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Heb. 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
Heb. 9:28 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. (ESV)
With these verses the reality of the eschaton comes into focus. Humans are sinful creatures appointed…to die once, and after that comes judgment. But the danger of the judgment is turned aside by the fact that Christ, having been offered once (hapax, cf. Heb. 9:26) to bear the sins of many. The phrase “to bear the sins of many” echoes the fourth Servant Song: "He will bear their iniquities" (Isaiah 53:11); "he bore the sin of many" (Isaiah 53:12). So the author is saying that Christ took upon Himself the consequences of the sins of the many (cf. Mark 10:45).
The recurrence of “once” (Heb. 9:26, Heb. 9:28) and of “once for all” (Heb. 7:27; Heb. 9:12; Heb. 10:10) signifies the finality and the singleness of Christ’s sacrificial work—as contrasted with the repeated Levite ministrations.
Also, the “once”-sacrifice of Christ (Heb. 9:26, Heb. 9:28) compares with the “once”-death of each person (Heb. 9:27). Now those who are eagerly waiting (apekdechomenois; used seven times in the NT of the return of Christ: Rom. 8:19, Rom. 8:23, Rom. 8:25; 1 Cor. 1:7; Gal. 5:5; Philippians 3:20; Heb. 9:28) for Him can look forward to His coming, not fearfully expecting judgment, but rather with the anticipation of salvation.
Christ’s first advent was to bear sins away—but His second will be not to bear the sins (lit., “without [reference to] sins”). The “salvation” Christ will bring them at His Second Coming will be a consummation of their salvation, the “eternal inheritance” of which they are heirs (cf. Heb. 9:15; Heb. 1:14).
Heb. 9:28 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. (ESV)
With these verses the reality of the eschaton comes into focus. Humans are sinful creatures appointed…to die once, and after that comes judgment. But the danger of the judgment is turned aside by the fact that Christ, having been offered once (hapax, cf. Heb. 9:26) to bear the sins of many. The phrase “to bear the sins of many” echoes the fourth Servant Song: "He will bear their iniquities" (Isaiah 53:11); "he bore the sin of many" (Isaiah 53:12). So the author is saying that Christ took upon Himself the consequences of the sins of the many (cf. Mark 10:45).
The recurrence of “once” (Heb. 9:26, Heb. 9:28) and of “once for all” (Heb. 7:27; Heb. 9:12; Heb. 10:10) signifies the finality and the singleness of Christ’s sacrificial work—as contrasted with the repeated Levite ministrations.
Also, the “once”-sacrifice of Christ (Heb. 9:26, Heb. 9:28) compares with the “once”-death of each person (Heb. 9:27). Now those who are eagerly waiting (apekdechomenois; used seven times in the NT of the return of Christ: Rom. 8:19, Rom. 8:23, Rom. 8:25; 1 Cor. 1:7; Gal. 5:5; Philippians 3:20; Heb. 9:28) for Him can look forward to His coming, not fearfully expecting judgment, but rather with the anticipation of salvation.
Christ’s first advent was to bear sins away—but His second will be not to bear the sins (lit., “without [reference to] sins”). The “salvation” Christ will bring them at His Second Coming will be a consummation of their salvation, the “eternal inheritance” of which they are heirs (cf. Heb. 9:15; Heb. 1:14).