Appearances X 3 - Hebrews 9

     For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a
     copy of the true one;  he entered heaven itself, now to appear
     for us in God's presence. 

     Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the
     way the high priests enters the Most Holy Place every year
     with blood that is not his own. 

     Then Christ would have to suffer many times since the
     creation of the world.

     But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages
     to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.....Christ was
     sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people;

     and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring
     salvation to those who are waiting for him. 
                           -- Hebrews 9: 24-28

God's rescue mission (to bring us back from bondage
to sin and the Evil One) is all described here in this
passage.

God's mission is complete and permanent. Nothing can change what He has done! And there is nothing more to be done!

I notice the word "appear" occurs three times in the passage.

I once heard a Bible scholar respond to a student's
question: "Are you saved?"

The kind and patient teacher said, "What do you mean? Have I been saved? Am I being saved? Will I be saved? Which to you mean?"

The student didn't know how to respond.

The teacher went to explain that the fact of salvation involves three tenses -- past, present, and future.

We have been saved - past tense - from the guilt of sin. That is irrevocable and complete.

We are now being saved - present tense - from the power of sin by Christ's presence right now at His Father's throne, making intercession for us, praying for us and being our advocate.

We will be saved - future tense - from the very
presence of sin when He has taken us home to live with Him forever.

We see all three facts here in this passage, giving us the complete picture of what Christ has done, is doing, and will do for us.


(1) He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us,
      and to help us resist the power of sin (present).
(2) He already appeared to sacrifice Himself and take
      away our sin (past).    
(3) He will appear again, not as a suffering Savior,
     but as Conqueror and Victor, to take us to 
     heaven and save us from the very presence of sin
     (future).

We are saved - past, present and future.

His mission accomplished!