Sermon Tone Analysis

It’s not a salvation thing

There withing “Christiandome” many views and definitions about “second coming.”

The second coming is not a salvation issue, but it can be a divisive issue.

(Insert second coming of Christ picture here)

The second coming is often confused with other “comings” of the Lord.

Other comings noted in scripture are “day of the Lord events” such as can read in Mt24, Mk13, Lk21 in “the Olivet discourse.”

The second coming is a Christian doctrine that must be believed or our hope and belief is futile

The second coming it the literal belief that Jesus will return one day fulfilling scripture (Jn14:1-3; Act1:9-11)

The second coming starts a chain of events that changes our very existence.

Did you know Jesus spoke of more than one day?

To the first century Christians they knew they were days of judgment, like in the O.T. when God judged nations.

Jesus had said some of you will not taste death until you see the day come, meaning a day of judgment.

(Transition) - I have to admit this believe has implications in many other beliefs that we are not going to get into today, that can be a series in and of itself.

But the belief in the return of Christ is necessary and we want to focus just on that today.

So, here is what I hope to convey today, Lord willing.

The Promise of His coming

The purpose of His coming

Preparing for His coming (concluding the series)

The Promise of His coming

Everyone loves promises, especially if you believe the promise maker to be a promise keeper.

When it comes to the return of Christ there are several promise makers to consider.

Promised by Jesus (Jn14:1-3)

Jesus calls for his apostles to take their belief up a notch, from believing in God to believing in Him too.

He tells them why

Then He makes a promise to them.

This is just before being handed over, they had seen the signs, the wonders, they had been told what was going to happen.

This was more of a “since you believe” more than you need to believe.

For he is reminding them He is coming back.

What a great comfort He was giving to them, in a time when they were going to need it.

For He was about to go to the cross.

And He was not going to be with them as He had said, but the promise is about His return.

Promised by His angels (Act1:9-11)

Well, wait, hold on, after what things, maybe need to back up and give some context

OK, after those things Jesus was lifted up and the angels made the promise to the apostles

The promise was in the same manner, He would return, up into a cloud, will return in a cloud.

It was only 10 days later that the Holy Spirit came and was poured out.

Because of this promise, and their belief in the promise they too were able to promise.

Promise by His apostles (Act3:19-21)

act3:19-21 “19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.”

To church at Corinth (1Cor11:26, 15:22-23)

1cor11:26 “26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

1cor15:22-23 “22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,”

To church at Thessalonica (1The1:9-10, 2:19, 3:13)

1the1:9-10 “9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”

and

1The2:19 “19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation?

Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?”

1the3:13 “13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”

And to Timothy (2Tim4:1)

2tim4:1 “1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:”

And the Hebrew writer (Heb9:27-28)

heb9:27-28 “27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

So, a few things we can learn from these passages.

The church should be looking for Christ to return, waiting for His return

When He comes He is coming with His saints, those who have died in Christ before the day of His return.

When He comes it is not to deal with salvation (forgiveness of sins) but for judgment.

(Transition) when He comes there is purpose for the coming, judgment, and more, so let’s look together at the purpose of His coming.

Purpose of His coming

God sent Jesus purposefully, and when He returns it will be intentionally and purposefully.

May we look at purpose of Jesus return together for a few minutes?

There are many scriptures all throughout this sermon, I will not hit them all, but will summarize some and quote others, I urge you to look up the passages on your outline.

To raise the dead (Jn5:28-29; Act24:15; 1Cor15:50-54; 1The4:16-18)

In Act24:15 it says: 15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.”

In 1cor15:50-54 the summary would be the the perishable will be made imperishable, the mortal will put on immortality, death will be swallowed up in victory.

Now a passage I think I need to put out in context here

Why, what purpose is there for raising us from the dead if we already have eternal life, let’s press on and see.

To deliver the kingdom to God (1Cor15:22-26; Col1:13; Ps110:1-2; Mt13:36-43)

See we are already qualified by God the Father for the kingdom, and in the kingdom of the beloved Son now, with the kingdom of God to be recevied (Col1:13) a kingdom right now that has been set up in the midst of the enemies (Ps110:1-2)

In the parable of the wheat and tares explained (Mt13:36-43) let me just give a few verses from it.

and Another passage I cannot pass up

We will be handed over to the Father!

You are in the kingdom of the beloved Son, you are the kingdom of the beloved Son now, you are the church!

And one day we will be presented to the Father without spot, without blemish, Jesus precious bride.

Death will have been abolished by the resurrection!

First Christ’s then yours when He returns!

When He returns he is not coming to set up a kingdom, but to deliver a kingdom to the Father!

Hallelujah what a day that will be.

He is going to take the kingdom out of the way for the day of the Lord will be a day of judgment.

To judge the world (2Pt3:7; Act17:31; 2Cor5:10; 2The1:7-10; Rev20:11-15)

God has appointed a day in which to judge (2pt3:7) and a judge, Jesus (Jn5:22; Act17:31) and a means of judgment, the word (Jn12:48)

A day of judgment, destruction of ungodly men.

It says in 2the1:7-10, in paraphrase you can look it up “7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.”

Those who are not written in the book of life will suffer in the lake of fire according to Rev20:11-15.

To usher in the “New heavens and New earth” (2Pt3:10-14; Isa65:17-19, 66:22-23; Rev20:11, 21:10)

that goes with passages I want to highlight from Isaiah

Isa65:17-19 “17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.

18 “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for gladness.

19 “I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; And there will no longer be heard in her The voice of weeping and the sound of crying.”

= = = = can this be the church?

Sure it can, but in the place where righteousness dwells I believe better fits the heavenly kingdom where there is not voice of weeping or crying.

John taught on it too:

the old way, the old earth and heavens fled away, are no longer

The new Jerusalem, the heavenly Jerusalem is not the Jerusalem we think of in the Middle East, this is heavenly, not earthly.

It is not coming down to the earth as we know it, for it will be a new earth, and new heavens, where righteousness dwells.

- This is the place where the Son has presented His bride, the church to the Father and we will continually dwell with the Father.

(Transition) one more very short point before we close this morning.

Preparing for His coming

There are many things in life that we prepare for, but do we prepare for the return of Christ?