“It is appointed for man to die once!”

“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. so 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.”. (Heb. 9:27-28 ESV)

This truth, that “man is appointed to die and then comes his judgment,” is a truth that has played out ever since the Garden of Eden. We see that once sin entered the world, death did also. No one can escape this series of events. First, we live and sin, then we die, and then we are judged by God. It is sad to think that so many people think there is no judgment by God for the lives they have lived. Of course, there is, and every person who has ever lived, except Jesus, will have their sins paid for.

Chapter 9 of this letter to the Hebrews tells us about the Old Covenant (Mosaic Covenant) laws on how people could “pay” for their sins. We see that priests would have to offer blood sacrifices on a daily basis to cover the sins of the individuals, and on one day per year on Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), the High Priest would offer a blood sacrifice for his sins and then for the sins of all the people. These sacrifices had to be offered over and over again because people sinned over and over again. Chapter 9 also tells us in verse 15,  “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant; Jesus’ sacrifice was “once for all.” [emphasis mine]. This new covenant replaced the Old Mosaic Covenant. Now sacrifices are no longer needed to be made day after day, because “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, …he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” (Heb. 9:11-12).

Do you see it, do you see what this New Covenant has done for us? Jesus has become the blood sacrifice that does not just cover our sins but cleanses us of our sins. The New Covenant changes everything for those who are willing to accept the gift of forgiveness that He offers. The Old Covenant’s blood sacrifices only covered sins, the New Covenant’s blood sacrifice of Jesus removes our sins completely. By one sacrifice, Jesus removes our sins forever. No more daily or yearly sacrifices, Jesus’ sacrifice was “once for all”.

Now it is still true that “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” But now, with our sins forgiven, we no longer have to fear God’s judgment. Jesus is the mediator of a New and Better Covenant; Jesus Himself has secured our complete forgiveness forever.

Friend, if you have never accepted this gift of eternal life that Jesus has secured for you, you need to understand “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment”, and you have a choice. You can stand before God’s judgement and be judged on how well you have kept His commandments, or you can stand before God having been covered by the blood of Jesus and receive eternal forgiveness and salvation.

Believer, if you have accepted the gift of eternal life, remember that all of our sins have been forgiven, once for all, so “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. All because of what Jesus has done

"Living in Grace is not about what I can do, but about what Jesus has already done!"