Returning

Please open your Bibles to Acts 17.

Introduce the series.

Introduce the text. Paul speaking in Athens with philosophers.

Read Acts 17:22–31- “So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for, ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.’”

Pray.

The pointlessness of existence.

Rory Shiner- “The modern west has a surplus of freedom and a deficit of meaning.”

Hamster wheel.

What is Paul doing in this defense of the gospel?

Walks through the reality of the existence of God and what God has done.

Speaking to spiritual people who came together to ask questions and discuss.

In fact, engaged with their own worldview and theology.

Preached a gospel of the supremacy of the one true God.

Even more important, Paul preaches that all of history is going somewhere.

Creation, purpose, right worship, final judgement.

Calls the philosophers to get off the hamster wheel and live.

Importance of Scriptures.

My hope, nothing I say is mere speculation, but instead is clearly and unmistakably noted in Scripture.

1. Jesus will return.

This is the closing thought that Paul had in his interaction with the philosophers. The one who was resurrected from the dead will return.

The work of Jesus is not finished.

Beyond the priestly, prophetic and kingly work that Jesus is currently engaged in, there is more in store for what Jesus will do.

Jesus will return.

Jesus Himself predicted it.

Mark 13:26–27- “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”

The biblical authors predicted it.

1 Thessalonians 4:15–16- “For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

Why is it important to trust these predictions?

Fall into the habit of believing that Jesus will not return.

2 Peter 3:3–4- “…knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.’”

We get into a rut. Dog gets loose.

Matthew 24:42–44- “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 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.”

Louis Berkhof- “We need not interpret the exhortation to watch as an exhortation to scan the heavens for immediate signs of the Lord’s appearance. We should rather see in it an admonition to be awake, to be alert, to be prepared, to be active in the work of the Lord, lest we be overtaken by sudden calamity.”

How will the return of Jesus be different from His first appearing?

A return in glory.

2 Thessalonians 1:10- “…when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”

The continued exaltation of Jesus rather than His humiliation.

The crowing achievement of Christ’s exaltation. Everything leads and looks forward to THIS moment.

What will happen when Jesus returns?

Jesus will judge the world.

John 5:28–29- “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

Resurrection for all. Are you found good or evil?

Not resting on your own works- Resting on the work of Christ.

“No one is good but God alone”

Jesus will lead God’s children into their final glory.

Romans 8:18- “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Notice the contrast between suffering and glory. Suffering now, glory later, and the two are not worth comparing.

Jesus will usher in a reconstructed universe.

Romans 8:19–21- “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

We await a reality that has been perfected, all the flaws of our current reality to be removed.

2. Jesus’ return is to be received in various ways.

How do you think about the return of Jesus?

The joyfulness of Christ’s return.

2 Timothy 4:7–8- “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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.”

The fear of Christ’s return.

Revelation 6:15–17- “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’”

How do we move from dread to excitement?

We must enjoy Jesus.

Rethinking faith in Jesus. What does it mean to be in relationship with Jesus, to place faith in Him?

What does it mean to you? Knowing Him? Trusting Him?

Psalm 90:12–14- “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”

Consider your life, consider your days and receive wisdom.

Seek the Lord, see how He will satisfy.

Psalm 63:5–7- “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”

As I meditate on God, considering His help, I am satisfied with Him as I am with a good meal, a good fatty steak.

3. We should prepare ourselves for Jesus’ return.

Live a pure life.

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.”

Jesus is entirely pure, without sin or stain.

In awaiting His return, we are called to live in the manner that He lived.

“Like a bride waiting for her groom, we’ll be a church, ready for you”

Repent.

We began with Paul and his conversation with the philosophers.

These were unbelievers.

Acts 17:30–31- “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

This is coming. Everything we have studied has led up to this.

Jesus was born, lived a perfect and righteous life, died on our behalf, was buried, was resurrected and ascended to the presence of the Father.

Are you ready for His return?