Hebrews 9:26b-28 But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.  Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sin of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

I always find this particular Sunday rather interesting.  I find it interesting because it causes us to think about things we don't normally want to think about.  This Sunday has been designated by the Church as the Sunday of "Last Judgment."  In other words, it is a Sunday where we are to think about the end.  Not just our end but rather about the end of the world as we know it and the beginning of a new existence.  Of course, it is rather important that we consider this Day of Judgment in God's terms and not our own.
What do I mean by that?  Well, it is a matter of believing the Scripture or not.  For instance, is there a hell, a place of eternal torment and punishment for those who have rejected the Christ?  The answer is simple and I think rather indisputable.  In speaking to the Jews of his day Jesus said two things in Matthew that have tremendous bearing on this question.  In 23:15 he said, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are."  Then in verse 33 of the same chapter, still speaking to the same men Jesus says, "You snakes!  You brood of vipers!  How will you escape being condemned to hell?"
It is rather clear from his language and tone that Jesus believed in the existence of hell.  Moreover, it is rather clear from all that Scripture records Jesus saying that Jesus not only believes in the existence of hell but considers it a place of torment and horror.  It is a place he most often referred to as "a place of darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  So when one wants to consider the reality of hell one only needs to look at what Jesus says to realize it is real.
If we are going to reject this idea of hell as many false Christian churches do, then we have a clear problem.  We have a Savior who didn't know what he was talking about.  We have a Savior who was wrong and if Jesus was wrong in this then Jesus could have been wrong about everything and thus we would have to conclude that our religion and faith in Jesus is total and absolute foolishness.
You can try and get around this like others do.  We could determine that it wasn't Jesus who was wrong but rather the Scriptures got it wrong.  However note that we still have the same problem.  If the Scriptures are wrong and we consider the idea of hell only something added by pious men to enhance the message of Jesus then how can we know that anything found in Scripture is true?  It is another important thing to think of.  If even one portion of the Bible is in error about anything then our faith is foolish and worthless.
Of course, since the Bible is true and trustworthy in everything then clearly it is a book that we need to hear and trust in.  It is a book of Truth, God's truth.  Let's then consider our text for this day under the theme: THE TRUTH OF JUDGMENT.  1st. The Issue of Sin.  2nd. The Actions of Jesus.  3rd. The Salvation of Souls.
I hope already that I have motivated your thoughts to this awesome day called "The Day of Judgment!"  So here is the important question: When you think of the Day of Judgment what is it that you think of?  I don't know about you, but I have thought of it and without batting an eyelash I can tell you what is foremost on my mind.
I do not think in terms of the horror and terror of hell.  I do not worry about hell nor am I in any way afraid of the reality of hell.  Please take note of that.  I do believe that hell is a reality.  I do believe that many people of this world, the vast majority of people according to God's Word are going to end up in hell.  They are going to end up there because of their rejection of God's Word and because of their rejection of Jesus and His truth clearly revealed in God's Word.  Make no mistake about it.  This whole issue of hell, judgment and the like all pivots and revolves around Jesus and faith in Jesus.
A case in point.  "What did Jesus come to do?  Why was what Jesus came to do of such importance?  Believe it or not we can realize the answers to these two questions just from the text before us.  No less than twice in this text the very purpose of Jesus is revealed.  Verse 26a and 28a say this, "But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin...so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people."
There it is.  The message of Christ and the work of Christ is about sin.  It is about the fact that we humans disobey God, ignore God's will and ways and in every way possible kick and fight against the very reality of God.  Such is our human nature.  It is a sinful human nature.  That nature and its bent has earned for us eternal death and damnation as is clearly declared in the Law of God.  It is this sin, this great problem of sin and the damnation it brings on us that Jesus came to address and deal with.
Isn't that simple?  Jesus has come to deal with sin.  Jesus has come to take care of the problem of sin but not in the way that many people think.  Many people think that Jesus just came to show us the way but what they mean by that is that Jesus has shown us the way to please God and live a right life.  In other words, Jesus came to teach: Be this, do that, think this way and have that attitude.  Yet please note that this is simply the message of the law.  Jesus is not about law, but about the Gospel.  The law does serve a purpose.  God gave the law to show us we are sinners who need a Savior.  The law leads us to Jesus and our need for him.
Did you note that the way that Jesus came to deal with sin is shown in our text?  We continue to read verse 26a, "but now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself."  The same is found in verse 28, "So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear again a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation."
I hope you noticed the verbs there.  It says that Jesus did away with sin.  How?  The text said, "By the sacrifice of himself."  Or again we look at the text.  It says, "Christ was sacrificed."  Sacrificed for what?  "To take away the sins of many people."  Why?  "To bring salvation."  You've got to love those verbs and what they describe for us.  They describe for us the very point of Jesus: He was the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Wait a minute Pastor, are you saying that Jesus has taken away our sins?  Are you saying that Jesus has forgiven us?  Are you saying that Jesus is the solution for sin?  The answer to all of those questions is a resounding, "Yes!"  That's the reason for Jesus.  God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son.  Jesus is the solution, the complete cure, the one who totally and wonderfully rehabilitates our souls.
Wait a minute Pastor, don't you really want to say that when we love Jesus then we will follow him and obey him and then we will get this gift of His?  No, I don't want to say that!  Some churches might tell you that's how it works, but that's not what God's Word says.  Did you see anywhere in this text where it says, "Jesus came to take away your sins and thus make it possible for you to work your way to heaven?"  What Jesus came to do is the fact.  He came to bring salvation, complete and free salvation because He sacrificed himself on our behalf.
That, Dear People, is the salvation of souls that our outline mentioned.  Jesus came to bring salvation.  Not the possibility of salvation...not the chance at salvation...not the empowerment of souls for salvation.  He came to bring us salvation.  Note that there is only one qualifier for salvation found in God's Word.
"See, see, I told you you would get around to telling us how to live and act and what not.  You really do what to teach that Jesus opened the door and we have to climb to the heights of heaven by obedience and the like to get there!
NO!  The only requirement for heaven is faith.  This is faith given to us by the Lord, given to us through the Word and sacraments, given to us as the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and minds to trust in Jesus and not in ourselves.  This faith, be it a strong faith or a weak faith is always sufficient for receiving the benefits of Jesus and his work of salvation, provided that faith is in Jesus and not in our own works and abilities.  The truth of this statement is also found in our text.  In verse 28 we heard, "so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."
The key is to understand what it means "those who are waiting for Him."  The Him is none other than Jesus the Son of God who gave his life for our sins.  This same Jesus has promised to return and take us to be with him in heaven because he has paid for our sins.  He comes to bring salvation, that is, to give the gift of eternal life and heaven.  He comes to give that gift, as our text said, "to those who are waiting for him."  That is simply a phrase used to designate those who believe in Jesus and what he has done.  The emphasis is on Jesus.
To see that, simply consider some of the other passages where this same phrasing is used.  In Romans 8:23-24 we hear, Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we are saved."  The hope is in Jesus and what he has done.  In Titus 2:11-14 we see the entire picture, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.   It teaches us to say 'No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."
It is clear that the focus of this hope, this waiting is on Jesus.  It is not on our works or deeds although the Titus section does speak of the impact Jesus and his redemption has on us.  Faith leads us to strive to live god-pleasing lives.  We won't necessarily be successful at it, but we will, out of love for Jesus strive to not let sin rule in our lives.  God is the one who changes us in this way.  God gives us the new heart and mind to desire to please Jesus.  It is the natural result of faith and happens because we believe that in Jesus our sins are forgiven and heaven is our home.  Jesus is the focus of our faith not how we live.
Dear people, there is a Judgment Day.  It will come just as God has promised.  But for the child of God, those who have Jesus as the object of their faith, there is no fear or worry.  No fear and worry because Jesus has won eternal life and salvation for us.  On that great day, Jesus is only coming to finally and completely take us to Heaven with Him for all eternity.  This is our faith.  This is what we believe.  Amen.