By Christ's ONE Offering

"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 9:28  [KJV] 

My soul! pause over this blessed portion, for it is most blessed, and seek from God the Holy Ghost, grace to gather all its sweets for thine evening enjoyment. Every word is big with importance. And, first, who is it that is here said to have been once offered? Even Christ, the sent, the sealed, the anointed of Jehovah. So that when thou goest to a throne of grace, to plead for mercy in the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ; thou goest in His name, whom thy God and Father hath appointed. Thou then tellest thy God, what thy God first told thee. He, in whose name, blood and righteousness, thou askest redemption, is He whom Jehovah Himself "hath set forth as a propitiation, through faith in His blood." Hence it is impossible not to succeed. "I have given Him (saith the Lord) for a covenant to the people."  

Next, consider the fulness, the greatness, the all-sufficiency, of this sacrifice, which thy Jesus hath offered. He was once offered. Yes! it is enough: "For by that one offering, He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." There was, and is, more merit in that one offering of the Lord Jesus Christ, to take away sins, than there is demerit in all the sins of His people for ever. Mark this down also, when thou goest to the throne. Thou art seeking redemption, upon the plea and footing of a full and rich equivalent made by thy Surety, under Jehovah's own appointment and authority. Then go on to that other most interesting part of this precious verse: "And unto them that look for Him, shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation."  

Pause, my soul, over these words. When thy Jesus appeared the first time, He came as the burden bearer of all the sins of His redeemed. And though in himself "He was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;" yet He was made both "sin and a curse for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." Hence all the sins of His redeemed were charged upon Him, and "the LORD Jehovah laid upon Him the iniquity of us all." But when He had by Himself purged our sins, the whole weight and pressure of sin, with all its tremendous effect, were for ever done away. And therefore unto them that look for Him, when He shall appear the second time, it will be without sin unto salvation. He put away sin by His first coming; and by His second, He will put all His redeemed into the complete possession of that salvation which, by His one offering up of Himself for sin, He hath eternally secured.  

What sayest thou, my soul, concerning thyself, and thy personal hope in these glorious things? Art thou one of that blessed happy number who are thus looking for Jesus? Dost thou believe that Jesus died and rose again? Art thou so well pleased with the merits and efficacy of this one offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all, as to seek no other, to desire no other; yea, to renounce and despise every other? Pause, and duly consider. These are solemn soul transactions. A mistake here, is a mistake indeed.  

Oh! it is blessed to be well pleased with what Jehovah hath declared Himself well pleased with: and to be satisfied, yea, well satisfied, with what Jehovah is well satisfied. For then thou wilt be daily on the look out for thy Lord's return, as one that is on the look out for a dearly beloved friend. And thus, if thou art in love with His appearing; loving all that appears to promote thy Redeemer's glory on earth, in the conversion of sinners, and comforting of saints, loving His church, His Zion, His ordinances, His people; shortly the hour will arrive, in which the Master will come, and call for thee; thou shalt hear His chariot-wheels at the door, and His voice will be distinctly heard by the waiting spirit; "Arise, My fair one, and come away!" 

-Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.)