Second Coming: Consequences for the Godly

In this part of the sermon: The second blessing is Christ being fully glorified 'in' His saints, as His redemptive work in their bodies and souls will be complete. This transformation, from present…

Paul's description of the present body as a 'body of our humiliation' and a 'tent' illustrates the current imperfect state of believers, both physically and spiritually, which obscures Christ's glory.

But oh, we're not a pretty sight much of the time here. We're bent and tortured often and hindered and harassed with a body that Paul calls the body of our humiliation. Philippians 3 and verse 20. A body that he liked, he likens to a tent that he longs to shed in 2 Corinthians 5.

37:13 - 37:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second blessing is Christ being fully glorified 'in' His saints, as His redemptive work in their bodies and souls will be complete. This transformation, from present…

He describes a sinner addicted to alcohol and living an immoral life, whose body and soul are transformed by God's grace, becoming a 'living sacrifice' and a 'monument to the power of Christ.' This illustrates how Christ is glorified in believers even now, though imperfectly.

Now surely, if we have stood back and beheld the transformation of a sinner here and now, let's take a specific instance. We'll not take names, but describe an individual. Here he has been ruining his body by addiction to alcohol and by a profligate, loose, amoral life. His soul is being destroyed, being defiled by thinking thoughts commensurate with his animal passions.

39:10 - 39:40 Read in full sermon

Driving home: There is something more precious to a true Christian than his own comfort. And that which is more precious than his own comfort is the glory of Christ.

The transformation in a believer's life is likened to an 'earnest' or 'down payment,' signifying that it is only a foretaste of the full redemption and glorification to come at Christ's return.

And we stand back and say, what a monument to the power of Christ. Christ is glorified in that man's soul and body. But my friend, all that he has, God says, is just a little down payment of the best that is yet to come. So the transformation which occurs in him, body and soul, is called an earnest, a down payment. That's all.

40:53 - 41:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third blessing is the saints marveling at Christ with glad astonishment and grateful wonder. This experience will far exceed their fondest expectations, leaving them…

A story of a boy expecting a baseball bat for his birthday but receiving a 10-speed bike he secretly longed for, illustrates the 'wonderment' and 'amazement' believers will experience at Christ's return, as it will far exceed their fondest expectations.

There's a difference, you see, between being shocked at something and brought to wonderment. Here a kid for six months has entertained hope that come his birthday, he's going to get a baseball bat that he's been longing for. I know one young man that, I'm sure that could be a very real hope. He eats, drinks, sleeps baseball come the baseball season.

45:59 - 46:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be concerned with dissecting prophetic timelines or lining up world events with Christ's return; focus attention on the great blessings of His coming.

Quoting the spiritual 'Soon I will be done with the troubles of this world' highlights the theological truth that believers' ultimate rest from affliction comes with Christ's return, not through earthly conquest.

Soon I will be done with the troubles of this world.

55:50 - 55:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Whatever afflictions are upon you, return to this chapter again and again and feed upon this hope, even if the world laughs at your 'pie in the sky' religion.

He addresses the common criticism of Christians having a 'pie in the sky by and by religion,' arguing that those who live most fervently for the world to come have done the most good for the present world.

And child of God, whatever, whatever afflictions are upon you, whatever trials are your portion now or in the future, will you not come back to this chapter again and again? And let the world laugh at us. Let the world say, Ah, those Christians, they have no sense of mission and destiny for them now. It's all pie in the sky.

59:16 - 59:41 Read in full sermon