Sermon -- 26th Sunday after Pentecost (November 17, 2024)

HEBREWS 9:24-28

THERE IS A FINAL JUDGMENT—ONCE AND FOR ALL.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The letter to the Hebrews was written to a group of Jewish Christians who were suffering for the faith.  While Christianity was illegal and enduring persecution, Judaism was not.  There was a great temptation to renounce the Christian faith and to revert back to Judaism.  It was safe, and it was familiar.  The letter to the Hebrews is an impassioned plea and encouragement to stand firm in the faith, even if one must suffer for it.  The author was assuring these suffering Christians that what they had with Jesus Christ was far superior to what they had left behind in Judaism.  Everything they had was looking forward to the promised Messiah.  Jesus, on the other hand, IS that promised Messiah.  Every ceremony that they had observed pointed to the promised Messiah.  Jesus is the fulfillment of all those ceremonies.  To forsake Jesus and the cross for the sake of safety would be to forsake eternal life in heaven for an easier life on earth. 

     One of the themes in the letter to the Hebrews is: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22).  Every blood sacrifice God had prescribed was a foreshadowing of a greater sacrifice—from the offering of Abel to every morning and evening sacrifice in the temple.  The highlight of every church year was the Day of Atonement.  On that day, and only on that day, the high priest was given access to the Holy of Holies, the presence of God.  There, he offered up the blood of a goat to atone for the sins of the people.  This ceremony was only a foreshadowing, so it had to be repeated year after year.  It did not pay for sin, but looked forward to the full and final payment for all sins of all time.

     Therefore, the writer to the Hebrews commented, “Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands…, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.  Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly….  But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:24-26). 

     Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.  But all the shedding of blood up to the appearance of Jesus was only done to prefigure what Jesus would do.  The blood of goats and sheep and bulls cannot pay for sins.  Therefore, the Lord became a man so that his blood could be shed.  The Lord gave himself into death on behalf of all people.  This is the love that God has for you—that he was willing to take into himself all your guilt, that he was willing to suffer the curse and condemnation for your sins, that he would bear your punishment for you.  Jesus did this so that you would be spared from the wrath of a righteous God.  Jesus has received the judgment and borne the punishment—a final judgment, once and for all.

     On the Last Day, that final judgment will be proclaimed by Jesus upon all people who have ever lived.  We confess it every week: “He will come to judge the living and the dead” (Apostles’ Creed).  That can be viewed either as a threat or a promise.  The reason we have conflicting views of Judgment Day is because of what Jesus said about it.  He declared: “All who are in the tombs will … come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29).  Where do you stand? You want to be among those who are good but you also know you have done what is evil.  The devil will goad you into believing either one of these.  He will assure you, “You are a good person.  How could God find fault with you?  Thank about all the people you’ve helped, how nice you are, how many friends you have!  You don’t have to fear God’s judgment.  If anyone deserves heaven, it is you!”  Or maybe you’ve heard the opposite from the devil.  “You get into heaven?!  Do you remember how you’ve lived?  Who you cheated?  The lies you told?  The lives you’ve wrecked and the harm you’ve caused?  Heaven is for good people, and that’s not you.  You should fear Judgment Day!”  The devil wants to issue a final judgment upon you.  And whether he tries to convince you that you are good or evil, he will want you to stand in that judgment focused on yourself and not on Jesus.

     But our confession is not a threat.  It is a promise.  The writer to the Hebrews assures you: “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” (Hebrews 9:28).  Jesus came to suffer a final judgment, once and for all.  He bore the sins of many, in fact, of the whole world.  There is no more need for additional sacrifices.  You do not need to bargain for a place in heaven.  You do not need to invent merits or virtues to convince the Lord of anything.  Jesus has credited you with his innocence.  Now Jesus dwells in heaven to intercede for you.  His holy, precious blood continues to cleanse you of all sin.  And if you have your doubts, then flee to the altar to receive the blood of Christ which continues to bestow forgiveness, new life, and salvation.

     This is one of the places where the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Roman Catholic Church have parted company.  In the Roman Church, Jesus IS offered up again and again, in fact, daily.  The priest presents the body and blood of Jesus to God in order to appease him.  That makes the Roman mass a sacrifice, something we do for God.  But the writer to the Hebrews makes it clear that such a repeated sacrifice is unnecessary and unscriptural.  Jesus does not need to be offered up repeatedly.  The Bible says: Jesus “has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26).  That is the verdict.  It does not need to be won for us again and again.  Jesus was offered up once for all.  Therefore, this is the final judgment, once and for all. 

     For that reason, Holy Communion is not what we do for God.  It is not a sacrifice.  It is not a reenactment.  It is not an act of obedience to prove the sincerity of our faith.  The Lord’s Supper is what God does for us and gives to us.  He tells us, “This is my body.  This is my blood.  For the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26,28).  There is a final judgment for sins.  It was done at the cross, once for all.  Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.  But the innocent blood of God’s Son has been shed, once for all.  And the benefits are given to God’s people when we gather in Jesus’ name.  All that Jesus has won for us by his sacrificial blood and with his crucified and risen body Jesus gives to us in the sacrament of the altar.  He does this for your good, for your peace, and for your blessing.  “For you.  For the forgiveness of sins.”

     There is a final judgment.  Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.  This is nothing we need to fear.  He has already told us where we stand.  “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  So, when Jesus comes again on the Last Day, it will be just as the writer to the Hebrews has described it: “Christ … will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).  Jesus will come with your reward.  Jesus won the prize of the resurrection to eternal life and glory, but he will come and bring it to you.  Then, you will be forever free from death and mourning and crying and pain.  The more hardship you endure, the heavier the cross you bear, the harder you will pray for Jesus’ return.  That is a good thing.  And that is one reason Jesus has you bear a cross.  It teaches you to long for Jesus’ return.  Like the Hebrews who received this letter, you could forsake Jesus and make friends with the world for an easier life here.  But the cost would be to lose eternal life, glory, and peace.  Cling to Christ.  Pray for his return.  Only Jesus brings the salvation you long for, and Jesus will come again to deliver it to all who are waiting him. 

     We are considering the Last Day, but the writer to the Hebrews acknowledges what most of us, perhaps all of us, will face.  He wrote, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).  For most people, death comes long before the Last Day.  But even then, there is a final judgment, once and for all.

     When the day of your death comes, you will stand before the Lord to give an answer for your life.  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10).  Of course, when you die, no one will see or hear that judgment but you.  Since we cannot see what judgment people receive, we base our judgment on what people have confessed.  That is why Christian funerals are for those who have confessed the saving faith in Jesus.  I will preside over a funeral for any member of Good Shepherd or for someone I have served whose confession I have heard.  You may have a special fondness for a cousin whom I have never met.  That’s wonderful, but since I don’t even know that person, how could I testify that he or she was a devout Christian?  It doesn’t mean he or she is not.  If he or she is, it is appropriate that that person’s pastor conduct the funeral.  But if your loved one has no pastor, I urge you to have him or her make a connection with one before they hear their final judgment.  Once something is final, it cannot be reversed.

     Death is final, and after death comes judgment.  You will receive what is due for what you have done in the body, whether good or evil.  But thanks be to Jesus, you have been cleansed of all evil, and you have been credited with all good.  So, when you die, you will face the one who lived and died to save you.  He will summon you to the glory, the peace, and the rest of heaven.  That judgment will be final.  It will not change.  And it will be declared publicly on the Last Day.  It will be broadcast to all angels, demons, and all people that you are a redeemed child of God.  You will be presented to God the Father as the righteous because you will be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. 

     And on that day, Jesus will forever “save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).  Right now, you bear the status of those who are saved.  But when Jesus comes again, he will deliver you forever from all the frustrations, sorrows, and pains that come from living in a sinful world.  Whatever regrets, struggles, or hardships you have will be gone.  It will be a life at peace, a mind at peace, and an endless peace.  This is why “we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come” (Nicene Creed).  For, Jesus’ return is not a threat, but a promise.  And Jesus’ promises are always good things.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.