Advent, Preparing for Jesus Second Coming! This year, Illuminating Faith would like to present an Advent message that is a bit different than what is typically produced each Advent season. Normally, four Sundays prior to Christmas, churches who celebrate the birth of Jesus on the 25th of December deliver Advent messages as they are preparing to celebrate the Lord’s birth. Through these messages, we are reminded of His first coming over 2000 years ago for the redemption of mankind. Without Jesus, we would continue to wallow in our sins, forever sentenced to eternal damnation. In Romans 3:10 Paul the apostle references the Old Testament scripture found in Psalms Ps. 14:1–3; 53:1–4, which he cites stating, that “As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one”. This is a great example and an opportunity to inject the understand that the Old Testament is filled with prophesies about the Jesus Christ and His first coming/Advent. Psalms 14:1-3 states, The fool[a] says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Moreover, in Psalms 53:1-3 we see the same text and the same meaning repeated as God underscores and important premise.
So, in both instances, the Psalmist is essentially saying the same thing in two different chapters. Paul references these two verses to confirm the purpose for Christ and the need for a Redeemer, who through His actions on the cross set mankind free his iniquities. God incarnate lived among us to deliver the message of salvation and to be crucified for the sins of the world so that all who believe in Him will be saved. Christ’s act as the sacrificial lamb was the only way the Father allowed for atonement for our sins. Through Christ we have been adopted into the family of God and are co-heirs to Christ. Romans 5:18-19 Paul states, Therefore, as through [h]one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one[i] Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Through Adam sin entered the world, and through Christ, we were reconciled to the Father. Of course, the caveat is that we must receive Jesus as Lord and Savior to be saved. Paul the apostle states in Romans 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”. Jesus ushered in a new period known as the dispensation of Grace or the Church age. The non-Jews, also known as Gentiles, now have access to the Father through Jesus. Paul states in Ephesians 2:13, But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Pagans did not know God and they worshipped idols and lived in horrible sin.
Each year as we remember this message in preparation of Christmas, do we also prepare ourselves for the Second Coming of Christ? We challenge believers to shift focus their focus this year and to concentrate on the preparation for Christ’s second coming. How motivated are we and hopeful in His return? This is a key question that every believer must ask him/herself. Are we waiting for the Lord with our heads lifted up or have we forgotten what generations of believers have hoped to see? Due to the horrific world events that have unfolded, believers have flocked to the internet to get answers from Bible prophesy teachers. Believers want to know if these events were foretold in scripture. Well, the short answer is yes. That’s why we should consider and hopefully wait for Jesus’ second coming. As the days draw near and more prophesies are fulfilled, we must be prepared for the rapture of the Church prior to the Great Tribulation. Furthermore, are we faithfully laboring for Christ by preaching the Gospel and doing the Lord’s will?
For this Advent season, let’s expand our focus to preparing for Jesus second coming. Let’s concentrate our focus on the work that we must do in anticipation of this event, and make this year’s advent all about waiting for the second Advent. The world is in turmoil, evil has amassed, and all means of communication is being restricted, preventing the Church from preaching the Gospel. With the Church filled with apostasy, and believers falling away, what can we do this Advent season to prepare and to fulfill our duty as believers? Next week we’ll discuss the series of events leading up to the rapture and how we must move boldly to represent Christ.
If you are reading this message and realize that you have strayed away from the faith and are a prodigal, we encourage you to repent of your sins and return to the faith. For those that have never received the Lord and want to do so, please pray this prayer:
Lord Jesus I know that I am sinner and I ask you forgive me of my sins. I believe that you were crucified for my sins and through your blood I have redemption and salvation. Please come into my heart and I receive you as my God. I pray in Jesus name. AMEN
