The inspired Apostles Paul “know” they hadn’t received all that was to be theirs, at the cross, and his writings reflected that truth. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for “now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” The night is far spent, the day is at hand.. (Romans 13:11-12) Quoting a dear friend of mind Arthur Melanson. The new testament writer “were embryonic sons in a halfway as were all Christians of that period. End quote. Salvation, i.e., "deliverance" was inaugurated in the ministry of Jesus. It was ratified or confirmed through His Cross (not at the Cross). Think about it if salvation was all in all secured at or on the Cross, then what need was there further for the Resurrection of the saints??? - Do you follow? The Cross was the linchpin, the central part in securing our salvation.
Paul confirms this in his epistle as well. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith “for salvation ready to be revealed” in the last time. ( 1 Peter 1:3-5)
The inspired Apostles speak of salvation, ready to be reviled “years after” the cross. Who is correct the inspired writers of the Bible or to days teaching of men? The expectation for the complete salvation of the believers in the "last days" of the Old Covenant "age" had not yet been realized. They had not yet been "clothed upon" with the redemption for which they were waiting (2 Cor. 5:2-4).
Weren’t Paul and Peters and their converts already saved? Yes, they were, but not in the fulness of salvation that was consummated at the Parousia of Christ. Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. Complete salvation had an out working to completion in that generation. This point is evident throughout the New Testament. Numerous verses relative to the believers "enduring to the end to be saved", and the like (Matt. 10:22; Heb 6:4-6; Heb 10:26-31, 2 Peter 2:20- 22, etc.),
We must be careful not to divide the language and teaching up between the two testaments to such an extent that we make them totally disconnected from each other. The New Testament was not written to introduce a new concept of the work of Jesus our “High Priest” into salvation that is totally alien to the teaching of the old testament. God introduced his plans of salvation, to Israel in the types and shadows of the High Priest under the old covenant system. First, notice how the work of the High Priest is described in the Old Testament by Moses, then how the writer of Hebrews associates that work with Jesus as our High Priest unto complete salvation.
In Leviticus we read where Moses called Aaron the High Priest to going into tabernacle to make atonement for yourself and for the people sins. So they brought what Moses commanded before the tabernacle of meeting. And all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. Then Moses said, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded you to do, and the glory of the LORD will appear to you. "And Moses said to Aaron, "Go to the altar, offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people. Offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as the LORD commanded." (Leviticus 9:5-7)
According to the pattern of the Old Testament, forgiveness of sins (did come when the High Priest went into the tabernacle) but when the (High Priest came out of the tabernacle and blessed the people of Israel). In Leviticus 9: 22-23 we read. Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them, and came down from offering, the sin offering, the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.
Notice here that Israel's did not know their sins were forgiven until Aaron the High Priest (came out of the tabernacle to bless the people). Question how could the people of Israel have known their sins had been forgiven if the High Priest Aaron had not come out of the tabernacle to bless them with the good news that God had accepted their atonement for sin another year? No one is dear going into the tabernacle to see what happen because they know they would die on the spot. So Aaron had to come out of the tabernacle and blessed the people of Israel.
These types and shadows are of vital importance, to understand how complete salvation was accomplished by the antitype our High Priest Christ Jesus in the New Testament. All the Apostles understood this simple Old Testament concept bout the High Priest and their writings reflected that truth.
In Hebrews 9:24-26 we read, For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another. This is a picture of Christ our High Priest (going into the Holy place, to appear in the presence of God for us. This fulfilled the type and shadows of Aaron the High Priest is going INTO the earthly tabernacle. (Leviticus 9:5-7)
Then we read in Hebrews 9:27-28 where it says, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Hebrews 9:27-28) This fulfilled the type and shadows of Aaron the High Priest (coming OUT of the earthly tabernacle to bless the people. (Leviticus 9: 22-23)
They understood the Parousia or reappearance of Christ was simply our High Priest comes out of the Holiest of all during the same generation unto salvation. The writer of Hebrews as we see shows Christ Jesus fulfilling the type and shadow of Leviticus 9 placing the return of the High Priest in the same generation.
There is no distinction in the language made by the writer of Leviticus 9 and Hebrews 9. The language used closely connects both appearing The disciples never had a concept of our High Priest Jesus coming out of the Holy place over two thousands years away. They saw one short fulfillment period with two phases to it. An atonement for sin phases 9:24-26 and a complete redemptive/salvation phases 9:28. And they're writing reflects that truth. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; (for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed). The night is far spent, the day is at hand.. (Romans 13:11-12)
If we are still waiting for our High Priest, Jesus to come out of the Holy Place we don’t have complete salvation according to scripture.
