The title of P.G. Mathew's sermon makes the topic quite clear concerning
Jesus' second coming sometime in the future and how glorious it shall be.
May God bless,
Carl
my website -- http://www.nettally.com/saints/
my blog -- http://www.anniemayhem.com/cgi-bin/wordpress/
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The Second Coming Of Jesus Christ
by P.G. Mathew
"But now [Christ] was manifested once for all at the end of the ages for
the purpose of canceling sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is
appointed to die once, and after, judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once
to
bear the sins of many. And he will appear a second time without sin, [that
is, not to deal with sin] but for salvation of those who are eagerly
waiting
for him." - Hebrews 9:26b-28, author's translation
Can you imagine that the God of the Bible used a flood to destroy all but
eight people for their wickedness? Can you imagine that this same God
destroyed by fire all but three of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah for
their immorality? It is true: God punishes sinners in their lifetimes, at
their deaths, and at the final judgment.
The God revealed in the Scriptures is a moral God who both saves and
punishes. Educated fools often speak of a "closed universe," meaning that
God is shut out from the universe and has nothing to do with it. The
truth,
however, is that ours is an open universe in which God acts in history. If
anything is closed, it is the minds of such fools. They are closed to God.
But all people shall face him in due time, either as Savior or as Judge.
No
philosophical materialism can save anyone from having to face the
infinite,
personal God.
Have you ever wondered where your parents, relatives, and friends are who
have died? Are they enjoying salvation in God's presence, or are they
experiencing eternal torment away from God? In God's plan, there is
salvation for those who trust in Jesus and judgment for those who reject
him.
The apostle Paul writes, "God is just: He will pay back trouble to those
who
trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled and to us as well.
This
will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire
with
his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do no
obey
the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting
destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the
majesty
of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to
be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you,
because
you believed our testimony to you" (2 Thess. 1:6-10). May God help each of
us to heed the gospel call and be saved from the coming wrath of God.
The First Coming of Christ
Let us look at the first coming of Jesus. The purpose of Christ's
incarnation was to cancel our sins through his sacrificial suffering and
death (Is. 53:10-12).
Hebrews 9:26b tells us that the eternal Son of God entered history in
human
flesh over two thousand years ago "at the end of the ages." This is the
climax of history, what Hebrews 1:2 calls "these last days." Christ
ushered
in the messianic age to which all the prophets had pointed. The infinite
became finite, the immortal became mortal, God became man.
The eternal Son became man that he may die. The Hebrews author speaks
clearly of the purpose of incarnation: "Since the children have flesh and
blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might
destroy
him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil-and free those who all
their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death . . . For this
reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he
might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and
that
he might make atonement for the sins of the people" (Heb. 2:14-15, 17).
Every sinner is a slave to Satan and death, but Christ died to set us free
from such slavery. Because of Adam's sin, every child of Adam comes into
the
world dead-spiritually stillborn. We come into this world as sinners to
live
lives of sin and experience eternal death. Ezekiel spoke of this: "The
soul
who sins is the one who will die" (Eze. 18:20), as did Paul: "[S]in
entered
the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death
came to all men. . . The wages of sin is death . . . In Adam all die"
(Rom.
5:12, 6:23, 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:22).
Every man born is a sinner, except Jesus, who came into history to defeat
sin. He accomplished this by suffering in our behalf. Christ himself bore
our sins away, paying for them by his death in our place. He came as the
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world by his sacrifice of
himself
once offered on the altar of the cross. He suffered the just wrath of God
that was against us due to our sins and guilt. The full cup of God's wrath
that was ours was given to him. Jesus drank the foaming wine of divine
wrath
to the last drop, leaving nothing for us. He came as our kinsman-redeemer,
substitute, mediator, and representative to blot out our sins. Christ
freely
accepted our sins and guilt that the Father put on him. He endured our
punishment of death and was crucified and buried. But on the third day God
raised him up from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the proof
that God accepted Christ's death as atonement for our sins. By his death,
our sins have been put away, buried in the depths of the ocean. He threw
them behind his back and remembers them no more. Our sins have been paid
for
and removed from our shoulders.
We were once weary in sin. Then we heard Christ's call: "Come to me, all
who
are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). He came
to
put away our sins. Paul writes: "God was reconciling the world to himself
in
Christ, not counting men's sins against them" (2 Cor. 5:19). Because God
is
holy and just, he must count our sins. He counts our sins either against
us,
or against the Son of God, that God may be just and the justifier of those
who believe in Jesus (cf. Rom. 3:26). Paul says, "God made him who had no
sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of
God" (2 Cor. 5:21). Our sins were imputed to Jesus, and his righteousness
is
put into our account.
The one who believes in Jesus is as righteous as Jesus Christ himself. Our
sins are gone; not even one sin remains to be punished in us. David
understood this and exclaimed: "Blessed is he whose transgressions are
forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord
does
not count against him" (Ps. 32:1-2). The Lord does not count our sin
against
us because he counted it against Jesus. We were born cursed and lived
cursed
lives, but in Christ we are blessed now and forevermore. We are new
creations in Christ; the old is gone, the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17).
Enemies of God have been made beloved children of God in God's Son.
Christ came the first time to cancel our sins, and now our sin, with all
its
penalty and power is gone: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for
those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). He dealt with our sin, both its
root and its branches. Death is gone for us forever, and we are given
eternal life, to live forever in the life of Christ. The infinite holiness
of the person of Jesus demands the infinite worth of his atonement.
Christ's
atonement is effective eternally for all who trust in him. We have been
justified by faith and have peace with God. We have been admitted to the
kingdom of God, which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Death is terrible and certain. But when Christ said from the cross, "It is
finished," our sins and death were dealt with forever. Jesus came into
history the first time to cancel sin. His mission, as expressed in Hebrews
2:10, was to bring many sons from the pit of shame to the glory of heaven.
Peter also speaks about this: "For Christ died for sins once for all, the
righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (1 Pet. 3:18). In Adam
we were banished from God's presence, but through Christ we can now draw
near to God.
The Second Coming of Jesus
Christ is coming again to end history. History is not cyclical, as the
Greeks and the Hindus believe. History had a beginning and will have an
end.
Jesus Christ is the Lord of history. Christ's first coming ushered in the
last days; his second coming will mark their end.
The Hebrews writer says that it is appointed for men once to die, and then
he uses the Greek word krisis, from which we have the English word
"crisis."
There is a twofold purpose to Christ's second coming: the first part is
krisis. There is a crisis awaiting every unbeliever, from which there is
no
escape. Krisis is the process of judgment, which ends in condemnation and
hell. It is the eternal judgment of all who refuse to repent and believe
in
Jesus Christ. Such people mock him, spit on him, beat him, and treat with
contempt his offer of peace and reconciliation with God. Although these
people reject Christ, he is going to come again to produce a crisis from
which they can never escape.
However, we are also told that Christ is coming to bring the fullness of
salvation for his people, to those who eagerly await him. The Bible says
we
are saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved. When Christ comes
again, we will be resurrected and given a glorious body like unto his
glorious body. We shall see him, commune with him, and enjoy the fullness
of
salvation that is awaiting us.
Christ's mission is to bring many sons to glory; he is coming again to do
that. We will dwell with God in a new heaven and a new earth of eternal
joy,
where there will be no pain, tears, or parting.
The text says it is appointed for men to die once and then judgment. Who
is
making the appointment? God himself. This is not an appointment like one
we
would make with a doctor. Adam sinned, and in him all died. We must die.
Do
not believe the evolutionary hypothesis that says that death is based on
natural processes. Death is based on divine decree and appointment.
This revelation refutes certain human ideas. First, it refutes the idea of
reincarnation. All are appointed only once to die and then face judgment.
It
also refutes the notion of evolutionary atheists who say that our death is
final, like that of an animal, and there is nothing afterwards. Death is
followed by a final judgment in which we will have to give an account to
God.
This revelation also refutes the notion that after someone dies, we can
help
that person achieve salvation by giving money to the church, or through
some
good work, or by asking saints to pray for that person. All these ideas
are
false. God deals with what we have done in our bodies, whether good or
evil.
There is no other way. That is why now is the accepted time, now is the
day
of salvation.
Not only will God keep this appointment he made, but all sinners will
also.
Though they die, the day is surely coming when he will raise them up from
the dead to face him who died on the cross, even the Judge, our Lord and
Savior Jesus.
Jesus himself made this point: "And he has given him authority to judge
because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is
coming
when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out-those
who
have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise
to
be condemned" (John 5:27-29). He whom men reject is going to be the judge
because it is the decree of the Father. When he calls, all will come.
There is a crisis of eternal death awaiting people. In 1777 Samuel Johnson
said, "Depend on it. When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight,
it
concentrates his mind wonderfully." Friends, we have only a limited number
of days to live. (PGM) It is appointed for men to die once. We all must
die.
But for us who trusted in Christ, the terror of death is gone. We die in
faith and appear before the presence of God in glory.
Our times are in God's hands, not ours. We have no control over our birth
or
death. It may be today that we die. Old and young must die. May this truth
concentrate our minds wonderfully. The psalmist says, "Teach us to number
our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Ps. 90:12).
Have you been thinking about Christ's second coming, which was the blessed
hope of the early church? Jesus spoke about it: "Do not let your hearts be
troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many
rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to
prepare
a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back
and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am" (John
14:1-3).
At his first coming, Jesus died on the cross and canceled our sin by
suffering for it himself. But he also rose from the dead and went through
the heavens to the presence of God, where he is seated on God's right hand
as King of kings and as our high priest, ever interceding for us.
Soon Christ shall descend to this planet again: "For the Lord himself will
come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the
archangel,
and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first"
(1
Thess. 4:16). Paul writes elsewhere: "But our citizen****p is in heaven,
and
we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the
power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will
transform
our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body" (Phil.
3:20-21). Jesus himself said: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here
looking
into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven,
will
come back in the same way you see him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).
What are some of the characteristics of this second coming? First, it will
be personal-the same Jesus who ascended will come back. Second, it will be
a
visible coming-every eye shall see him (Rev. 1:7, Matt. 24:30-31). It will
not be a secret. Jesus was manifested to the world in the first coming and
he is going to be manifested in the second coming. Several Greek words are
used for the second coming, including apokalupsis (unveiling), and
epiphaneia (appearing).
Christ's second coming will also be glorious: "When the Son of Man comes
in
his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in
heavenly glory" (Matt. 25:31). No longer will anyone mock Jesus and treat
him with contempt by plucking out his beard, beating him, and crucifying
him. Christ is going to come again in glory.
The second coming will be purposeful. Jesus is coming not only to save but
also to judge. Paul writes of the judgment to come: "But because of your
stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against
yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be
revealed . . . This will take place on the day when God will judge men's
secrets through Jesus Christ as my gospel declares" (Rom. 2:5, 16). When
he
comes, men will cry out to the mountains and hills to fall on them and
hide
them, because the wrath of the Lamb has come (Rev. 6:15-17).
We must surrender any superficial or cultural understanding we have of
Jesus
and replace it with the revelation we receive from the holy Scriptures.
Matthew 25:31-36 and Rev. 20:11-15 are among the many passages where we
find
this twofold purpose of judgment and salvation. At the end of all things,
every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, for the glory of God the Father, and every enemy shall be put under
his feet.
"He is coming soon, he's coming soon; with joy we'll welcome his
returning."
Why with joy and not sorrow? Because Christ has canceled our sins. By his
sacrificial suffering and death, he bore our sins away. He died our death,
suffered our wrath, and set us free from guilt and death. His coming
again,
therefore, is not a tragedy, but our jubilee and coronation. Jesus is
coming
to save those who are waiting for him.
When soldiers are away at war, many have wives waiting for them to come
home. They may be separated for months or even years. During this time,
some
wives are not faithful to their husbands. In fact, some hope that the
husband will not return. But then there are others who are waiting and
praying: "O God, spare him and bring him safely home." These women are not
committing adultery, but exercising self-control. They are reading their
husbands' letters over and over again, fixing up the house, and doing
everything for that day when their husbands will come back.
Christ is coming for those who are waiting for him. He came first to atone
for the sins of those who are given to him to save. Those whose sins he
atoned for will repent and trust in him, and will wait for him with great
jubilation and patience. They are hoping in Christ and waiting eagerly for
his return. They are not waiting idly, but they are laboring for the Lord
as
they wait. When they speak, they will talk about their wonderful
bridegroom
who died for them. As the bride of Christ, we will love, not the world,
but
our heavenly bridegroom and wait patiently for his coming. We will not
dirty
our wedding dress with sin as we wait.
As Christians, we long for the second coming of Christ. Before his
martyrdom, Paul wrote, "For I am already being poured out like a drink
offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in
store for me a 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
longed for his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:6-8). Christ is not coming again to
deal
with sin. He did that in his first coming. Now he is coming to judge all
rebels and to grant full salvation to those who trusted in the way of the
cross. He is coming that he may be with his saints, and they with him,
forever.
What about You?
Are you eagerly waiting Christ's second coming? Are you waiting for him in
holiness, righteousness, love, hope, and labor? Are you loving Jesus by
loving the word of God, his love letter to us? Are you loving him by
obeying
his commands, which are not burdensome? Does prayer to him give you
pleasure? Does wor****p give you exhilaration and sheer thrill? Are you
careful with your wedding dress, or are you dragging it through the mud?
Do
you cry out, "Marana tha, come, Lord Jesus"?
The end of history is coming. Peter writes, "Since everything will be
destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to
live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed
its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by
fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his
promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home
of
righteousness" (2 Pet. 3:11-13). John says, "Everyone who has this hope in
him purifies himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3).
In the parable of the ten virgins Jesus gives a sober warning: "At
midnight
the cry rang out, 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all
the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the
wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 'No,' they
replied. 'There may not be enough for both of us and you. Instead, go to
those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' But while they were on
their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were
ready
went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later, the
others also came. 'Sir, sir,' they said, 'open the door for us!' But he
replied, 'I tell you the truth, I do not know you.'" You are not my bride.
"'I do not know you.' Therefore, keep watch because you do not know the
day
or the hour" (Matt. 25:6-13).
Are you a foolish virgin with no oil in your lamp? Such people are false
professors in the church. Or are you a wise virgin who brought enough oil
for the long wait? If we are the bride of Christ, we will love him with
all
our heart and wait patiently for him, being always ready to meet him. My
prayer is that you may hear from our glorious bridegroom, "Thou good and
faithful bride, enter into the joy of your beloved Lord," and not, "Depart
from me, you evildoer."
There is an appointment with God that we all must keep. The first coming
of
Christ provided us an escape from God's wrath, and those who trust in
Jesus
shall fear neither death nor Christ's second coming. Like the bride, they
will rejoice at the midnight cry: "Here is the bridegroom. Come out to
meet
him!" But though all shall see him, the vast majority shall weep and wail
when Christ comes again.
There is no salvation outside Jesus. Death can come any time, as can Jesus
Christ. Now is our time to repent, believe in him, and be eternally saved.
Now is our time to live a holy life and wait eagerly for his appearing.
Praise God for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright
©
1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of
International Bible Society.
"NIV" and "New International Version" are trademarks registered in the
United States Patent and Trademark office by International Bible Society.
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