“He Came. He’s Coming Again.”

It’s not hard to fall in love with a cute little baby. But sometimes as they grow older they aren’t always cute or nice anymore. A few of them grow up to be tyrants and wicked rulers over other people (Daniel 4:17, 25). Consider this analysis –

Babies. “Every baby starts life as a little savage. He is completely selfish and self-centered. He wants what he wants when he wants it: his bottle, his mother’s attention, his playmate’s toys, his uncle’s watch, or whatever. Deny him these and he seethes with rage and aggressiveness which would be murderous were he not so helpless. He’s dirty, he has no morals, no knowledge, no developed skills. This means that all children, not just certain children but all children, are born delinquent. If permitted to continue in their self-centered world of infancy, given free reign to their impulsive actions to satisfy each want, every child would grow up a criminal, a thief, a killer, a rapist.” – Minnesota Crime Commission

Not Us? Of course, you or I weren’t that bad, were we? None of us has been as bad as we could be. But without the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we’re as bad off as we can be. We’re all helpless (Romans 5:6), hopeless (Ephesians 2:12), and hell bound (Romans 6:23). This is why One of the members in the Godhead had to come to this sin cursed world to deliver us from eternal condemnation (John 3:16). God the Son volunteered to do this for us (Hebrews 10:7). He is the God-man (John 1:1-18).

First Coming. As predicted in the Old Testament, the promised Messiah came and fulfilled hundreds of prophecies that were made about Him. [1] “He came to His own [things], but His own [people, the Jews] did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11, 12).

Crucified. Many people believe that Jesus was killed and that He died. Not everyone believes that He died on a cross as the prophet said He could (Psalm 22; See Philippians 2:8). Not everyone knows that He died for our sins or that He rose again with a glorified body on the third day for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Luke 24:39; Romans 4:25).

Appearances. To prove that He was/is capable of saving us, Jesus Christ overcame death, and made Himself visible to over 500 witnesses before ascending literally, gradually into heaven in the presence of His disciples (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8).  His bodily resurrection assures us that everyone who dies will be raised from the dead someday in his/her own order (1 Corinthians 15:22-26) and be judged by Jesus (Hebrews 9:27; John 5:22).

Promise. Before He left them, Jesus told His disciples that He would come back for them someday (John 14:1-4). Many people don’t believe that this will take place literally. Nor do they know that there is a difference between the “Rapture” and the “Second Coming” of Christ. [2]

Rapture. It was a mystery in the Old Testament (Romans 15:25, 26]. No human being knew about it until Jesus revealed this information to His disciples and to the Apostle Paul (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52). This “Hope” (confident expectation) is based on Jesus’ promise. It’s called “A Blessed Hope” (Titus 1:13), “A Purifying Hope” (1 John 3:3), and “A Comforting Hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Do you have this hope? Do you live in the light of Christ’s any moment return?

Second Coming. This event was predicted in the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is not to be confused with the Rapture. In the Rapture Christ meets believers in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the Second Coming Jesus comes back and stands on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4; Matthew 24:29ff) and removes all unbelievers and the devil from earth (Matthew 25:41) to establish His 1,000 reign of peace on earth (Isaiah 2:4; 9:6, 7; Revelation 20:1-6).

No Room. When Jesus came to this earth the first time, there was no room for Him in the inn. He was born in a stable to show us how low He was willing to stoop to save us (Luke 2:7; Philippians 2:5-9). If He were to return today, would there be room for Him in your life or would you ask Him to leave or wait until the holiday season was over?

Believer. Not everyone in the world knows the facts of the Gospel that He died for our sins…and rose again bodily from the dead on the third day. Some people know the facts,  and assent to the facts, but still haven’t transferred their faith over to Christ alone to save them. “For by grace you [are] save through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9; See Titus 3:5).

Questions. Are you absolutely sure that you will go to heaven the moment you die? Why should God let you into His heaven? If you believe that you are saved, is there anything that you could do or fail to do that would cause you to lose your salvation? If so, what would it be? Is your “eternal life” really “conditional eternal life”? Is it conditioned on your faithfulness to God once you’ve been saved? Do you confuse discipleship (Lordship for Salvation) and sanctification with justification? [2]

Quote.  “[Lordship salvation] is a salvation of doubt. If you have to wait until you die to find out whether or not you’re truly saved, I fear you don’t really understand faith alone and grace alone-because, you’ve just destroyed it. I’m saved by the faithfulness of Christ, and that’s it.” – Pastor Al Franklin, Baptist Bulletin, November/December, 2015, p. 28

Help. We’re here to assist those who are teachable and willing to change and who acknowledge that the Scriptures are the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17). We can be reached at 805-238-3549 or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com. If this article has helped you, please let us know about it. Share it with someone else too. To receive future articles as they come out, click on “Follow.”

[1] Prophecies of Christ’s Coming

http://bibleprobe.com/365messianicprophecies.htm

http://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-passion-in-prophecy/

http://www.gotquestions.org/Old-Testament-Christ.html

[2] Rapture v. Second Coming http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/prophecy/prophe9.htm

http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/dispensa/dispch13.htm

[3] Lordship Salvation

http://www.bibleprophecyblog.com/2011/03/what-is-wrong-with-lordship-salvation.html#

http://www.freegracealliance.com/pdf/baiting.pdf

Dispensational Chart.  http://kelseypeach.com/Kelsey.8.pdf