Today I thought of the Promise of Jesus Christ's Coming back to Earth and how unimaginable it really is! I suppose there are many people who profess to be Christians that don't believe Jesus will return. Surely this is as much a crucial part of the Gospel as the Crucifixion and Resurrection and Ascension? I don't think it is safe to discount ANY part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - wether you understand it or not or can imagine it or not. Does the New Testament not teach that the end of our Faith is Jesus Christ's return unto our Salvation?
"8 whom (Jesus) having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls."
1 Peter 1:8,9
"so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait (or wait long, or, endure waiting) for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."
Hebrews 9:28
So you see, the end of a genuine Christian's unfeigned Faith is the Salvation of their soul at the second appearance of Jesus Christ. Paul refers to the same event as 'the adoption - the redemption of our body' and says it is in this very Hope that we were saved. I just Hope you, the reader, consider Paul's and the other Apostles' words to be definitive and decisive on what is Gospel Truth and what is not!
"23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting(or, waiting long, or, enduring waiting) for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait(or, wait long, or, endure waiting) for it with perseverance."
Romans 8:23-25
We need to persevere in the Faith. That is, we need to be diligent in the attention we give to God's Word and our Daily focus on it.
Let me finish by quoting some verses of Scripture. I only intended to quote these for this blog, not write anything of my own. Here they are for your reading and attention.
32 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
Mark 13:32-36
7 "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment."
James 5:7-12
9"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
17You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."
2 Peter 3:9-18
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