Why hasn't Jesus Returned?

The reason for faith in God and His Word

Last week we came up with lots of difficult questions that we would all like to have some more clarity on. Questions dealing with

· How has God always been?

· What is Heaven going to be like

· Why is there so much suffering?

· Can I be forgiven?

· How can I know that the Bible and the events in the Bible are true.

· Etc.

I wrote all the questions down and we will do are best to address these questions.

But last week we were simply trying to make the point that it is ok if you don’t have all the answers to your questions. The Bible is not meant to be a book that provides all the answers to all the difficult questions. We should never be people who wait to have all our questions answered before we choose to follow Jesus.

The Bible’s purpose is to show us of our need for a savior. Everything in the Bible points to the need of Jesus.

But we do need to begin by having faith that he does exist because without faith it is impossible to please him. Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

So we ended class last week answering the question why should we have faith in the Bible.

We read that in Luke 16:31 Jesus says that if one doesn’t believe what the Bible says than neither will they be persuaded to believe even if one was to rise from the dead.

Luke 16:31 ESV

He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”

So since its important that we do believe in the Bible we ended class by watching a video that pointed out that one reason why we should believe the Bible is because of the authors honesty in telling what really happened.

Let’s continue…

Let me quickly share with your three reasons to have faith in this great book and its God.

1. The Bible tells me of my sin.

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

· You’ve heard the saying.- A friend like’s you for who you are, but loves you too much to keep you that way.

· That’s true with Jesus and the Bible

2. The Bible tells me how to get rid of my sin

· Many people in the Bible asked that question; What must I do to get rid of my sin?

· Philippian Jailer Acts 16

Acts 2:38 ESV

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Bile gives us the answer to this question. Repent & be baptized

3. The Bible tells me about my home.

· Phil 3:20

Philippians 3:20 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

The Bible teaches us that this current world is not our home

So, because of these three things the Bible is the most powerful book and tool you will ever own.

Why hasn’t Jesus Returned?

In Matthew 24 Jesus talks about the day in which he will return. And until that day there will be people talking about this day. People that will try to convince others that they know the day in which Jesus is coming or they will look at certain events that are happening in the world and say that that event is a sign that the end is near.

We have all heard these things, right? Of all the things that people try to claim about the second coming of Jesus its interesting to note what Jesus actually says about his coming. So, let’s look at what Jesus says about what the second coming will be like to try to better answer this question.

Matthew 24:36–37 (ESV)

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Jesus says nobody knows when I am coming. Not even the angels in heaven or myself, the day in which I come back will be left up to my father.

Matthew 24:38–39 (ESV)

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, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Notice that Jesus compares the day in which he comes again to when God flooded the earth in the days of Noah, He says just as it was for the people of Noah’s day it will seem as just another ordinary day until those who are not faith are swept away.

Matthew 24:40–42 (ESV)

Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

What is Jesus point? His whole point is be prepared. But I want you to pay special attention to the highlighted words becasue I think often times we get them backwards.

Many people think that it is the ones who are taken are the Christians but its actually the opposite.

Just like in the flood the wicked were swept away they were taken by the flood. And those who were on the boat were left behind to live on the renewed earth.

The point is you don’t want to be taken. You want to be left behind. The left behind ones are the saved ones.

What Jesus is saying is the the people who are unprepared on this day that no one know will be taken away.

Matthew 24:43–44 (ESV)

But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

There will be know signs. We do not know when but we have been told to be ready so that we will not be taken away but rather we will be left behind in order to live with Christ for all eternity.

Matthew 24:45–47 (ESV)

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

Jesus says there will be people who are ready. Who are doing what they are supposed to be doing to be prepared for eternity.

Matthew 24:48–51 (ESV)

But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus is making it clear that if you are not ready you will be taken away. Taken to a place where you don’t want to be.

But if you are ready you will receive the inheritance that God want to give everyone.

So be ready today in light of this day because we do not know when it will be.

It might be today or a thousand years from today. We don’t know. Jesus just wants you to be ready.

So that still doesn't answer the specific question; Why hasn’t Jesus come.

Well to better answer that question lets look at another passage in 2 Peter 3:1-13.