The Disciple’s Hope
Introduction
As we conclude our Summer Series called Journey With Jesus: The Daily Trek of Discipleship, I hope we have been reminded of the “daily-ness” of Christianity. The Christian life is…
- Built on the principles of Kingdom viewpoint: The Beatitudes
- Submissive to the Lordship of Jesus Christ
- Responsive to the indwelling Holy Spirit
- Intentional in service, growth, compassion, prayer and love.
- Penitent when we struggle or fail, we turn to Him to remake us.
We follow Jesus daily in the shadow of our hope: that Jesus Christ is coming again. Banowsky: “From Genesis to Revelation scripture shouts that he is coming again - personally, visibly, audibly, unexpectedly, and imminently.”
There are many ideas / teachings about the 2nd coming of Christ, many by devoted Bible students who are intent on digging through the Scriptures for knowledge and truth. We may come out at different places. I do not believe it will ruin our salvation if we are wrong about the events unfolding at the second coming.
-I believe in the bodily return of Christ.
-I believe in his imminent return - it could happen any minute.
-I believe we will meet him in the air.
-I believe he will divide all the people who have ever lived, judging the population of the world in his wise and righteous judgment, a day of destruction for the lost. A day of joy for the saved.
-I believe there will be a new heaven and new earth. All the saved will live for eternity in an existence no longer marred by sin and no longer subject to the work of the Enemy.
-I believe all of this will happen in the blink of an eye, one atomic moment, with a shout, the voice of the archangel!
-I believe this could happen today, but no one knows the day or the hour.
4. Jesus told us that he would come again.
Matthew 24:36-44
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
37 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,
39 and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man.
40 Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left.
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
43 But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into.
44 Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Mark 13:33-37
“Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come.
34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.
35 Watch therefore—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning—
36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
37 And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.”
Eight Truths to Keep in Mind About the Second Coming of Christ
1. The Second Coming of Christ is an incentive to right living. We want to live in such a way that we are excited and joyful at his return, and not afraid.
1 John 3:2,3 “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”
Williams: “The doctrine of the second coming and the end of the world should motivate us to live holy lives. As Peter explained: ‘Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness?” (2 Peter 3:11)
Since you know he is coming, get ready! What things in our lives need to change when we remember the Lord is coming?
2. The Second Coming of Christ brings comfort.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
“For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first;
17 then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
Ultimately we live the disciple’s life because we love Jesus and we want to live with him forever. He loves you and wants to live with you forever. Lyon: “It is the only cure for worry and fear and the only remedy for the gross materialism that is smothering the very life out of so many.”
3. The Second Coming of Christ is imminent.
Banowsky: “It is necessary to distinguish between ‘imminent’ and ‘immediate.’ Christ’s return is imminent in that it could take place at any moment. The word ‘quickly’ in the closing paragraphs of the Bible must be viewed not from the finite perspective of earthly life, but by the ageless life of God. … God does not wear a wristwatch. He dwells in eternity, and the time of his coming will not be determined by the lapse of years on a calendar. But we are exhorted to think of him as coming soon.” James 5:8 “…Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
4. The Second Coming of Christ is a reminder of God’s patience. 2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” For nearly two thousand years Christ has been saying, “Come unto Me”. He is patient and long-suffering.
5. The Second Coming of Christ is a matter for prayer. We are to pray for his coming. “Your kingdom come, your will be done” . Do you know what is the last prayer in the Bible? John, the beloved apostle was on the Isle of Patmos. Jesus said, “Surely I am coming soon.” And the dear old preacher cried out, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” That is the last prayer in the Bible. (Rev 22:7; 20)
6. The Second Coming of Christ is something we are to love! We are to love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” All of the things we value are in second place to the coming of the Lord! Ford: “It means that we are to yearn for His coming with all of our hearts.”
7. The Second Coming of Christ is our blessed hope. Titus 2:13 "waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”. LYON: “Victory in Jesus! Victory over death and the grave.
Heaven! … That is the blessed hope that inspired the first Christians …the hope of our Lord’s coming again … This hope inspired the first century Christians to overcome the world and live for Jesus.”
8. Second Coming of Christ: appointment every human will keep. HEBREWS 9:27-28 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 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.”
Conclusion
Christ is coming. The date is not known! He may come at any minute! Everyone ought to get ready to meet him.
The blood has been shed; our salvation is a finished work. We can come to him now and have our sins washed away; then we will be ready to Meet Him when he comes! Maranatha!
I read about a man who first thing every morning would go to the window, raise the shade, look out and say, “Perhaps today, Lord, I will be busy but I will be ready.” Every evening he would go to the window and say, “Perhaps tonight, Lord. I will be asleep, but I will be ready. I will wake up when You come!”
This is a wonderful time to get your life right with the Lord.
"Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight. The clouds be rolled back as a scroll, The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, Even so — it is well with my soul."
Banowsky: “Our lives should be lived as though Christ died yesterday, arose this morning and will come again tonight.”
One day He’s coming, O Glorious Day!
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Discussion Questions:
1. What are the factors that make the second coming of Christ an uncomfortable subject for you?
2. There are many different approaches to thinking about what will happen with Christ returns. How do you view differences of opinion on this subject?
3. The second coming of Christ is an incentive to right living. Is that the result of fear or faith or something else? Do you think about it a good bit or do you seldom think about it?
4. In what way can the second coming of Christ be a source of comfort?
5. 2 Timothy 4:8 says we should love his appearing. Brainstorm some things about the second coming that we might love.
6. What are some of the differences between the first time Christ came to earth and the second coming?
7. Of the eight truths about the second coming of Christ, was there one that stood out to you as most important? Was there one you had not considered before?
8. What else did you want to talk about today?
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Resources
Banowsky, William S. Great Preachers of Today: Sermons of William S. Banowsky. Biblical Research Press, 1967.
Ford, W. Herschel. Simple Sermons on Grace and Mercy. Baker, reprint, 1986.
Ford, W. Herschel. Simple Sermons for Sunday Morning. Baker, reprint 1986.
Lyon, Mack. Did You Miss The Rapture? Publishing Designs, 1993.
Williams, Joel Stephen. What Is Christianity? Kerygma Books, 1997.
