Confidence in His Return

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Outline:

The Character of the Hope

The Coming in Hope

The Christ in the Hope

“Looking for that blessed hope”

1. The Character of the Hope

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

The Definiteness

v.13 “Looking for that blessed hope”

Jesus Christ: His Return 1. The Definiteness of the Hope

The word translated “hope” in our text does not mean a mere possibility—something that may or may not happen but in wistful thinking we want it to happen. Rather, the word means something that is certain.

Often the word “hope” is used to express a desire for a positive outcome when there is great uncertainty: This is not the way hope is used here in .

Example: Gambling

Jesus Christ: His Return 1. The Definiteness of the Hope

Paul is not expressing any uncertainty here. He is proclaiming an event that is certain to occur. Paul is looking forward with confidence to the return of Christ.

Paul is anticipating the return of Christ with great confidence.

Hope, here, is a confident expectation that Christ is returning soon.

The Delightfulness

v.13 ““Looking for that blessed hope”

The hope of the Lord’s return is meant to be a great delight to God’s people. Notice the phrase “blessed hope”.

Ble

If you remember, the word “blessed” can be understood as “happiness.”

This happiness is reserved for God’s people

The world is not looking for Christ’s Return

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The Desirability

v.13 “Looking for that blessed hope”

O soul are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There's light for a look at the Savior And life more abundant and free

Turn you eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

(review: Character of Hope:)

2. The Coming in Hope

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

The Splendor

“Glorious”

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

v.13 “Glorious.”

The Showing

Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Contrast from his first coming and birth in Bethlehem

“Appearing”

His first coming was with great humility, His second coming will be with great honor.

There are two appearings:

Rapture and the Revelation

The Rapture will be seen only by the church

The Revelation will be seen by all

The Rapture

Suddenly and quickly

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The Revelation

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

There will be quite a showing indeed!

(Review: The Character of the Hope, The Coming in Hope)

3. The Christ in the Hope

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

The Designation

“Christ”

Christ is not Jesus’ last name, “Christ” is a title not a name.

The title “Christ” refers to Jesus’ Messiahship.

Christ literally means “anointed one.” Christ is the King of Israel.

Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The Deity

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Over and over again, the Bible plainly reveals that Jesus was not, and is not a mere man, he is God in the flesh.

Our God is great, never forget that!

If our God is truly great, we can trust him!

Jesus is

Illustration: God reminded me of this during our Trials with our van breaking down

The Delivering

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.