June 1, 2008
Sun Oak Baptist Church

Introduction

        Christ’s return is the hinge on which Christian expectation turns; the church’s utmost longing; the great climax of salvation history and of human history; a time of redemption for believers; a time of judgment for God’s enemies; the inauguration of Christ’s earthly kingdom; the spiritual reward for Christians that persevere in the faith; and the Second Coming of Christ is our blessed hope. See Titus 2:11-14.

        2 introductory thoughts:

        First: define the term “second coming” and where it fits in the prophetic scheme. See 1^st Thess. 4:13-18. Discuss rapture; pre-millennialism; a-millennialism; and post-millennialism. Differentiate between dispensational theology and covenantal theology. Define hermeneutic: “if the plainest sense makes common sense – then seek no other sense.”

        Second: one of the purposes of the Lord’s Table is to remind us about the Second Coming of Christ. See 1^st Cor. 11:23-26.

I. Why would the doctrine of the Second Coming have been so important to Peter?

        Please see last week’s Sermon Notes for this part of this morning’s message.

        A. Because of the conditions under which the Christians Peter was         writing to lived.

        B. Because the early church, as a whole, longed for the return of         Christ. In one sense, we could say that His return was at the core of         their being.

        C. Because the Second Coming of Christ will be the great climax of         salvation history and human history.

        D. Because it is a doctrine in which the devil is personally interested.

II. What are the 3 ways that the scoffers of Peter’s day were mocking the Second Coming? See 3:3-4.

        A. First: by ridiculing it. See 3:4.

                1. 3 terms we need to understand.

                        a. A “scoffer” is someone who ridicules. They show                         contempt by mocking, jeering, or sneering- ridiculing.

                        b. The phrase “knowing this first” is not referring to                         chronological sequence, but rather to “first priority.”

                        c. The term “last days” is used at least 7 times in the NT                         and refers to the time between when Christ left the earth                         after His resurrection in Acts chapter 1 and His second                         coming. Peter’s readers were living in the last days;                         believers that were persecuted during the inquisitions were                         living in the last days; and we’re living in the “last days.”

                2. The early church believed that Christ’s return was imminent –                 in other words, they lived day-to-day, made decisions each day,                 planned their lives around a core truth: Jesus could come back                 at any moment. 1^st Thess. 4:17: “Then we who are alive and                 remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds                 to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be                 with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these                 words.”

        B. Second: by their immorality. See 3:3.

        Note: Lord willing this 3-part message will be concluded next Lord’s Day!

Conclusion

        Today is June 1^st and one day in the second century, Justin Martyr met an elderly man who told him about Christ. He was saved and immediately began telling everyone that Jesus Christ can satisfy both mind and heart. Justin eventually became one of the church’s first apologists, and was condemned, flogged, and beheaded for his faith. His life is remembered each year on his feast day, June 1^st. On June 1, 1792, at the Baptist Associational Meeting in Nottingham, England, a motion passed that a plan be prepared for the next Ministers’ Meeting at Kettering, England for forming a Baptist Society for propagating the gospel among the heathens. That meeting set the stage for the missionary endeavors of William Carey and has been called the “birthday of modern missions.” On June 1, 1793, Henry Lyle wrote the hymn “Abide with Me.” June 1, 1972 marks the death of the Chinese Christian named Watchman Nee, who died in a Chinese prison for his faith in Christ. And on June 1, 1859, Philip and Lucy Bliss were married. They later perished in a terrible train wreck, but not before Philip had written such popular hymns as: “Jesus Loves Even Me;” “The Light of the World is Jesus!;” “Almost Persuaded;” “Wonderful Words of Life” and this hymn: “Hallelujah, What a Savior!”

        As we sing this beautiful hymn together notice how the words and music draw our minds and hearts to both the death of Christ and His Second Coming.