The Three Appearances of Jesus

and what will happen at the conclusion of history.

Jesus’ first appearance is spoken of in the last part of v. 26 where the writer tells us, “He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Everything that came before looked forward to His coming and everything since has been marked by it. Indeed, history is His story.

The purpose of His coming to earth was “to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”

He means by this that He would destroy sin’s power over us by making atonement for our sins (2:17). That’s exactly what He did. In His final moments on the cross Jesus said, “It is finished”

(19:30).

There is a forceful finality to what He did. The writer uses the phrase, “once for all” in speaking of it (v. 26 — the phrase occurs 5 x’s in Hebrews). Jesus appeared a single time to take away the sins of the world and at the cross He did just that.

The second appearing of Jesus refers to His appearing in God’s presence (v. 24). Luke speaks to us about Jesus ascending to heaven at the end of his gospel and at the conclusion of Acts. Paul will tell us that Jesus “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). But it is the Hebrews writer who paints the fullest picture as he tells us that Christ “has entered heaven itself, to appear for us in God’s presence” (v. 24).

His appearing before God is inextricably connected to what He accomplished at His first appearing. There He made atonement for our sins and in heaven, He intercedes for us before the Father on the basis of His cross work. John will speak of Him as being “an advocate with the Father” (1 John 2:2).

The third appearing the writer speaks of hasn’t taken place yet. It is Jesus’ return at the end of time. The New Testament is full of this promise, and I think it’s fair to say that first-century disciples probably lived with a greater sense of expectancy concerning the return of Jesus than we do.

The writer tells us

Bible Verse Of The Week

that Christ won’t be returning to become our Savior — He’s already that. He will be coming back “to bring salvation” or “to save those” (ESV) who are “eagerly waiting for Him.” Think of it like this, Jesus paid the price for us in His first appearing. When returns, it will be to take us home. Our physical bodies will be resurrected and as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

Immediately after that, he says, “Therefore, encourage one another with these words” (v. 18).

Those are encouraging words, aren’t they?

You can find more of Green’s writings at his website: a-taste-of-gracewith-bruce-green.com

Church Directory

334-745-5181

ANGLICAN

The Good Shepherd Anglican Church

3015 Opelika Road, Opelika

APOSTOLIC HOLINESS

God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 Highland Ave., Opelika

334-749-9672

BAPTIST

Beulah Baptist Church

5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538

AFB - Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 3089 Judge Brown Rd., Valley

334-710-2117

Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave., Opelika 334-749-9487

Green Chapel Missionary Baptist 390 Lee Road 106, Auburn (334) 749-4184

Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-745-3108

Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika 334-745-4608

Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika 334-749-0461

CHURCH OF CHRIST 10th Street Church Of Christ 500 N. 10th St., Opelika

Church Of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy., Opelika 334-742-9721

Southside Church Of Christ 405 Carver Ave., Opelika 334-745-6015

CHURCH OF GOD

Lakeside Church of God 3295 Lee Rd 54, Opelika 334-749-6432

EPISCOPAL- AME Saint Luke AME Church

1308 Auburn St., Opelika

334-749-1690

EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave., Opelika 334-745-2054

METHODIST

Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800

Beulah United Methodist Church 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-745-4755

NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148

Connect Church 2015 West Point Pkwy., Opelika 334-707-3949

Father’s House Christian Fellowship 214 Morris, Ave., Opelika Southern Plains Cowboy

Church 13099 U.S. Hwy. 280 Waverly 334-401-1014

PENTECOSTAL Gateway Pentecostal Sanctuary 1221 Commerce Drive, Auburn 334-745-6926

PRESBYTERIAN Providence Presbyterian Church 1103 Glenn St., Opelika 256-405-8697

Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Opelika Outreach S.D.A. Church P.O. Box 386, Opelika 334-749-3151

WALTER ALBRITTON

RELIGION —

Frederick Buechner wrote wisely about the power of forgiveness. He said, “When somebody you have wronged forgives you, you are spared the dull and