A Life of Steadfast Hope, Part 2

Driving home: The Christian life is to be lived in the conscious conviction of the great fact of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Martin uses the analogy of a pilgrim flanked by the greatness of salvation (past) and the vision of its consummation (future) to illustrate how these truths prepare a believer for holy living.

an extended section of moral commands, beginning at verse 14 and continuing with only a few interruptions through the rest of the letter, this exhortation to hope appropriately forms the transition point to the rest of the letter. If Peter's readers will first know the great truths about their salvation, verses 1 to 12, and then begin a habit of visualizing themselves personally on a path of life leading without fail to unimaginable blessings at the return of Christ, they will be mentally and emotionally ready to strive for a life of holiness before God. I described it this morning as Peter's ...

5:55 - 7:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Be in a constant state of readiness and have your lamps burning, like men looking for their Lord.

This metaphor from Luke 12, echoing Peter, illustrates being in a constant state of readiness and expectation for the master's return, rather than having to scramble at the last minute.

But in having our hearts in the kingdom, our Lord goes on to say, we will live in constant longing for, and in readiness for the return of the King Himself. And there the imagery that we saw from Peter, and some suggest that perhaps Peter could not forget these words of the Lord, and they were the very things that the Spirit of God brought to his remembrance when he wrote his epistle. Let your loins be girded. Be in a constant state of readiness and your lamps burning.

15:00 - 15:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Be in a constant state of readiness and have your lamps burning, like men looking for their Lord.

Martin highlights the unique and amazing statement in Luke 12 where the Lord Himself will serve His slaves upon His return, illustrating the glorious reversal and the consummate grace awaiting believers.

Be like unto men in a constant state of readiness, of expectation, the heart's longing, the focus of the soul upon their returning Lord. And we don't have time to go in and open up some of the amazing statements our Lord makes. This is in many ways a unique statement. That at the return of the Lord, the Lord Himself, will serve, will serve the slaves.

16:13 - 16:41 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Turning to Paul's epistles, Martin first examines 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 and 2 Timothy 4:6-8, arguing that conscious longing for Christ's coming is a major fruit and indispensable…

Paul's account of the Thessalonians' conversion (1 Thess 1:9-10) is used as an example to show that turning to God and waiting for His Son from heaven is a major fruit of genuine conversion.

Here Paul describes the conversion of the Thessalonians in these words. Verse 9. He said that when we go into other places, we don't have to give a report of what happened when we were there with Micah. Why don't you have to give a report, Paul?

19:24 - 19:47 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Turning to Paul's epistles, Martin first examines 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 and 2 Timothy 4:6-8, arguing that conscious longing for Christ's coming is a major fruit and indispensable…

Martin describes the Thessalonians' former lifestyle, 'totally preoccupied with the now' and 'permeated with Roman morality,' to highlight the radical transformation wrought by the gospel, which reoriented them to Christ's return.

And they said furthermore, you know what else we heard? We heard that these people who were enmeshed in a lifestyle totally preoccupied with the now. He described something of that lifestyle in chapter 4. He had to give detailed instruction on the most elementary matters of sexual morals.

21:09 - 21:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Overcome ignorance concerning the death of Christian loved ones by understanding their true condition and prospects at Christ's coming, to avoid inordinate sorrow.

Paul's addressing the Thessalonians' 'uninstructed, inordinate grief' over deceased loved ones (1 Thess 4:13) serves as an example of a pastoral problem that the doctrine of Christ's return is meant to solve.

1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 13. But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep, that you sorrow not, even as the rest who have no hope. Paul apparently became aware that among the Thessalonians there was a form of uninstructed, inordinate grief. When their loved ones, who were Christians, died.

33:48 - 34:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Comfort one another with the words of Christ's return, understanding what will happen to deceased and living saints.

The passage in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, describing the dead in Christ rising first, is used to illustrate that deceased believers will receive 'preferential treatment' at Christ's return, comforting those who feared they would be 'second class citizens.'

And what are the words with which he would have them comfort one another? Words that would bring with them a conscious understanding of what will happen at the coming of Christ. He wants them to know that with respect to their loved ones who have died in Christ, far from being second class citizens because they were not alive at the coming of Christ, they will be given preferential treatment. Isn't that what the passage says?

37:12 - 37:44 Read in full sermon

The point: Administer comfort to grieving loved ones by pointing them to the returning Lord, the resurrection, and the ultimate care for those who died in Christ.

Martin uses the imagery of looking 'beyond the pallid face' and 'bitter memories' of a deceased loved one to encourage believers to comfort each other with the hope of Christ's return and the resurrection.

at the coming of Christ that you can administer comfort to one another with ease not just with ease not just with ease not just with ease not just with ease not just with ease not feel it all awkward or tentative but you can say to a grieving loved one look my brother my sister look beyond the pallid face look beyond the bitter memories of those last hours and the horrible influence of sin upon the body in which it took it to a grave look beyond all of that and hear your returning Lord hear by faith the voice of the archangel hear by faith the trump of God hear its piercing note see by faith t...

41:05 - 42:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Administer comfort to grieving loved ones by pointing them to the returning Lord, the resurrection, and the ultimate care for those who died in Christ.

The Thessalonians' endurance of 'more than an ordinary amount of persecutions and afflictions' (2 Thess 1:4) is used as an example of how the doctrine of Christ's return provides comfort and rest in the face of ungodly opposition.

it's to be a comfort not only when we think of our loved ones who died in Christ but when we think of facing opposition from the ungodly these Thessalonians who were taking it on the chin all Can write the spiritual life of Christ of Nazareth습 in verse 3 of chapter 1 2nd Thessalonians we're bound to give thanks to God always for you even as it is meet that your faith grows exceedingly and the love our hearts for and those who know Jesus do not meet you need in depth will hurry if you have three wishes which is to take from us or even to honor us in an innumerable number if any of you who are l...

42:22 - 43:36 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Focusing on 2 Peter 3:9-14, Martin presents it as the dominant passage in Peter's epistles, underscoring the certainty of the Lord's return and its profound influence on the…

Martin uses the common analogy of Paul as the apostle of faith and John as the apostle of love to suggest Peter is the 'apostle of hope,' highlighting his emphasis on this theme.

We've looked at these key passages from Paul's pen. Now note with me the dominant passage in Peter's epistle. Dominant passage in Peter's epistle. Some commentators have noted that if Paul is the apostle of faith and John the apostle of love, Peter is the apostle of hope.

48:31 - 48:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Let the conviction of the Lord's return regulate your overall lifestyle, influencing decisions towards righteousness, producing a commitment to practical godliness, and fixing your deepest longings on the coming day of G…

Martin uses the metaphor of doctrine being 'locked up, as it were, in the hard, dry, and cold' to contrast an abstract belief in Christ's return with a 'dominant perspective that regulates life.'

honestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. But, according to His promise, we look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, give diligence, that you may be found in peace, without spot, and blameless in His sight. You see what Peter is emphasizing? The certainty of the Lord's return. Again, it's not an abstract doctrine. Yes, I believe Christ will return again. I believe at His return He will glori...

50:35 - 51:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Let the conviction of the Lord's return regulate your overall lifestyle, influencing decisions towards righteousness, producing a commitment to practical godliness, and fixing your deepest longings on the coming day of G…

Martin uses the image of 'every square inch of the ground on which I now walk will one day be suffused with nothing but righteousness' to illustrate the radical transformation of the new heavens and new earth and its implications for pilgrims in a hostile society.

wherein dwells righteousness and then he comes back and underscores the first strand of emphasis wherefore beloved seeing you look for such things he comes back to the practical emphasis again of a life of godliness and holiness see what peter is saying the conviction that the lord is returning is a conviction that touches the whole of life it touches us when we're making those little decisions in the direction of righteousness or sin that which would leave us unspotted or that which would paint and spot us it touches us with respect to all holy living and godliness it touches us with respect ...

52:41 - 54:06 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin concludes by examining the bookends of Revelation (1:4-7 and 22:20), showing that the book begins and ends with the announcement and prayer for Christ's coming. This…

The context of John's exile on Patmos and the letters to the seven churches is used to illustrate that the book of Revelation's purpose is to console persecuted believers with the ultimate triumph of Christ.

And I want you to look at two bookend texts as we bring our study to a close tonight. Two bookend texts. You remember that the book of the Revelation was written not for people to make charts and speculate about the future. But John himself, in a period of intensifying persecution, has been exiled for the sake of Christ. He is on the isle of Patmos. And the risen Christ who moved moves amidst the seven golden lampstands, the seven churches, knowing, succoring, empathizing, correcting, admonishing, instructing. He wants these letters, this epistle to be sent to these seven churches. And among t...

55:22 - 56:32 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin concludes by examining the bookends of Revelation (1:4-7 and 22:20), showing that the book begins and ends with the announcement and prayer for Christ's coming. This…

The Lord's Supper is used as an example of how the Second Coming is placed before believers, as they 'preach the Lord's death till He comes.'

That in the New Testament doctrine of the Christian life, the fact of the coming of the Lord Jesus is not a secondary or tertiary emphasis. It is at the very center of the major strands of emphasis with respect to the Christian life. God willing, when we come to this table next Lord's Day evening, even in that, the Second Coming is placed before us. As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do preach the Lord's death.

59:55 - 60:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Honestly ask yourself: Is the return of the Lord Jesus a dominant reality in your life? Confess if you have been earthbound.

Martin uses the analogy of pursuing good health while omitting vital foodstuffs to illustrate the folly of neglecting the pervasive influence of Christ's return in the Christian life.

I've had to live with it for hours. Is this a dominant element in your Christian life? If not, could it be that that's the explanation for the lack of progress in many areas of your Christian life? If God has ordained that it should have such a pervasive influence, and it is not having that influence, then are we not like the person who's seeking to pursue good health while omitting some vital components of foodstuffs that are necessary for good health?

62:11 - 62:49 Read in full sermon