Q:

What is meant by "for salvation without reference to sin" in Hebrews 9:28?

I'm curious about the Greek (χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας) which NASB translates as "without reference to sin" here:

so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (Hebrews 9:28 NASB)
οὕτως ὁ Χριστός ἅπαξ προσενεχθεὶς εἰς τὸ πολλῶν ἀνενεγκεῖν ἁμαρτίας ἐκ δευτέρου χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας ὀφθήσεται τοῖς αὐτὸν ἀπεκδεχομένοις εἰς σωτηρίαν

What does this expression mean?

A:

χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας means without or apart from [χωρὶς] sin [ἁμαρτίας]. The same phrase is found earlier:

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without (χωρὶς) sin (ἁμαρτίας). (Hebrews 4:15 NASB)

Some recent translations may express the idea in 9:28 better:

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. (ESV)
so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation. (NET)

The previous verse puts the meaning of this into context:

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment (NASB)

Christ, as the Holy One of Israel, having entered into the Most Holy Place and been offered once to bear sins will appear a second time (without sin) to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him and judgment to those who deny Him.

