Our Blessed Hope: 1 John #6
This is an exposition of 1 John 2:28-3:3
. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 8, 2015.
Intro:
It used to be a mainstay in evangelical preaching. It was a source of encouragement and strength. It was the inspiration for poetry and song. It permeated the conversations of believers throughout the week. Anticipation was great. In fact interest was so high – it spawned several new movements. New denominations were born and older denominations were altered by fervent interest in the return of the Lord Jesus. The dawn of the 20th century with its technological advances and increase confidence in scientific methods hastened the demise of millennial fever. The First World War, the stock market crash, the great depression, World War 2 and the dawn of the atomic age rekindled talk of the end of this world. Israel’s rebirth and the possibility of nuclear devastation gave new life to talk of the Second Coming. Hal Lindsey’s book The Late Great Planet Earth and the Thief In The Night film series captured the hearts and minds of a new generation. Prophecy Conferences still dot the landscape. We are all familiar with the phenomenally successful Left Behind series. Y2K played a major role in stoking the fire of a new millennial fever. At the same time – scoffers abound. While great numbers are fascinated by Bible Prophecy and the signs of the times – such notions are seen as delusional and dangerous by the larger society.
Bible-believing folk are being pushed to the edge of society. Their views deemed fanatical and thus they should be silenced. Some within the church have gone so far as to say the early disciples were mistaken. Talk of a return is just the wishful thinking of a few misguided zealots. Others say the problem was not with the biblical writers but their interpreters. They say the return of Christ is a spiritual return. He has already returned and continuous to return as men and women give their hearts to Christ and then he lives his life through them. Others hold firm to the traditional teaching of the return of the Lord. What are we to make of all of this? Does it really matter? Is there any practical benefit to this “pie in the sky” thinking? For some answers we turn to 1 John.
Text: 1 John 2:28-3:3
Contemplation of our Lord’s glorious return is not “pie in the sky” thinking. It is true, for many, thoughts of our Lord’s return have served as an escape valve from having to face the harsh realities of this life. Many have used it as an excuse for not dealing with difficult moral and ethical issues. Culture has been abandoned with the argument that it would merely be “polishing the brass on a sinking ship.” Such thinking is patently unbiblical. The truth of the matter is the return of the Lord is the believers blessed hope.
Thesis: Sustained and focused attention on the glorious return of the Lord Jesus inspires, encourages and motivates the true child of God.
Do you remember what John said back in 1 John 1 and 1 John 3:4? He was writing so that their joy would be full – complete, satisfying, overflowing – not lacking. One of the means to that end is the thought of the Lord’s soon return. Too often our thoughts of the Second Coming are shrouded in doom and gloom but for the child of God it is glorious! It is not something the children of God braces for but something he runs to. The prayer of the believing heart is, “Even so, come Lord Jesus!”
As we walk through this passage I want you to note three things.
- The knowledge of our Lord’s return motivates righteous living. (2:28-29)
- Anticipation of our Lord’s return fills the believer’s heart with wonder. (3:1-2)
- The hope of our Lord’s return purifies the believer’s heart. (3:3)
Conclusion:
By all means in these dark, difficult and trying days look to the sky and hope and long for the return of the Lord.
For such knowledge motivates righteous living.
Such anticipation fills the heart with wonder.
Such hope purifies the heart.
Even so come Lord Jesus!