WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR
1st JOHN 2:28
Introduction:
There are many glorious promises associated with God’s great promise that Christ Himself shall appear in person. When that happens there are several things that will happen that involves God’s children.
There will be some major changes after the Coming of the Lord, but our focus today is on what happens WHEN He comes for the believer.
I. WHEN JESUS FIRST APPEARED…
A. He appeared to put away sin, Hebrews 9:26, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
1. God has prepare a kingdom for us from the foundation of the world, Matthew 25:34, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”
2. The Lord Jesus has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself on the Cross, Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
B. He appeared to redeem a people unto Himself, Luke 1:68-69, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;”
1. He is the Horn (power) of our salvation, 1 Samuel 2:10, “The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
2. We have been delivered out of the hand of the enemy to serve Him, Luke 1:74, “That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,”
II. WHEN JESUS APPEARS THE SECOND TIME…
A. Paul says, He shall appear without sin unto salvation, Hebrews 9:28, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
1. His first appearance He was the Lamb of God that bore upon himself the sins of the world, Leviticus 10:17, “Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?”
2. His second appearance will be to the salvation of all those that look for Him, John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
B. Paul says again, You also shall appear with Him in Glory, Colossians 3:4, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
1. He is our life now and in heaven, John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
2. He is our Future.
a. We are to serve Him faithful until He comes, 1 Timothy 6:14, “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
b. There is a great reward for those that love His appearance, 2 Timothy 4:8, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
1) A crown of glory, 1 Peter 5:4, And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
2) We shall be like Him, 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
c. We will behold His face, Psalm 17:15, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”
CONCLUSION
There is a sobering warning in our text relating to the soon Second Coming of the Lord. We should live so as not to be ashamed at His Coming.
1. Those who believe on Him will not be ashamed, Romans 9:33, “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
2. We who believe should continually abide in Him hour after hour.
a. Because our sins are forgiven, 1 John 2:12, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.”
b. Therefore we purify ourselves, 1 John 3:3, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”