Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• The hope we have as Christians - 1 Cor 11:26
  • We are to partake in communion until Christ comes again
  • The thought of Christ's return was always in the mind of Paul and the early church
  • They were living in the light of His return
  • The hope of the Christian is that we will be in glory with Christ
  • There will be no more sickness, pain or sin
• We have been loved so much
  • We have been cared for so much
  • One day we will be with our Saviour in glory
• The hope of heaven can become dim
  • We can become too comfortable with the things of earth
  • Paul reminds us that the things we see are only temporary
  • We however can have a weak grasp of eternal realities
• Let us see more clearly eternal realities
• Overview:
  • The Certainty of His coming
  • The Hope of His coming

The Certainty of His coming

• The early church was certain of His return
  • Jesus had given specific teaching (Matt 24, 25)
  • The apostles gave specific teaching (Thess, Phil, 1 John, Romans)
• Some parts of the church focus on Jesus' return in an unhealthy way
  • We are not to know the times or seasons
  • We need to be careful not to cause division
  • It is not about a timetable but living in the light of His return
• Do we think about the second coming?
  • Do we preach it enough?
  • Do we think about it enough in our personal lives?
• The Corinthian Church thought about it - but only in a superficial way
  • 1 Cor 6 - Paul speaks about these things
  • 2 Cor 4:18
• The Doctrine of the Second Coming is given to comfort God's people - John 14:2-4
  • Not to fall out over this doctrine
  • We will be with Christ
  • Matt 24:29-31
  • Matt 25:31-33
  • Acts 1:11
  • Titus 2:13-14
• It is certain that Christ will return
  • Are we ready?
    • Example of the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt 25:1-13)
  • Have you trusted?

The Hope of His Coming

• A time of restitution and purging of evil
  • There will be no cancer
  • There will be no death
  • There will be no more enemy
  • There will be no suffering
• A time of rejuvenation
  • A new heaven and a new earth
    • We do not know what this will be like
  • We will have a resurrection body
  • Rom 8:18-23
  • Christ came to save us body and soul
  • Christ came to raise our bodies from the dead
  • 1 Cor 15:35-36, 42-44
  • John 12:24
  • 1 Cor 15:20 - Christ is the firstfruits
• Our hope is to be with Christ
  • 1 John 3:2-3
  • Look to Christ