1. Part 7 – The Effect of the Second Coming on the Lives of Christians
The Lord’s 2nd Coming
Part 7 – The Effect of the Second
Coming on the Lives of Christians

2. 2nd Coming – The Effect Introduction
The fact that Jesus is coming soon to execute judgment upon all the ungodly and to reward the righteous should greatly motivate us
There are many sections of Scripture devoted to the effect that the second coming should have on our lives
2nd Coming – The Effect

3. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Alert; Be Prepared
As Jesus warned His disciples about His second coming, He said, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42)
To illustrate the uncertainty of the time, Jesus told a number of parables
The first was about His coming like a thief in the night – Read Matthew 24:43,44
2nd Coming – The Effect

4. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Alert; Be Prepared
The next parable cautions about giving up all hope
Jesus describes a slave who was put in charge of all his master’s household
If that slave was faithfully discharging his duty when his master returned, then he would be put in charge of all his master’s possessions
But if he wasn’t … – Read Matthew 24:48-51
2nd Coming – The Effect

5. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Alert; Be Prepared
Again Jesus told the parable of the prudent and foolish virgins, who were waiting for the return of the bridegroom
The prudent virgins had enough oil for their lamps to last until the return of the groom
The foolish virgins were hoping to get by on the minimum, and didn’t have enough
Read Matthew 25:13
2nd Coming – The Effect

6. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Alert; Be Prepared
Jesus also told the parable of the talents
To one slave was given five talents (approximately 100 pounds each) of silver or gold
To another was given two talents
A third slave was given one talent
The slaves who had received the five and two talents doubled theirs
2nd Coming – The Effect

7. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Alert; Be Prepared
The third buried his in the ground
The two who had used their money wisely received a reward
The one who buried his talent was called a wicked, lazy slave and was cast into the outer darkness
The message:
Be good stewards of what God has given us
We will give an account at the Lord’s return
2nd Coming – The Effect

8. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Alert; Be Prepared
Jesus told about the return of the King, who will separate the sheep from the goats
The sheep fed the hungry, gave the thirsty drink, visited the sick and the prisoners
The sheep go to eternal life, while the goats go to eternal punishment
The message:
We must be doing good for others
We must be doers of the word, not merely hearers
2nd Coming – The Effect

9. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Alert; Be Prepared
The parables Jesus told about His coming again must motivate us to expect Him at any time
We must be actively involved in doing His work, expending our time and energy for His glory in service to others
If we are found so doing at His return, we will be rewarded
If not, it is the outer darkness
2nd Coming – The Effect

10. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Holy
Holiness, or sanctification, is the result of being set aside for God’s purposes only
For example, in the O.T. only holy vessels were permitted for use in the offering of sacrifices
These sanctified instruments were to be used only for their religious use, never for common use
2nd Coming – The Effect

11. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Holy
In the N.T., Christians are to be holy – they are set aside for God’s use only
“Present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13)
The Lord’s impending return should motivate us to be holy
2nd Coming – The Effect

12. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Holy Read 1 John 3:2,3
We can perform a test upon our spirituality
If we really have fixed our hope on Jesus’ glorious return, we are in the process of purifying ourselves
If we are not purifying ourselves, our hope is not really fixed on His return
He is coming for those who eagerly await Him – see Hebrews 9:28
2nd Coming – The Effect

13. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Holy
Worldly possessions, desire for food and shelter, public pressure, and many other worldly things often combine to keep the Christian from being as holy as he should be
Read 2 Peter 3:11,12
What sort of people ought we to be?
All the things that make our mouths water and our lives more comfortable are going to burn
We should be holy and Godly!
2nd Coming – The Effect

14. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Holy Read Titus 2:11-14
Listen carefully: “instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires”
This seems to be the curse of this present age, and keeps us from burning commitment to Christ and His church
Again we are reminded that our holiness has something to do with looking for the blessed hope and appearing of our Savior
2nd Coming – The Effect

15. 2nd Coming – The Effect Be Holy
The second coming of the Lord Jesus should focus our attention on eternal things rather than the things of the world
We are instructed to deny worldly desires and to live as a special sort of people since the universe is going to burn
The test of whether we really hope for the Lord’s return is whether we live holy, pure lives
If we don’t, we truly do not have our hopes fixed on Him
2nd Coming – The Effect

16. 2nd Coming – The Effect You Will Be Rewarded
Human beings are motivated by “incentive”
From childhood on up, we are offered incentives for positive behavior
Incentives, both positive and negative, are used because they work
2nd Coming – The Effect

17. 2nd Coming – The Effect You Will Be Rewarded
What kind of incentives does God offer us?
He tells us to “keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 6:14)
What incentive does He give us to keep the commandment?
2nd Coming – The Effect

18. 2nd Coming – The Effect You Will Be Rewarded Read 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Paul knew where he stood with God
He knew that he had run His race and had qualified for the crown of righteousness
He looked forward to receiving his reward
That same reward is available to all who:
Fight the good fight
Keep the faith
Finish the course
2nd Coming – The Effect

19. 2nd Coming – The Effect You Will Be Rewarded
If we truly love His appearing, our behavior will show, and we are guaranteed the greatest of all rewards
For those of us who do not respond to the positive incentives the way that we should, there is the negative side also
Read 1 John 2:28
Our goal must be to develop that confidence, so that we know exactly where we stand with Christ
2nd Coming – The Effect

20. 2nd Coming – The Effect You Will Be Rewarded
What a terrible thing to shrink away from Him in shame at His coming!
It is like a dog with his tail tucked between his legs
Incentive?
Yes; I am more than a dog
I am a new creation by virtue of the grace of the King
I intend to be able to act like one of His when He comes!
2nd Coming – The Effect

21. 2nd Coming – The Effect You Will Be Rewarded
Christ offers all of us incentive to do what is right because it is right
If we don’t abide in Him, all we will get is shame
If we keep the commandment without stain or reproach, we get that imperishable wreath, the crown of righteousness
2nd Coming – The Effect

22. 2nd Coming – The Effect The Nearness of Heaven and Hell
If it matters when Jesus comes, it matters now
If it doesn’t matter when Jesus comes, it doesn’t matter now
Spilled milk is not important
A soul that is starving to death because of lack of spiritual milk is very important
2nd Coming – The Effect

23. 2nd Coming – The Effect The Nearness of Heaven and Hell
We have a tendency to get physical and spiritual things reversed in our priorities
Physical things seem more pressing
To set our thinking straight, we need a vision of the nearness of heaven and hell
The Bible offers clear pictures of heaven and hell
We need to fix these pictures firmly in our minds, playing continually within our brains
2nd Coming – The Effect

24. 2nd Coming – The Effect The Nearness of Heaven and Hell
Jesus is coming quickly (Revelation 22:20)
When He comes, each one will reap his rewards
Read Revelation 21:4-8
The rewards of heaven are firmly impressed upon our minds with the pictures of God’s concern for us
The nearness of hell is driven home with the vision of fire and brimstone for cowards, liars, and the like
2nd Coming – The Effect

25. 2nd Coming – The Effect The Nearness of Heaven and Hell
The nearness of hell is stressed in the vision of Judgment before the great white throne
The nearness of heaven is emphasized in the vision of heaven as the return to Paradise, the Garden of Eden – see Revelation 22:1-4
2nd Coming – The Effect

26. 2nd Coming – The Effect The Nearness of Heaven and Hell
With these visions firmly implanted in our minds, we will be motivated to get on God’s side
We will first be obedient in repentance and Christian immersion
We will continue to endure to the end
2nd Coming – The Effect

27. 2nd Coming – The Effect Summary
Jesus’ second coming motivates a Christian to be alert, to be ready for the Lord’s surprise return
The Christian is motivated to live a holy life, in order to receive the crown of righteousness
Visions of the nearness of heaven and hell are implanted in the mind so that:
We overcome the weaknesses of the flesh
We reap the rewards of being a child of God
2nd Coming – The Effect

28. 2nd Coming – The Effect Summary of Entire Lesson Jesus is coming soon!
He is coming in the clouds, and every eye shall see Him
No one knows the day or hour; He is coming like a thief in the night
At His coming all the dead shall rise
The present heaven and earth will be destroyed by fire at His coming
The Judgment will begin at His coming
2nd Coming – The Effect

29. 2nd Coming – The Effect Summary of Entire Lesson
We examined pre-millennialism and compared its teachings to the Bible
We found that:
Pre-millennialism is based on a false method of interpreting the Bible
The covenant that God made with Abraham was the Christian covenant
The temple prophesied in the Old Testament is the church of Christ
2nd Coming – The Effect

30. 2nd Coming – The Effect Summary of Entire Lesson We also found that:
Christians have already undergone the first resurrection in Christian immersion
Thus Christians are currently reigning with Christ in the 1000 years (which merely means a long period of time – the church age)
Satan is bound or limited
When Jesus comes again, it will be to judge the world, not to establish His kingdom
2nd Coming – The Effect

31. 2nd Coming – The Effect Summary of Entire Lesson
Finally, Jesus’ second coming motivates the Christian to be alert
We should be ready and eagerly awaiting His surprise return
2nd Coming – The Effect