The Disciple’s Hope Series

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.