An Appointment with Eternity
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 06/30/2024
Foundation Scriptures:
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.
Hebrews 9:27-28 KJV
1. Appointed to Die.
a. Hebrews 9:27 AMPC –– And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment.
b. Appointed (Greek apokeimai) - laid up; laid by; to be laid away; reserved (for one); awaiting him; appointed.
c. Just as death inevitably awaits every person, so does judgment.
2. The Way of Escape.
a. The Father—before the foundation of the world—laid up and appointed a way of escape from the judgment to come.
b. Colossians 1:5 AMPC –– Because of the hope [of experiencing what is] laid up (reserved and waiting) for you in heaven. Of this [hope] you heard in the past in the message of the truth of the Gospel.
c. For those who believe in and accept salvation through Jesus Christ—there is hope.
d. Hope that is laid up, appointed, and reserved for us, of Heaven and eternal life and the rewards that await those who do God’s will.
3. Judgment.
a. In a sense, every person, who has reached the age of accountability, is already judged (Rom. 7:9).
b. When they die, the inevitable sentence is handed down—eternal death.
c. To save mankind from this fate, the Father sent Jesus to die on our behalf.
d. He was judged and sentenced in our place, so that if we believe, we will be spared this awful penalty of death.
e. He purchased for us eternal life, and the hope of eternity in His wonderful presence.
f. 2 Peter 2:9 KJV –– The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.
g. Judgment (Greek krisis) - judgment; accusation; a separation; selection; right; justice; opinion or decision; sentence; damnatory judgment, condemnation and punishment.
h. Every person who is born into this world has one life to live.
i. They will die, sooner or later, and face a certain judgement.
j. If a person is a sinner, or not right with God, their spirit and soul go to hell.
k. There is no such thing as purgatory—there are no second chances.
l. Neither is there a reincarnation, nor a possibility of entering or being born into another body.
m. 2 Timothy 4:1 NKJV –– I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.
n. The sinner’s body will be resurrected to face judgment, but after they are judged by Jesus, they will be consigned to eternal damnation and separation from God forever (Rev. 20:11-15).
4. No Fear of Judgment.
a. If a person is righteous, at their death, their soul and spirit go to Heaven, where they await the resurrection of the body.
b. 1 John 4:17 KJV –– Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
c. Believers, who love the Lord, and who live for Him, need not have any fear of judgment.
d. Hebrews 2:14-15 NKJV –– Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
e. Without Jesus, people have lived in the bondage of the fear of death and judgment.
f. Thank God, the believer is free to enjoy life and look forward to a peaceful and joy-filled eternity with Him.
g. Philippians 1:21 NKJV –– For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
h. If we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord, but if we are absent from the body, we are present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6-8).
i. 1 John 2:28 AMPC –– And now, little children, abide (live, remain permanently) in Him, so that when He is made visible, we may have and enjoy perfect confidence (boldness, assurance) and not be ashamed and shrink from Him at His coming.
j. If we truly live for Him, we can confidently look forward to His coming.
k. That is why it is so important to keep your heart right and keep living for Jesus.
l. 2 Timothy 4:8 KJV –– Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
5. Full Salvation.
a. Hebrews 9:28 AMPC –– Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him.
b. Look (Greek apekdechomai) - wait; look for; to expect fully; assiduously and patiently waiting for.
c. The first time Jesus appeared, in the flesh, He came to bear and remove our burden of sin.
d. The second time He appears, He comes to bring full salvation to all those who are waiting for and expecting Him.
e. Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV –– For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
f. When we were born again, we became a new creature.
g. Our spirit was recreated and made alive in the image of God.
h. We have a heavenly citizenship.
i. Our promise from the Father is that when Jesus Christ returns, we will receive full salvation, and a glorified body.