well we measure up.
This does not rule out our godly response to what Jesus has done. The Holy Spirit brings us to faith in him. And the Holy Spirit strengthens us through word and sacrament to respond in thankfulness. But God does not judge us based on how well we measure up.
But we will be judged.
(NIV)
27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 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.
9 You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
In the movie mentioned earlier, it wasn’t just the lady that was killed by the bus. What else was killed? The dog. He was admitted into heaven without reservation. Why? “Because all dogs go to heaven.” It saddens me that this is a common belief among many people today. Those who have shown no evidence of faith and some who were even avowed atheists, what is said at their funerals or in the obituaries? “So and so is now in a better place.” “He or she is with Jesus.” Well, the Bible doesn’t teach that all people go to heaven. Jesus himself often concluded teaching sessions with ominous warnings (see example).
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
In the movie mentioned earlier, it wasn’t just the lady that was killed by the bus. What else was killed? The dog. He was admitted into heaven without reservation. Why? “Because all dogs go to heaven.” It saddens me that this is a common belief among many people today. Those who have shown no evidence of faith and some who were even avowed atheists, what is said at their funerals or in the obituaries? “So and so is now in a better place.” “He or she is with Jesus.” Well, the Bible doesn’t teach that all people go to heaven. Jesus himself often concluded teaching sessions with ominous warnings (see example).
This passage may help resolve a seeming contradiction. On the one hand, the Bible clearly teaches that we are altogether sinful and need Christ’s sacrifice to be saved. On the other hand, some of the passages which speak of Judgment Day say that we will be judged so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Jesus himself points to what people did or failed to do as evidence used in the judging. But it is evidence that is apparent to us but does not include all the evidence. James teaches that true faith expresses itself in works. God alone can see the faith we have in our hearts. He does use the works (evidence of faith) to demonstrate to others what that faith is. Our goal as believers is to have a living faith which trusts in Jesus and shows itself in what we do which is God pleasing.
This passage may help resolve a seeming contradiction. On the one hand, the Bible clearly teaches that we are altogether sinful and need Christ’s sacrifice to be saved. On the other hand, some of the passages which speak of Judgment Day say that we will be judged so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Jesus himself points to what people did or failed to do as evidence used in the judging. But it is evidence that is apparent to us but does not include all the evidence. James teaches that true faith expresses itself in works. God alone can see the faith we have in our hearts. He does use the works (evidence of faith) to demonstrate to others what that faith is. Our goal as believers is to have a living faith which trusts in Jesus and shows itself in what we do which is God pleasing.
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Old Introduction. Have you ever been judged? Contests. First impressions. In-laws. We are subject to critique in many ways. Right not I am being judged as is commented on in (NIV)
This is the assurance that the writer to the Hebrews gives in the final verse of our text.
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Old Introduction. Have you ever been judged? Contests. First impressions. In-laws. We are subject to critique in many ways. Right not I am being judged as is commented on in (NIV)
28 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.
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
We will be judged. On what basis? We are judged based on what Jesus did? What about passages that say we will be rewarded for what we have done? This is outward evidence of what God sees in our hearts. It is not why we are saved but is an outward testimony that our faith is alive as it expresses itself in actions pleasing to God.