period and the beginning of another, is immaterial.

Then follows a very original piece of reasoning, plainly intended to be
an additional proof that Christ's dying once put away sin for ever. To
appear on earth often, and to die often, would have been impossible for
Him. He was true man, of woman born, not an apparition, not an angel
assuming the appearance of humanity, not the Son of God really and man
only seemingly. But it is appointed unto men once, and only once, to
die. After their one death comes, sooner or later, judgment. To return
to earth and make a new beginning, to retrieve the errors and failures
of a completed life, is not given to men. This is the Divine
appointment. Exception to the Apostle's argument must not be taken from
the resurrection of Lazarus and others who were restored to life. The
Apostle speaks of God's usual course of action. So understood, it is
difficult to conceive how any words can be more decisive against the
doctrine of probation after death. For, however long judgment may tarry,
our author acknowledges no possibility of changing any man's state or
character between death and the final award. On this impossibility of
retrieving the past the force of the argument entirely depends. If
Christ, Who was true man, failed in His one life and one death, the
failure is irretrievable. He cannot come again to earth and try anew. To
Him, as to other men, it was appointed to die once only. In His case, as
in the case of others, judgment follows death,--judgment irreversible on
the things done in the body. To add emphasis to the notion of finality
in the work of Christ's life on earth, the Apostle uses the passive
verb, "was offered."[186] The offering, it is true, was made by Christ
Himself. But here the deed is more emphatic than the Doer: "He was
offered once for all." The result of the offering is also emphasised:
"He was offered _so as_[187] to lift up sins, like a heavy burden, and
bear them away for ever." Even the word "many" is not to be slurred
over. It too indicates that the work of Christ was final; for the sins
of _many_ have been put away.

What will be the judgment on Christ's one redemptive death? Has it been
a failure? The answer is that His death and His coming into the judgment
have a closer relation to men than mere similarity. He entered into the
presence of God as a sin-offering. He will be proved, at His second
appearing, to have put away sin. For He will appear then apar