Jesus Is Coming Again! Series

“JESUS IS COMING AGAIN! Acts 1:10-11

FBCF – 12/26/21

Jon Daniels

INTRO – Dec 26 is an interesting day for me & maybe for you. Still want to be in Christmas spirit, but hard to do that. Kind of melancholy, introspective. Christmas trees & decorations are still up. But just doesn’t feel the same.

But the Good News is still the Good News! And so today on this Dec. 26, we are going to wrap up our “Good News of Great Joy” sermon series. Over course of this month, we’ve considered the good news that Jesus is coming, that He has in fact come, & that He is here. Today, we rejoice in the good news that He is coming again!

EXPLANATION – Acts 1:10-11

Fundamental doctrines are those that are absolutely essential to us as Christ-followers. They’re @ the heart of our faith. They’re those truths that are so important that, to not believe them places you outside of Christianity. They are nonnegotiables that we must fully embrace. If that sounds strict & harsh, just remember that Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Some of these fundamental doctrines include:

- The virgin birth of Christ

- The crucifixion of Christ as payment for our sins

- The bodily resurrection of Christ

- The ascension of Christ & present intercession for us

- The 2nd coming of Christ

THE VIRGIN BIRTH – You can’t separate the virgin birth of Jesus from our doctrine. Adrian Rogers: “You have no hope of salvation apart from the virgin birth. If you remove the virgin birth of Christ, you destroy the foundation of Christianity. It collapses like a house of cards.”

Because His Father is truly God and His mother truly human, Jesus is God in human flesh, the only begotten Son of God, the only one qualified to atone for sin.

- Without virgin birth, you have no hope of Heaven.

- Without virgin birth, Jesus would be a son of Adam.

- Born of a virgin, He was therefore the Son of God—sinless.

- Because He was sinless, He could die a substitutionary death to atone for sin.

- He atoned for our sin that we might be born again & go to Heaven.

- He became the Son of man that we might become the sons & the daughters of God. (Adrian Rogers)

THE CRUCIFIXION – “At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light; & the burden of my sin rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight; & now I am happy all the day.”

The burden of our sin was rolled away from us, but it was rolled onto Jesus Christ on the cross. On the cross:

- He took our place

- He took our sin

- He turned away God’s wrath

- He tore the veil in two

THE RESURRECTION – THE MOST DEFINITIVE STATEMENT OF TRIUMPH THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN! Colossians 2:15 – “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross.” (AMP)

Charles Ryrie: “If Christ did not rise then our witness is false, our faith is w/out meaningful content, & our prospects for the future are hopeless.” 1 Corinthians 15:17-19 – “…if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless & you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” (NLT)

THE ASCENSION –

- Ministry of completion – “It is finished!” was the pronouncement that the mission of redemption of mankind was accomplished. The ascension is the final exclamation point that Jesus’ earthly ministry is complete. Spurgeon: “His ascension in stately pomp, amidst the acclamations of angels, to the enjoyment of His Father’s continued smile, is the sure proof that the work is complete.”

- Ministry of construction – John 14:2 – “I go to prepare a place for you” (KJV)

- Ministry of intercession – sent Holy Spirit to us. Romans 8:26-27 – “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” And Jesus Himself intercedes for us in heaven. Hebrews 7:25 – “Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” (NLT)