“Real Christians Really Look Forward to Christ’s Return”
Real Christians
December 16, 2007
2 Peter 3:1-18
This is the 12th and last message in our sermon series on Real Christians.
For the last 12 weeks, we’ve been learning how to spot a Real Christian.
Like the license plate on the back of our bulletins, we’ve asked ourselves the question: RU4REAL? And how do you know?
How do you spot honest-to-goodness, authentic, bona fide, true Christians?
And how do you recognize a fake one?
Back at the beginning of football season, we learned that Real Christians Believe the Real Gospel.
There is only one message of good news that saves people from their sins: the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ.
That’s the first and most important mark of a Real Christian.
And after someone comes to believe this real Gospel, it create a real change within them.
Real Christians (begin to) Really Love God and Really Love People (even their enemies!).
And then God gives them a commission: Real Christians Are On a Real Mission – to make real disciples. Disciples with a real love relationship with Jesus Christ.
That relationship involves both talking to and hearing from Him.
Real Christians Really Pray and Real Christians Really Delight in God’s Word.
But they are not exempt from trouble. In fact, we are promised trouble.
We just react to trouble differently: Real Christians Trust God in Times of Trial.
Because we know that we have enemies. The World, the Flesh, and the Devil.
The Flesh is our Internal Enemy. But Real Christians Walk in the Light. We are “simul justus et peccator.” Simultaneously righteous and sinful. But we confess our sins and are forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
The Devil is our Infernal Enemy. And we are in a war with Him. Real Christians Are In a Real Battle. But we have everything we need in Christ to stand firm in it.
And the World is our External Enemy. Real Christians Are IN the World but are NOT OF the World.
No, we are OF the Church. Real Christians Really ARE the Church. That’s what we learned last week.
Now, there are a lot of other things I could add to this series. We could go at least another year with marks of a Real Christian.
But I want to end today with one last major area of basic Christian teaching. I was encouraged that one of you wrote it down on your blue survey sheets for a message that you were hoping I would cover before the end of this series:
Real Christians Really Look Forward to Christ’s Return.
Forty days after Jesus’ resurrection, He told His disciples that He was going to give them the Holy Spirit. And that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
And after He said this, He “was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white (angels!) stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘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 have seen him go into heaven.’”
Jesus is going to come back some day riding on the clouds.
And Real Christians Look Forward to His Return.
I invite you to turn with me to the second letter we have from Peter, the third chapter.
Real Christians
December 16, 2007
2 Peter 3:1-18
This is the 12th and last message in our sermon series on Real Christians.
For the last 12 weeks, we’ve been learning how to spot a Real Christian.
Like the license plate on the back of our bulletins, we’ve asked ourselves the question: RU4REAL? And how do you know?
How do you spot honest-to-goodness, authentic, bona fide, true Christians?
And how do you recognize a fake one?
Back at the beginning of football season, we learned that Real Christians Believe the Real Gospel.
There is only one message of good news that saves people from their sins: the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ.
That’s the first and most important mark of a Real Christian.
And after someone comes to believe this real Gospel, it create a real change within them.
Real Christians (begin to) Really Love God and Really Love People (even their enemies!).
And then God gives them a commission: Real Christians Are On a Real Mission – to make real disciples. Disciples with a real love relationship with Jesus Christ.
That relationship involves both talking to and hearing from Him.
Real Christians Really Pray and Real Christians Really Delight in God’s Word.
But they are not exempt from trouble. In fact, we are promised trouble.
We just react to trouble differently: Real Christians Trust God in Times of Trial.
Because we know that we have enemies. The World, the Flesh, and the Devil.
The Flesh is our Internal Enemy. But Real Christians Walk in the Light. We are “simul justus et peccator.” Simultaneously righteous and sinful. But we confess our sins and are forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
The Devil is our Infernal Enemy. And we are in a war with Him. Real Christians Are In a Real Battle. But we have everything we need in Christ to stand firm in it.
And the World is our External Enemy. Real Christians Are IN the World but are NOT OF the World.
No, we are OF the Church. Real Christians Really ARE the Church. That’s what we learned last week.
Now, there are a lot of other things I could add to this series. We could go at least another year with marks of a Real Christian.
But I want to end today with one last major area of basic Christian teaching. I was encouraged that one of you wrote it down on your blue survey sheets for a message that you were hoping I would cover before the end of this series:
Real Christians Really Look Forward to Christ’s Return.
Forty days after Jesus’ resurrection, He told His disciples that He was going to give them the Holy Spirit. And that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
And after He said this, He “was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white (angels!) stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘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 have seen him go into heaven.’”
Jesus is going to come back some day riding on the clouds.
And Real Christians Look Forward to His Return.
I invite you to turn with me to the second letter we have from Peter, the third chapter.
1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."
5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12 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.
13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
15 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (NIV)
Two points this morning:
Number One. Real Christians Really Look Forward to Christ’s Return...
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT HIS COMING IS REALLY COMING.
We know that Jesus IS coming back.
Now, not everyone believes this! You won’t hear about it on tonight’s nightly news.
That’s why Peter writes verses 3 through 7.
He says that there are going to be “scoffers.” V.3 again.
“First of all, you must understand that in the last days [we’re living in the last days] scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’”
Have you ever heard anyone with that perspective? “Where’s Jesus? Did He forget about us down here? If He’s supposed to be coming back soon, where is He?! Nothing really changes.” Not true. V.5.
“But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. [Things have changed before and they will change again.] By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
His second coming IS really coming.
Why hasn’t He come yet? He is patient. V.8
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. [He can afford to wait.] The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
The scoffers are going to be surprised.
Jesus hasn’t been tardy. He’s been patient.
He’s waiting for the full number of His chosen ones to turn and to trust in Him.
But His coming IS coming! We don’t know when, but we know it is. V.10
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. [No warning!] The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”
His coming IS really coming. We can count on it.
In fact, we’re supposed to look forward to it.
Did you see that in verse 12 and verse 13 and in verse 14?
Look Forward to the Day of God.
Look Forward.
Look Forward!
One of the key marks of a Real Christian is that he or she does not just live for today, but looks forward to “that day!”
Real Christians Really Look Forward to the Return of Christ.
The New Testament says that again and again and again.
One of the biggest problems I had this week in figuring out what to say was to pick just one passage to preach. This idea of looking forward to Christ’s return is all over the New Testament.
Jesus told His disciples to “watch” for Him.
Paul describes Real Christians as “waiting for” Jesus, and “eagerly waiting for Jesus,” and “longing” for Jesus’ appearing.
The book of Hebrews talks about a yearning for Jesus’ return when He brings salvation to His people.
Real Christians Really Look Forward to the Return of Christ.
Are you looking forward to Jesus coming back?
Let’s see what we have to look forward to.
The biggest thing is Jesus Himself. V.12 calls this return, “The Day of God.”
That’s because it’s all about Him!
Jesus is what makes Heaven Heaven!
If He wasn’t there, it wouldn’t be!
Do you look forward to being with Jesus?
1 Thessalonians 4 says, “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. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
Does that thrill your heart?
Really Christians Really Love Jesus. And therefore, they really can’t wait to be with Him forever!
What else do we have to look forward to?
Well, verse 12 says that the day of God will be day of judgment. V.12
“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.” Verse 7 said, “the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
Now, that doesn’t sound “nice,” but it is really wonderful because it means that justice will be done and will be seen to be done.
Have you ever read the newspaper and wondered if justice will ever be done?
Maybe someone is treating you unfairly right now. And you wonder if there will ever be justice!
Listen to this: In the Day of God, every wrong will be made right!
And even Christians will be judged. 2 Corinthians says that we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ and receive what is due us.
For believers, there will be no condemnation there. But there will be loss of reward for unfaithfulness and REWARD for faithful obedience!
That’s something to look forward to! Reward from the hand of Christ Himself!
More than that, verse 13 says that there is a whole new world coming. V.13
“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”
A new heaven and a new earth!
Brand new. Fresh. Righteous. No sin. No sorrow. No tears. No suffering!
Everything right! Everything like it should be!
Do you long for that?
I believe it’s in the heart of every person to long for that!
God has put eternity in the hearts of men.
But Real Christians, even more, long for that New Heavens and New Earth because it is our Real Home!
The Home of Righteousness.
Do you ever feel like this can’t be your home?
Maybe your body is falling apart.
Or maybe your family is.
Or maybe everything is going great for you right now.
But it just doesn’t satisfy like you think it should.
That’s because this world is not the home of righteousness.
This world is fallen, finite, and fractured.
It’s not home!
“This world is not my home, I just a’passin’ through.”
I have a new home to look forward to!
A home where righteousness reigns!
Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing! Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy! No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found! He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love!
That’s what we have to look forward to!
Are you looking forward to that new world?
And, did you know that we will have a new body to live in that new world?
I think it was two weeks ago that I read to you Philippians 3:20.
“Our citizenship 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 [far as the curse is found!], will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
A New Body to Enjoy the New Heavens and the New Earth!
Are you looking forward to the Return of Christ?
Some people claim to be Christians, but don’t care a bit about the world to come.
I have to wonder if they really are Christians.
It’s like saying that, I love lunch, but that the smell of that Christmas dinner hanging around the corner, doesn’t do a thing for me.
It’s got to make you wonder.
Real Christians Really Look Forward to Christ’s Return.
Because We Know that His Coming Is Really Coming.
And it’s going to be good!
Now, my second [and last] point is a point of application.
Number Two. Real Christians Really Look Forward to Christ’s Return...
THEREFORE WE OUGHT TO LIVE HOLY AND GODLY LIVES.
That’s why Peter says (v.11). “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.”
We ought to live holy and godly lives. And look at verse 14.
“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”
We ought to live holy and godly lives.
Let me divide that up into 3 categories.
#1. Get Right With God. #2. Get Ready for Your New Home. #3. Get Busy Sharing Christ Until He Comes.
#1. Get Right With God.
This brings us back to the Real Gospel.
You absolutely cannot look forward to the Return of Christ if you don’t belong to Christ right now!
All of that stuff about rewards, and a new home, and a new body and being with Jesus doesn’t apply to you if you don’t belong to Jesus Christ.
Instead, you’re headed for the fire, for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
And you don’t know when it’s coming.
Life is a vapor!
Before I finish this sentence you could slip into eternity.
Get Right with God!
Right now, He is patient with you. Not wanting for you to perish, but for you to come repentance. That’s why you’re alive and listening to this appeal.
Get Right with God.
The way to do that is to turn from your sins and put your trust in Jesus Christ and Him alone.
He died on the Cross to fully pay for the sins of all who really believe in Him.
Believe the gospel and get right with God.
That’s how you know you are (v.14) “at peace with Him.”
Don’t presume on His patience any longer. Trust in the Savior!
Second, Get Ready for Your New Home.
If we are going to live in the home of righteousness, we need to practice it right now.
That means that we need to re-prioritize our lives.
If you knew today that your funeral would be this coming Thursday, would you live any differently?
Any different priorities?
Knowing that Christ’s Coming Is Really Coming should change what is really important to us.
It should affect our giving. We would store up treasures in Heaven.
It should affect our use of time. We should study God’s word and meet with God’s people.
It should affect our choices. We should live holy and godly lives.
Getting ready means getting ourselves on guard. Look at verse 17.
“Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.”
Be on your guard!
Jesus said that in the last days, the love of many would grow cold and many would be deceived.
Well, the last days are here. Maybe the last of the last days! And many are being deceived.
Getting ready means being on guard. Knowing your Bible and being discerning so that you don’t lose ground.
Getting ready also means growing. Look at verse 18.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
I wanted to have a message just on this verse. Real Christians Really Grow.
Real Christianity isn’t just a destination, it’s a direction.
If we are going to the home of righteousness, then we should be growing in righteousness right now.
1 John 3 says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)
Are you going to Heaven, but you are living like Hell?
That doesn’t work!
Are you harboring some sin? Some habit? Some relationship? Some secret in your life that would not fit in the “Home of Righteousness?” Are you walking in darkness? “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”
“Spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.”
Get ready for your new home!
And third, Get Busy Sharing Christ Until He Comes.
Did you catch that phrase in verse 12? “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”
Now, God has that day already set in His mind.
But, mysteriously, we can somehow help it get here faster (from our perspective!) by getting busy sharing the gospel until Christ returns!
This Friday, I was real close to writing the message a day early, which almost never happens! And I was just about to start writing, and the phone rang.
There was a trucker stranded at the Truck Stop, and would come up and help him get a meal and a night in the motel.
You know, I was so tempted to not care. And I admit, I struggled to get over there and help that guy when I could be getting my “work done.”
And I didn’t even have a gospel tract with me to give to him.
So, I didn’t even bring up the gospel with him. I just got him a room and left in defeat.
But yesterday morning, when things opened up for me to write my message in the morning when I didn’t think I would have time, I remembered that that guy was still up at the Truck Stop.
And I realized that I needed to take Him a copy of Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ and the Jesus Film.
My priorities needed to change right then and there. This was a real person who really needs Jesus! And I really needed to do a little bit to speed the coming of the day of God. So I did.
Are you looking for opportunities to share Jesus this Christmas season?
Are you looking forward, not just to Christmas, but to Christ? And His return?
Kids, are you looking forward to Christmas? Presents under the tree? Stockings full of good stuff? A family dinner? Lots of love?
That’s nothing compared to what is around the corner for all Real Christians!
The early Christians had a saying in Aramaic that appears in the Bible.
“Marana Tha!”
It means, “Lord, Come!” May that be our cry today and every day until He does.
Number One. Real Christians Really Look Forward to Christ’s Return...
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT HIS COMING IS REALLY COMING.
We know that Jesus IS coming back.
Now, not everyone believes this! You won’t hear about it on tonight’s nightly news.
That’s why Peter writes verses 3 through 7.
He says that there are going to be “scoffers.” V.3 again.
“First of all, you must understand that in the last days [we’re living in the last days] scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’”
Have you ever heard anyone with that perspective? “Where’s Jesus? Did He forget about us down here? If He’s supposed to be coming back soon, where is He?! Nothing really changes.” Not true. V.5.
“But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. [Things have changed before and they will change again.] By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
His second coming IS really coming.
Why hasn’t He come yet? He is patient. V.8
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. [He can afford to wait.] The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
The scoffers are going to be surprised.
Jesus hasn’t been tardy. He’s been patient.
He’s waiting for the full number of His chosen ones to turn and to trust in Him.
But His coming IS coming! We don’t know when, but we know it is. V.10
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. [No warning!] The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”
His coming IS really coming. We can count on it.
In fact, we’re supposed to look forward to it.
Did you see that in verse 12 and verse 13 and in verse 14?
Look Forward to the Day of God.
Look Forward.
Look Forward!
One of the key marks of a Real Christian is that he or she does not just live for today, but looks forward to “that day!”
Real Christians Really Look Forward to the Return of Christ.
The New Testament says that again and again and again.
One of the biggest problems I had this week in figuring out what to say was to pick just one passage to preach. This idea of looking forward to Christ’s return is all over the New Testament.
Jesus told His disciples to “watch” for Him.
Paul describes Real Christians as “waiting for” Jesus, and “eagerly waiting for Jesus,” and “longing” for Jesus’ appearing.
The book of Hebrews talks about a yearning for Jesus’ return when He brings salvation to His people.
Real Christians Really Look Forward to the Return of Christ.
Are you looking forward to Jesus coming back?
Let’s see what we have to look forward to.
The biggest thing is Jesus Himself. V.12 calls this return, “The Day of God.”
That’s because it’s all about Him!
Jesus is what makes Heaven Heaven!
If He wasn’t there, it wouldn’t be!
Do you look forward to being with Jesus?
1 Thessalonians 4 says, “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. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
Does that thrill your heart?
Really Christians Really Love Jesus. And therefore, they really can’t wait to be with Him forever!
What else do we have to look forward to?
Well, verse 12 says that the day of God will be day of judgment. V.12
“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.” Verse 7 said, “the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
Now, that doesn’t sound “nice,” but it is really wonderful because it means that justice will be done and will be seen to be done.
Have you ever read the newspaper and wondered if justice will ever be done?
Maybe someone is treating you unfairly right now. And you wonder if there will ever be justice!
Listen to this: In the Day of God, every wrong will be made right!
And even Christians will be judged. 2 Corinthians says that we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ and receive what is due us.
For believers, there will be no condemnation there. But there will be loss of reward for unfaithfulness and REWARD for faithful obedience!
That’s something to look forward to! Reward from the hand of Christ Himself!
More than that, verse 13 says that there is a whole new world coming. V.13
“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”
A new heaven and a new earth!
Brand new. Fresh. Righteous. No sin. No sorrow. No tears. No suffering!
Everything right! Everything like it should be!
Do you long for that?
I believe it’s in the heart of every person to long for that!
God has put eternity in the hearts of men.
But Real Christians, even more, long for that New Heavens and New Earth because it is our Real Home!
The Home of Righteousness.
Do you ever feel like this can’t be your home?
Maybe your body is falling apart.
Or maybe your family is.
Or maybe everything is going great for you right now.
But it just doesn’t satisfy like you think it should.
That’s because this world is not the home of righteousness.
This world is fallen, finite, and fractured.
It’s not home!
“This world is not my home, I just a’passin’ through.”
I have a new home to look forward to!
A home where righteousness reigns!
Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing! Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy! No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found! He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love!
That’s what we have to look forward to!
Are you looking forward to that new world?
And, did you know that we will have a new body to live in that new world?
I think it was two weeks ago that I read to you Philippians 3:20.
“Our citizenship 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 [far as the curse is found!], will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
A New Body to Enjoy the New Heavens and the New Earth!
Are you looking forward to the Return of Christ?
Some people claim to be Christians, but don’t care a bit about the world to come.
I have to wonder if they really are Christians.
It’s like saying that, I love lunch, but that the smell of that Christmas dinner hanging around the corner, doesn’t do a thing for me.
It’s got to make you wonder.
Real Christians Really Look Forward to Christ’s Return.
Because We Know that His Coming Is Really Coming.
And it’s going to be good!
Now, my second [and last] point is a point of application.
Number Two. Real Christians Really Look Forward to Christ’s Return...
THEREFORE WE OUGHT TO LIVE HOLY AND GODLY LIVES.
That’s why Peter says (v.11). “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.”
We ought to live holy and godly lives. And look at verse 14.
“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”
We ought to live holy and godly lives.
Let me divide that up into 3 categories.
#1. Get Right With God. #2. Get Ready for Your New Home. #3. Get Busy Sharing Christ Until He Comes.
#1. Get Right With God.
This brings us back to the Real Gospel.
You absolutely cannot look forward to the Return of Christ if you don’t belong to Christ right now!
All of that stuff about rewards, and a new home, and a new body and being with Jesus doesn’t apply to you if you don’t belong to Jesus Christ.
Instead, you’re headed for the fire, for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
And you don’t know when it’s coming.
Life is a vapor!
Before I finish this sentence you could slip into eternity.
Get Right with God!
Right now, He is patient with you. Not wanting for you to perish, but for you to come repentance. That’s why you’re alive and listening to this appeal.
Get Right with God.
The way to do that is to turn from your sins and put your trust in Jesus Christ and Him alone.
He died on the Cross to fully pay for the sins of all who really believe in Him.
Believe the gospel and get right with God.
That’s how you know you are (v.14) “at peace with Him.”
Don’t presume on His patience any longer. Trust in the Savior!
Second, Get Ready for Your New Home.
If we are going to live in the home of righteousness, we need to practice it right now.
That means that we need to re-prioritize our lives.
If you knew today that your funeral would be this coming Thursday, would you live any differently?
Any different priorities?
Knowing that Christ’s Coming Is Really Coming should change what is really important to us.
It should affect our giving. We would store up treasures in Heaven.
It should affect our use of time. We should study God’s word and meet with God’s people.
It should affect our choices. We should live holy and godly lives.
Getting ready means getting ourselves on guard. Look at verse 17.
“Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.”
Be on your guard!
Jesus said that in the last days, the love of many would grow cold and many would be deceived.
Well, the last days are here. Maybe the last of the last days! And many are being deceived.
Getting ready means being on guard. Knowing your Bible and being discerning so that you don’t lose ground.
Getting ready also means growing. Look at verse 18.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
I wanted to have a message just on this verse. Real Christians Really Grow.
Real Christianity isn’t just a destination, it’s a direction.
If we are going to the home of righteousness, then we should be growing in righteousness right now.
1 John 3 says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)
Are you going to Heaven, but you are living like Hell?
That doesn’t work!
Are you harboring some sin? Some habit? Some relationship? Some secret in your life that would not fit in the “Home of Righteousness?” Are you walking in darkness? “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”
“Spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.”
Get ready for your new home!
And third, Get Busy Sharing Christ Until He Comes.
Did you catch that phrase in verse 12? “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”
Now, God has that day already set in His mind.
But, mysteriously, we can somehow help it get here faster (from our perspective!) by getting busy sharing the gospel until Christ returns!
This Friday, I was real close to writing the message a day early, which almost never happens! And I was just about to start writing, and the phone rang.
There was a trucker stranded at the Truck Stop, and would come up and help him get a meal and a night in the motel.
You know, I was so tempted to not care. And I admit, I struggled to get over there and help that guy when I could be getting my “work done.”
And I didn’t even have a gospel tract with me to give to him.
So, I didn’t even bring up the gospel with him. I just got him a room and left in defeat.
But yesterday morning, when things opened up for me to write my message in the morning when I didn’t think I would have time, I remembered that that guy was still up at the Truck Stop.
And I realized that I needed to take Him a copy of Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ and the Jesus Film.
My priorities needed to change right then and there. This was a real person who really needs Jesus! And I really needed to do a little bit to speed the coming of the day of God. So I did.
Are you looking for opportunities to share Jesus this Christmas season?
Are you looking forward, not just to Christmas, but to Christ? And His return?
Kids, are you looking forward to Christmas? Presents under the tree? Stockings full of good stuff? A family dinner? Lots of love?
That’s nothing compared to what is around the corner for all Real Christians!
The early Christians had a saying in Aramaic that appears in the Bible.
“Marana Tha!”
It means, “Lord, Come!” May that be our cry today and every day until He does.
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