C+C Edmonds CG Discussion Guide
Text: Hebrews 9:24-28
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,
for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. 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. 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.
Summary
Hebrews 9:24–28 presents Jesus Christ as the perfect high priest and final sacrifice who has entered not an earthly copy, but the true heavenly presence of God on behalf of his people. Unlike the old covenant priests who entered man-made sanctuaries repeatedly with the blood of animals, Christ entered heaven itself with his own blood, accomplishing a once-for-all atonement. His single, unrepeatable sacrifice truly puts away sin, fulfilling and surpassing the entire sacrificial system.
This passage then ties Christ’s work to the universal human reality of death and judgment. It states that every person is appointed to die once, and after that comes judgment before a holy and righteous God. Scripture rejects false views such as reincarnation, soul sleep, annihilationism, and universalism. Death is not extinction or an unconscious pause, but an entrance into immediate accountability before God. Because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, all stand naturally under his just judgment.
Hebrews also makes clear that judgment is administered by Christ himself, who has been given all authority to judge the living and the dead. Scripture speaks of an immediate, personal judgment at death and a final, public judgment at the end of the age, often called the great white throne judgment. For those who die in unbelief, this culminates in eternal, conscious separation from God in hell, described by Jesus as a place of outer darkness, unquenchable fire, anguish, and no second chances. This sober reality exposes the lie that God will simply overlook sin or that everyone will ultimately be saved.
For those who are in Christ, however, judgment has already fallen on Jesus at the cross. He was offered once to bear the sins of many, satisfying the demands of God’s justice in the place of his people. Their guilt and record of debt have been nailed to the cross, and Christ’s righteousness has been counted to them. Believers will still appear before the judgment seat of Christ, not to determine salvation, but to receive rewards for faithfulness that will ultimately be laid before God in worship. Their citizenship in heaven is secure because it rests entirely on Christ’s finished work.
The passage concludes with a forward-looking hope: Christ will appear a second time, not to deal with sin (which he has already done at his first coming), but to bring final salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him. For unbelievers, his return will confirm a just and irreversible verdict. For believers, his return is a cause for eager anticipation, courage, and joy. The right response to this text is to turn from self-reliance, trust wholly in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice, and live in readiness and hope for his return.
Key Takeaways
Discussion Questions
Practical Applications
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,
for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. 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. 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.
Summary
Hebrews 9:24–28 presents Jesus Christ as the perfect high priest and final sacrifice who has entered not an earthly copy, but the true heavenly presence of God on behalf of his people. Unlike the old covenant priests who entered man-made sanctuaries repeatedly with the blood of animals, Christ entered heaven itself with his own blood, accomplishing a once-for-all atonement. His single, unrepeatable sacrifice truly puts away sin, fulfilling and surpassing the entire sacrificial system.
This passage then ties Christ’s work to the universal human reality of death and judgment. It states that every person is appointed to die once, and after that comes judgment before a holy and righteous God. Scripture rejects false views such as reincarnation, soul sleep, annihilationism, and universalism. Death is not extinction or an unconscious pause, but an entrance into immediate accountability before God. Because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, all stand naturally under his just judgment.
Hebrews also makes clear that judgment is administered by Christ himself, who has been given all authority to judge the living and the dead. Scripture speaks of an immediate, personal judgment at death and a final, public judgment at the end of the age, often called the great white throne judgment. For those who die in unbelief, this culminates in eternal, conscious separation from God in hell, described by Jesus as a place of outer darkness, unquenchable fire, anguish, and no second chances. This sober reality exposes the lie that God will simply overlook sin or that everyone will ultimately be saved.
For those who are in Christ, however, judgment has already fallen on Jesus at the cross. He was offered once to bear the sins of many, satisfying the demands of God’s justice in the place of his people. Their guilt and record of debt have been nailed to the cross, and Christ’s righteousness has been counted to them. Believers will still appear before the judgment seat of Christ, not to determine salvation, but to receive rewards for faithfulness that will ultimately be laid before God in worship. Their citizenship in heaven is secure because it rests entirely on Christ’s finished work.
The passage concludes with a forward-looking hope: Christ will appear a second time, not to deal with sin (which he has already done at his first coming), but to bring final salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him. For unbelievers, his return will confirm a just and irreversible verdict. For believers, his return is a cause for eager anticipation, courage, and joy. The right response to this text is to turn from self-reliance, trust wholly in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice, and live in readiness and hope for his return.
Key Takeaways
- Death is Universal - It has a 100% success rate and is immediately followed by judgment before a holy, omniscient, righteous Judge who misses nothing and compromises nothing.
- Two Judgments - The Great White Throne judgment separates believers and non-believers and the Judgment Seat of Christ is for rewards for believers
- Salvation through Christ Alone - Jesus offered himself as the once-for-all sacrifice that has fully dwelt with sin so believers do not need to have any fear of standing before God in judgment, we have been given the righteousness of Christ.
Discussion Questions
- Before this sermon, what was your understanding of what happens after we die?
- Why do you think the false views of death mentioned in the sermon (annihilationism, soul sleep, reincarnation, universalism) are appealing to people? What does scripture have to say about these views?
- What are the dangers of denying the reality of hell?
- What feelings are generated when you think of the return of Christ? Excitement? Fear? Uncertainty? Where do you think those feelings are coming from?
- Have you ever had conversations with nonbelievers about hell? As a group, discuss how we can balance the truth of the reality of hell with the offer of free forgiveness in conversations with nonbelievers.
- How would you respond to the objection "I don't believe a good God could send someone to hell." What does the bible have to say in response?
Practical Applications
- Practice the Gospel - Meet up with a friend this week and practice sharing the gospel using the Romans Road (refer to this week's sermon notes). Ask for honest feedback on how clear your explanation is, especially with regards to using "christianese" language that nonbelievers might not understand.
- Get Equipped - Share some bible passages and other resources so that you can be equipped and prepared to have conversations with nonbelievers about hell when the opportunity arises
- Pray - Spend time this week praying for someone in your life who doesn't know Jesus as their savior.