Title: Three Certainties
Text: Hebrews 9: 24-28
Date: November 15, 2012
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
I am greatly encouraged by
you who are faithful to the gospel of Christ.
I really believe God has graciously given a new heart of genuine faith
and love to many here. I thank God
continually for you.
At the same time, I have a
great heaviness in my heart, for those who have no interest and pay so little
attention to what is being preached.
I wonder sometimes if folks
realize that the preacher can actually see everyone sitting before him.
For those who do not see the
need in hearing the gospel of God’s grace, let me first appeal to you on a
basis of just common courtesy.
Have you ever considered
that the believers here work very hard for the money to pay the bills so that
the gospel can be preached here just for you?
Have you ever considered
that some arrive early before each service to get everything set up and stay
late to pack it all away so that there is nothing for you to do but come in,
open your bibles and hear of the Redeemer that is able to make the difference
between your eternal condemnation and eternal life?
Have you ever considered the
labor that goes into preparing three, sometimes four, sermons a week for you?
It takes each day, all day,
often through the night, in prayer and study, to seek a message from God just
for you.
Have you ever considered
that your name—each one here, youngest to oldest—is being continually spoken
before God, begging God, that if it is his will, to have mercy on your soul?
Have you ever considered the
sorrow it causes after laboring in the word, arriving only to find that you’re
not here, or if you are, to see you not even open a bible or pay
attention? My comfort and assurance is
knowing that “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build
it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (Psalm 121:
1) But the day I cease having this
burden for your souls is the day I’ll step aside so someone who does can take
my place.
Out of consideration for
these things one would think at least out of common courtesy everyone would at
least open a bible, at least look up the scriptures, at least listen
attentively.
But there are reasons much
more to your personal advantage to heed this word. So I have a message just for you concerning
those more important considerations. I
want each of you to turn in your bibles to Hebrews 9.
My subject is: Three Certainties
The first is certain for
everyone here if our Lord does not return first. The second is certain for everyone who meets
God outside of Christ. But the third is
certain for all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 9: 27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but
after this the judgment: 28: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of
many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without
sin unto salvation.
We will deal with the
context of the passage in a moment. First, let’s just look at these three
certainties.
Divisions:
1) First, death is certain
for all men--V27: And as it is appointed
unto men once to die. Death is not by accident or chance but by the
appointment of God--V27: And as it is
appointed unto men once to die. If our Lord does not return first, everyone
will die. As it is appointed unto men
once to die.
2) Secondly, judgment is
certain--v27:…but after this the judgment. Death
will not get you off the hook with God—after
this the judgment. Whether you pay
attention or not, whether you heed the word of God or not—sooner or later you
will do business with God—after death
the judgment.
3) But thirdly, all who rest
in Christ through faith shall certainly be saved--v28: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them
that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
I. FIRST, DEATH IS CERTAIN--V27: And as it is appointed unto men
once to die.
Man is to Blame for Death
Man is to blame for death.
God is life and life is of God. Death is
because of man. Holy beings never die. Death is the result of man’s sin.
In the first state in which
God created Adam, he had no sin to cause him to die. But God declared to Adam
that death would be the result of disobeying God.
Genesis
2:17: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of
it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis
3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou
eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for
dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Romans
5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;
and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:…17:…by one man’s
offence death reigned by one;…v21:…sin hath reigned unto death…
Romans
6:23: For the wages of sin is death…
"It is appointed unto men"—to the whole race—once
to die. All flesh is conceived from our first father Adam in sin. All are sinners. Therefore, all flesh shall die physically. Every
death—believer and unbeliever—demonstrates that in our flesh dwells only sin.
1
Corinthians 15:22: For as in Adam all die,…
The Fear of Death and Judgment
Most fear death. Therefore death is one of the few things that
really gets our attention.
Ecclesiastes
7:2 It is better to go to the house of
mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men;
and the living will lay it to his heart.
When someone close to us
dies we are forced to acknowledge that we too shall face death very soon. The day our loved ones die comes around every
year so, we are forced to think about death on that day each year.
Application: One of the things that moved me toward
this subject is that this past week was the anniversary of the death of Scott
and Cheryl’s brother Curt who died in 2006.
He was the uncle of most of our young people here. I have never mentioned this before, but I
have been aware that it is on your minds each year around this time. I mention it now because I hope today I might
get your attention—you too will die. You
may as yet have questions about his death.
But one thing is certain—the time of his death was appointed by
God. So is yours and so is mine.
Folks use phrases like
“untimely death” or “they died before their time” or “she cheated
death”—untrue! The time of every person’s death is appointed by God. We may be
late or early for every other appointment throughout our life but not death.
The exact time of our death is appointed by God.
There are no exceptions: not youth or
accomplishment, rich and poor, male and female, all shall end in death.
Job
14:1: Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut
down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
Today is the day for us to
prepare to die.
James
4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be
on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a
little time, and then vanisheth away.
Application: Above everything else, the fact that
you must die—and very soon—ought to wake you up to pay attention. It should be a constant reminder of your sin
and therefore a constant reminder of your need of God’s mercy.
Ecclesiates
12:1: Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days
come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in
them;
II. NOT ONLY IS DEATH CERTAIN BUT ALSO THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD IS
CERTAIN--27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:
Christ
is the Advocate
Illustration: If
you had an appointment to stand before an earthly judge you would give full
attention to your lawyer, your advocate.
You be at every meeting.
You will stand before the
holy judge of heaven and earth after you die. These church services are
meetings to hear from Christ—the only Advocate who will speak for his people in
that day.
I am hear to preach to you
that Christ Jesus, who alone is able to save you from your sins, will be the
very Judge before whom all shall stand in that day.
Acts
10:42: And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is
he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
John
5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but
hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23
That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He
that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Hardness of Heart
Yet, the very fact that men
harden their hearts only proves their dire need of this gospel and the grace of
God to quicken us and make us receive Christ.
Romans
2:5 But after thy hardness and
impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and
revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 16
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ
according to my gospel.
Condemnation
the Issue
The necessary issue with all
unbelievers is condemnation. All who do
not believe on Christ are under condemnation.
John
3: 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God. 19: And this is the condemnation, that light is come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil
hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be
reproved.
Illustration: If the doctor diagnosed you with an
illness that would surely end in death except you heed his instruction, would
you pay attention to him? Would you
gladly receive the medicine he prescribed?
Would you do everything he told you to do that you might be saved?
The great Physician has
declared you are a sinner. Sure to
die. Sure to come into judgment. Every believer here will tell you, you do not
want to face God in your sins. The psalmist said, “Enter not into judgment with
Thy servant, O Lord, for in Thy sight shall no flesh living be justified.”
Yet, sinner, you ignore the
truth. You look for reasons to absent
yourself from hearing the gospel of Christ, the only one who can save you from
your sins. If you do come you don’t even
bother to listen. Do you read the word of God at home?
Acts
17: 30: And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all
men every where to repent: 31: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he
will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained;
whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath
raised him from the dead.
Your death is certain. After death, your judgment is certain. But listen closely now,
III. FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE ON CHRIST SALVATON IS CERTAIN. Here is the context of our passage.
Hebrews 9: 24 For Christ is
not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the
true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25:
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into
the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since
the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he
appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27: And as it is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28: So Christ was
once offered to bear the sins of many
God the Son is the Representative and Substitute of his People
God the eternal Son became a
Man. Christ as a Man was found perfect,
fit to take the place of those given him of the Father. So Christ did what God the Father sent him to
do, Christ sacrificed himself for his people. He took our sin upon himself—he
bare the sin of many. He himself bore
the judgment of God due to those he represented.
God is Satisfied with his People by Christ
The fact that God raised
Christ from the dead declares that each of the many whom he represented had
their sin put away so that they shall not die spiritually. Their judgment is settled so that they shall
not be judged a second time for their sins.
Salvation is in a Look
Verse 28 says “and unto them”---each one of the many
for whom Christ died shall be quickened to life by the Holy Spirit of God.
Verse 28 says “and unto them that look for him”—the
good news of the gospel is that eternal salvation is in a look. Christ died unto sin once—it is done. He satisfied justice for each one for whom he
died—it is done. There is no more
offering for sin—it is done. There is no
more work to be done by those for whom he finished the work—all is done. Believing Christ is looking to Christ and
those who look never stop looking—we live by faith—we live looking for him.
Verse 28 says “and unto them that look for him shall he
appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Our Lord’s assurance, to all who believe
on him is because he is our Righteousness. Our Advocate is the One who will be our
Judge in that day so that when we die physically we shall be with him
immediately and we shall not come into condemnation.
John
11: 25: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me
shall never die. Believest thou this?
John
5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,
and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Believers are not like you who
are fearful of death because you know you will certainly face the judgment of
condemnation—it is certain to come to you who pass from this life in your sins.
But by the electing,
redeeming, regenerating, preserving grace of our God we are looking for Christ
who shall appear in all his glory to usher us into that eternal salvation which
he accomplished for us. We shall be
changed into His own blessed likeness, to be with Him as the companions of His
heart forever.
Sinner, heed this word now
why there is time. Look to Christ and
you shall be saved. Look away and you
shall perish forever.
Believer, look unto him,
keep watching. He is own his way! We will be with him as quickly as a vapor
vanishes in the sun.
Amen!