Christ's Three Appearings: Hope and Expectation

Devotional

Day 1: The Triad of Christ's Appearings

The three appearings of Jesus Christ—His first coming, His current mediatorial role, and His future return—are central to our faith. His first coming was to put away sin through His sacrifice, a pivotal moment that changed the course of history and our lives. Currently, He serves as our mediator before God, interceding on our behalf and ensuring that we have access to the Father. His anticipated return is the hope that sustains us, promising the consummation of our salvation. This triad is not merely a theological concept but a living reality that shapes our worship and hope. It reminds us that our faith is anchored in His completed work and His promised return, which will bring the fulfillment of our salvation. [08:44]

Hebrews 9:24-28 (ESV): "For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."

Reflection: How does the reality of Christ's three appearings influence your daily worship and hope? What specific actions can you take today to live in light of His mediatorial role and promised return?

Day 2: Christology as the Heart of Eschatology

Eschatology, the study of the last things, is fundamentally about Jesus Christ. It is not merely about events or timelines but about the person and work of Jesus. His return is the culmination of His redemptive work, a promise that assures us of His ultimate victory and our participation in His glory. This perspective keeps our faith centered on the person of Christ, rather than getting lost in speculative timelines or events. By focusing on Christ, we maintain a clear vision of our faith's ultimate goal and the hope that sustains us through life's challenges. [12:03]

Colossians 1:16-20 (ESV): "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from speculative eschatological events to the person and work of Jesus Christ? How can this shift impact your daily walk with Him?

Day 3: The Personal, Visible, and Audible Return of Christ

The manner of Christ's return will be personal, visible, and audible, fulfilling the promises of Scripture. This same Jesus, who walked the earth with compassion and power, will return in glory, accompanied by the heavenly host. His coming will be a cosmic event, heralded by the sound of a trumpet, signaling liberation and the restoration of all things. This return will be a public vindication of His glory and a demonstration of His ultimate victory over sin and death. It is a promise that assures us of His ultimate victory and our participation in His glory. [30:08]

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV): "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."

Reflection: How does the promise of Christ's personal, visible, and audible return shape your understanding of His glory and victory? What specific steps can you take to live in anticipation of this event today?

Day 4: Living in Readiness and Expectation

The unknown timing of Christ's return calls us to live in readiness and expectation. This delay is not a sign of neglect but of divine patience, allowing for the salvation of many. Our response to this delay should be one of active waiting, living godly lives, and maintaining a joyful anticipation of His return. This period of waiting is an opportunity for growth in godliness and a chance to align our lives with His will. By living in readiness, we demonstrate our faith and trust in His promises, preparing ourselves for the fulfillment of His work. [52:11]

2 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV): "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Reflection: What does living in readiness and expectation of Christ's return look like in your daily life? How can you actively prepare for His return while embracing His divine patience?

Day 5: The Purpose of Christ's Return

Christ's return will bring judgment, resurrection, and the consummation of our salvation. It is the fulfillment of His work as the second Adam, restoring creation and establishing His eternal kingdom. His return will be a public vindication and exaltation of His majesty, underscoring the ultimate victory over sin and death. As we await this glorious day, we are called to fix our eyes on Jesus, living in the light of His return, and echoing the prayer of the early church: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Our response should be one of joyful anticipation and faithful living, as we prepare for the fulfillment of His promises. [58:49]

1 Corinthians 15:22-24 (ESV): "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power."

Reflection: How does the purpose of Christ's return influence your understanding of His work and your role in His kingdom? What specific actions can you take today to live in joyful anticipation of His return?

Sermon Summary

In our time together, we delved into the profound truths found in Hebrews 9, focusing on the three appearings of Jesus Christ. These appearings encapsulate the essence of our faith: His first coming to put away sin through His sacrifice, His current presence as our mediator before God, and His anticipated return to consummate our salvation. This triad of appearings is not just a theological construct but a living reality that shapes our worship and our hope.

The heart of our discussion centered on the return of Christ, emphasizing that eschatology is fundamentally about Christology. The last things are not merely about events or timelines but about the person and work of Jesus Christ. His return is the culmination of His redemptive work, a promise that assures us of His ultimate victory and our participation in His glory. This promise is given in the context of His humiliation and rejection, underscoring that His return will be a public vindication and exaltation of His majesty.

We explored the manner of His coming, which will be personal, visible, and audible. This same Jesus, who walked the earth with compassion and power, will return in glory, accompanied by the heavenly host. His coming will be a cosmic event, heralded by the sound of a trumpet, signaling liberation and the restoration of all things.

The timing of His return remains unknown, a divine secret that calls us to live in readiness and expectation. This delay is not a sign of neglect but of divine patience, allowing for the salvation of many. Our response to this delay should be one of active waiting, living godly lives, and maintaining a joyful anticipation of His return.

Ultimately, the purpose of His coming is to judge the world, raise the dead, and consummate our salvation. It is the fulfillment of His work as the second Adam, bringing to completion the dominion and glory that was intended from the beginning. As we await this glorious day, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, living in the light of His return, and echoing the prayer of the early church: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

Key Takeaways

1. The Three Appearings of Christ: The appearings of Jesus Christ—His first coming, His current mediatorial role, and His future return—are central to our faith. They remind us that our hope is anchored in His completed work and His promised return, which will bring the consummation of our salvation. [08:44]
2. Eschatology as Christology: The study of the last things is ultimately about Jesus Christ. His return is the culmination of His redemptive work, and our focus should be on Him rather than on speculative timelines or events. This perspective keeps our faith centered on the person of Christ. [12:03]
3. The Manner of His Coming: Jesus will return personally, visibly, and audibly, fulfilling the promises of Scripture. This return will be a public vindication of His glory and a demonstration of His ultimate victory over sin and death. [30:08]
4. Living in Expectation: The unknown timing of Christ's return calls us to live in readiness and expectation. This delay is an opportunity for salvation and growth in godliness, as we anticipate the fulfillment of His promises. [52:11]
5. The Purpose of His Coming: Christ's return will bring judgment, resurrection, and the consummation of our salvation. It is the fulfillment of His work as the second Adam, restoring creation and establishing His eternal kingdom. Our response should be one of joyful anticipation and faithful living. [58:49]
** [58:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:41] - Introduction to Hebrews 9
[02:23] - The Importance of Scripture
[04:43] - Christ's Appearings
[06:53] - The Role of the Church
[08:44] - Confession of Faith
[10:25] - Eschatology and Christology
[12:50] - The Focus on Christ
[14:44] - The "Find Waldo" Hermeneutic
[18:42] - The Promise of His Return
[20:12] - The Practical Impact
[25:12] - The Consummation of His Kingdom
[30:08] - The Manner of His Coming
[36:51] - The Glory of Resurrection
[52:11] - The Timing of His Coming
[58:49] - The Purpose of His Coming
[65:18] - Our Response to His Return

Sermon Clips

Like many of you, I am sure, in our church Sunday by Sunday, with probably many millions of Christian believers, our congregation stands to confess the three appearings of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:26 "He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Verse 24, "He now appears in the presence of God on our behalf." Verse 28, "He will appear a second time to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him." [00:07:42]

We confess, as we learned very early on in the Acts of the Apostles, that the heavens have received our Lord Jesus Christ until the consummation of all things, which rather suggests to me that from the very beginning of the Christian church, from those early apostolic messages, the return of Jesus Christ and the consummation of all things were seen by the apostles as coterminous events. [00:09:33]

I suppose if there were any burden that throbs through the New Testament message, it is this, that when we think about the last things, we must never allow our minds to be diverted from this principle that the last things, like the first things and the present things for the Christian believer, are always first and foremost the things of Jesus Christ. [00:11:42]

I say that for the very obvious reason that the teaching we are given in the New Testament about the last things was never intended to make us arm chair theologians, but lovers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Any investigation of eschatology in which I engage that does not bring me to bow in further awe and reverent worship for my Lord Jesus Christ is, by definition, an unbiblical eschatology. [00:13:26]

The promise of His return is given to the disciples, not just because He is going to return. He did not need to divulge that. There are many things the Lord Jesus Christ has not divulged to us. There are many questions that the Lord Jesus Christ does not answer. So why does He divulge that He will return again in majesty and glory? [00:21:08]

There is a sense therefore, in the New Testament Scriptures that Jesus must reign because Jesus has been humiliated, and every eye that has cursed Him, every mouth that has rejected Him must see Him in His glory, because God will not have His Son demeaned in this world but has determined that since He is the Son of the passion of His love, He will be given a name that is above every name. [00:23:52]

He comes, in that sense, to bring a consummation to the kingdom He established, to turn the secret of the kingdom of God into an open proclamation of His royal majesty and glory, and to demonstrate without a peradventure that the cross on which He died was, as Calvin said, "But the triumphal chariot on which He would ride, as He would bring in His kingdom and finally consummate it throughout the earth." [00:24:42]

He will come wonderfully visibly, but not only personally and visibly, he will come audibly. He will come, says the Scriptures, with the sound of a trumpet. Presumably the reference here is to the Old Testament celebration of the year of jubilee that was brought in by the sound of a trumpet. A trumpet announcement that the great day of liberation has come when debts are cancelled, when land returns to its original owners. [00:34:10]

The trumpet sound, and yes also audibly the cry of command in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, which is not further exegeted there but presumably is the command of the resurrection when He will come and say, as He once said, this same Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, "Lazarus come forth." You remember how some of the earlier Christians used to underscore the absolute necessity of Him using Lazarus' name. [00:35:10]

The purpose of this is not that we should spend eternity fascinated with one another, although that is one of the layers. The purpose of this is so that we can investigate, analyze, discuss, and marvel at what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. Because at the end of the day, it will take all the ransomed church of God to put on display the undiluted glory of the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. [00:44:04]

He comes, does He not, to judge the world, to raise the dead, and consummate our salvation and to judge the world, to condemn the wicked. Said Thomas Boston, the great Scottish minister in the 18th century, "To be damned by Him who came to save sinners is to be doubly damned when He comes to vindicate His people to give to his disciples the crown of righteousness. [00:58:37]

Live a godly life. Number four, live joyfully. You see, so long as my eyes or diverted in eschatology to the puzzles, I will live in puzzlement. But when my eyes are focused on the blessed appearance of My Lord Jesus Christ, I will live in expectation and in joy for this reason. This is what Colossians 3:1-4 teaches us. [01:06:01]

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