Christ Our Coming King
(4FG-4)
I. Why Do I Need a Coming King?
A. An innate need for leadership
B. Weakness in our present leadership
II. What Is God’s Plan to Meet My Need?
A. Christ’s first Advent
B. Christ’s second Advent
III. How Do I Receive Christ as My Coming King?
A. Receive Him as Savior
B. Receive Him as Sanctifier
C. Receive Him as Healer
D. Receive Him as Coming King
1. Be ready
2. Be watching
3. Be faithful
4. Be diligent
Introduction
This morning I will deliver the final sermon in this Advent series. We have been looking at the different aspects of the ministry of Christ and how He has provided for the various needs that we face. It is a work that He began during His earthly ministry and one which He continues to fulfill in the life of every believer that is actively seeking for His blessed presence within.
We will be looking at the fourth part of A.B. Simpson’s Four-Fold Gospel: Christ our Coming King. It is this ministry of Jesus to which all of the previous ministries point. In Simpson’s own words, Christ our Coming King…
…is the glorious culmination of all other parts of the Gospel. We have spoken of the Gospel of SALVATION, but Peter says our salvation is “ready to be revealed in the last time”…. We have spoken of SANCTIFICATION, but John says: [“We know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”] And we have spoken of DIVINE HEALING, but Paul says: [“God…has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come,”] and Divine healing is but the first-springing life of which the resurrection will be the full fruition.
It is, therefore, well that besides the Gospel for the present, we should understand, and live under the power of THE GOSPEL OF THE FUTURE and the blessed and purifying hope of Christ’s glorious coming (4FG, pp. 68-70).
I believe that Dr. Simpson’s evaluation of the importance of the doctrine of Christ our Coming King is right on target. It places the thrust of the whole Bible into its proper perspective. The Bible is God’s revelation of His plan for the redemption of His fallen creation. And the goal of that plan is to restore the created order back to its original intent and purpose. His plan is to have us regain what was lost when sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden—namely, innocence, order and fellowship with God. Christ our Coming King is the apex of God’s plan of redemption.
Why Do I Need a Coming King?
You may be wondering, “Why I do I need a Coming King? My need for a Savior, a Sanctifier and a Healer were pretty obvious, but I don’t really sense of great yearning for a Coming King.”
I believe that the main reason we may not have a burning desire for a Coming King is because of the association we make with our current rulers and leaders. We see corruption and greed, injustice and suspicion, lack of integrity and broken promises on all levels of government and in every country of the world, and we tend to want to steer as far away from that as possible. Our concepts of leadership have been tainted by our experience, so we’re not especially fond of the idea of a Coming King. But in our very aversion to a Coming King we display our need for a Coming King. This is demonstrated in the following ways:
An Innate Need for Leadership
We have built within us an innate need for leadership. We need structure in our lives. We need societal boundaries within which to live. We recognize that we cannot just allow each individual to pursue his/her own happiness with no regard for the well being of others. We must have law and order established if we are going to coexist with one another. The existence of laws, by definition, requires that they be enforced if they are to hold any value. Law enforcement necessitates individuals to hold such positions. Ultimately, our very survival demands that leaders be developed and obeyed.
Weakness in Our Present Leadership
We acknowledge the universal need for leaders in the fact that every culture and society has established some form of government. But it also seems to be a universal truth that every form of government experiences and expresses deficiencies in one way or another. As I mentioned earlier, the examples of failures in our present leadership abound. We know that something is wrong and we long for things to be set right. I know I’m making a generalization, but every time we present a new candidate for a position in government, we are admitting the weakness in the former. We are demonstrating our displeasure with the manner in which our society is being led and we are seeking to find another who will fulfill our desires.
I am convinced that our discontent with our present governmental systems is the direct result of the Divine ideal that has been placed within our hearts. Each of us carries this idea of a utopia—a perfect world where the societal structure is designed to benefit everyone and that design is realized. There is something deep within our being that cries out for morality and generosity, justice and trust, integrity and fidelity to be the norm. We want to see our highest ideals fleshed out before our eyes. We have this concept of what a good and perfect leader is and our hearts cry out for the appearing as such a one to bring an end to the confusion in which we now live and take us to that place where we sense we belong. We want to have someone come and show us how to attain a higher standard of living on a relational, spiritual and moral plane. We need a Coming King.
What Is God’s Plan to Meet My Need?
Where do we find such a one that can meet our needs? Isn’t it fairly obvious that a “perfect leader” is simply a myth, an ideal that we have created to give us hope? Hasn’t it been proved out over and over again that even the best of leaders falls short of perfection? What it is God’s plan to meet my need for a Coming King? It comes to us in two parts.
Christ’s First Advent
The first part of His plan was implemented more than 2,000 years ago when His Son, Jesus, was sent to the earth to be the world’s Messiah. The word “messiah” means anointed one. It encompasses the idea of “the one anointed by God and empowered by God’s spirit to deliver His peo-ple and establish His kingdom” (IBD, p. 700). Christ was born to be the King of all the earth.
The prophet Isaiah foretold of the Coming King. I want to take a look at two passages from his prophecy: Isaiah 9:6-7 (p. 515) and 11:1-5 (p. 517).
In a limited sense, Christ established the kingdom of God that these prophecies refer to during His first Advent. Matthew records for us in chapters 5-7 of his Gospel Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In that sermon, Christ taught His disciples the principles of the kingdom He had come to establish. It was to be a kingdom where the laws were written on each one’s heart. Love, mercy, justice, forgiveness, generosity, kindness and peace are the chief principles by which everyone would live. And there would be only one people with one King, God Himself. For every child of God these words cause something inside of us to cry, “Yes, Lord, began Your reign today!”
But we’ve all heard candidates make big promises of how life will be much better for us if we will but cast our vote their way. We’ve seen their charts. We’ve listened to their brilliant economic plans. It all looks good in print and sounds good to our ears. We may even convince ourselves, “This is surely the answer to our problems. This person will finally make things right.” But somehow, after they’re elected into power, things remain ever the same. Perhaps the pictures that Jesus painted and the promises that He made are only as dependable as the ones we are always hearing. How can we know if what He said any more reliable?
The truth of what Jesus said is found out the same way that we determine the veracity of what our candidates say: by watching His life. The one thing that you will quickly discover is that Jesus never said anything that He didn’t live. He taught us to live by love, and He demonstrated His love to the uttermost—He gave His life. As He went about His daily living He did not succumb to the pressures of the political leaders or to the whims of the endearing masses—He remained true to His mission. He came to lead a revolution, a revolution of the heart.
Christ’s Second Advent
But the kingdom that He established then was but a fore-taste of the kingdom that is yet to come. The purpose of Christ’s First Advent was to prepare us for His Second Advent. When He walked on the earth the first time, it was to get us ready for the time when He would reign as King forever. At His Second Coming, the kingdom of God will be realized in all of its fullness.
In the NT, several scriptures indicate that the Second Coming of Christ is the fulfillment of what He began when He inaugurated the kingdom of God during His First Advent. Paul writes in Titus 2:11-13: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
But the NT passage that gives the most comprehensive overview of the Second Coming of Christ is Revelation 19 and 20. In those chapters, John describes that glorious Day when Jesus will appear with His armies and triumph over His enemies. This will begin with His 1,000 year reign where Satan is not permitted to influence anyone—a period of unprecedented peace and prosperity like the world has not known since the time before the Fall of Adam and Eve. Then, after a brief time where Satan is once again free to deceive, Christ will at last cast him into lake of fire along with death and Hades, and Jesus shall reign for ever and ever.
In our hearts we long for that perfect world—one in which the troubles, disappointments, hardships and defeats are vanquished. We seek this perfect world, but as someone has pointed out “Our trouble is we want the peace without the Prince” (Addison H. Leitch). We want the right thing, but we go about it the wrong way. We need Christ to be our Coming King, but we hope to find the answer our own way.
How Do I Receive Christ as My Coming King?
We need a Coming King. God has provided for our need by sending us His Son, Jesus. How do I receive Christ as my Coming King?
Receive Him as Savior
It begins by receiving Him as Savior. We must admit that we have failed and that we cannot make sense out of life without Him. We must repent of our own way of living and turn to Him and follow the path that He has laid out for us—trading our lifelessness for His life.
Receive Him as Sanctifier
But we must also receive Christ as our Sanctifier. God’s standard for acceptance is perfection or holiness. None of us is perfect or holy. Therefore, we need to find our sanctification in another. We must ask Christ to be our holiness. We must depend on Him to continue the work that He has begun in us and bring us to completion in Him—trading our imperfection for His perfection.
Receive Him as Healer
And we must receive Christ as our Healer. Our bodies and minds are just as affected by sin as our spirits. God provided for our physical and psychological needs in Christ as well. We must look to Him for our daily health and strength. We should turn to Him when our bodies or minds are hurting and expect Him to heal us—trading our brokenness for His wholeness.
Receive Him as Coming King
After accepting Christ as our Savior, Sanctifier, and Healer, we are ready to accept Him as our Coming King. Those steps are preparatory in fitting as for His kingdom. And as we look for His soon return, I’d like to pass on these words of encouragement and exhortation from Dr. Simpson. He gives four points regarding how we can experience Christ as our Coming King on a daily basis. These four points can all be found in Matthew 24 beginning with verse 36. Please turn there in your Bibles (p. 738).
Be Ready
The first we need to do in order to experience Christ as our Coming King on a daily basis is to be ready. V. 36 states, No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. We do not know whether His return will be next year, next month, or next week. Christ may return this very day, perhaps before we leave this place. Are you ready? If Jesus were to appear with His angels right now would you be counted among His friends or His enemies? Each of us must get ready for His soon and a certain coming. We must be ready.
Be Watching
Second, we need to be watching. Look at v. 42: Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. We are to be in anticipation of His return. Our eyes should be focused on that Day when He will begin His eternal reign on earth. Our hearts should be filled with eagerness and expectation. Are you looking forward to His return? Does it fill your heart with joy to know that He will soon be coming back? We must be watching.
Be Faithful
Third, we need to be faithful. V. 45: Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? We have a responsibility to be faithful to our calling in Christ. Each of us who has become a child of God through faith in Jesus has an obligation to be faithful to Him. Our faithfulness is exhibited by a living a holy life before all mankind. It means not giving up when the pressure comes upon us and giving a clear witness for Christ when we are called upon to do so. We must be faithful.
Be Diligent
Finally, we need to be diligent. Look at v. 46: It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. We’re not to just sit around and wait for Christ to return. We are to be busy about the work God has entrusted to us. If we really believe that His return is soon, then we should be especially motivated and engaged in the work of leading others to the King. If we are convinced that those who do not have a personal relationship with Christ will not be part of His eternal kingdom, then we should be doing all that we can to let them know.
The great preacher F.B. Meyer once asked D.L. Moody, “What is the secret of your success?” Moody replied, “For many years I have never given an address without the consciousness that the Lord may come before I have finished.” This may well explain the intensity of his service and the zeal of his ministry for Christ. How about you? Are you busy about the work of the kingdom, telling others about the good news of His return? We must be diligent.
Conclusion
As we look forward to celebrating Christmas this week with family and friends, I wonder if we are truly ready. I don’t mean whether we have gifts for everyone on our lists, or enough food for gatherings, I mean, are we really ready in our hearts to a celebrate Christmas? That day marks the First Coming of Jesus as a baby—the gift from God that we might have peace and renewed fellowship with Him. It also looks forward to the day of His Second Coming and the establishment of His eternal kingdom and the end of sin’s tyrannical reign.
I’d like you to listen to this poem entitled Ready for Christmas as I conclude this sermon.
“Ready for Christmas,” she said with a sigh
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high.
Then wearily sat for a moment and read
Till soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,
“Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?
Ready for Christmas when only last week
You didn’t acknowledge your friend on the street?
Ready for Christmas while holding a grudge?
Perhaps you’d better let God be the judge.”
She woke with a start and a cry of despair.
“There’s so little time and I’ve still to prepare,
O, Father forgive me, I see what you mean!”
To be ready means more than a house swept clean.
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree,
It’s the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,
A heart that is free from rancor and sin,
So be ready for Christmas and be ready for Him.
(Anonymous)
Are you ready for Christmas? Have you made room in your heart for the Christ-child to be born in you? Are you a longing for Christ our Coming King? If you’re not certain about any of these questions—if you couldn’t give a “yes” answer to each one—please don’t leave this building today without that assurance. Come and talk to me about it. Be certain. Be ready for Christmas and ready for Christ’s return.
