September 2, 2007
Sun Oak Baptist Church

Introduction

        See Acts 2:41-42 regarding the importance of doctrine in the early church.

        The Second Coming of Christ mentioned in Scripture 1,845 times; mentioned in 23 of the 27 NT books; a total of 260 chapters in the NT with 381 references to the Second Coming; Jesus Himself refers to it 21 times; and the Bible’s final prophecy deals with the Second Coming of Christ.

        One of the central issues that Peter addresses in this letter is the activity of scoffers and false teachers that were asking: “Where is the promise of His Second coming?” And one of Peter’s main goals in this letter is to answer that question.

        4 key statements vital to understanding the doctrine of Christ’s Second Coming.

I. The doctrine of Christ’s Second Coming questioned.

        Remember: from the time of Creation up until this very day the truth and veracity of God’s Word has always been under attack. Satan and false teachers primarily use two (2) tactics to attack the doctrine of the Second Coming.

        A. Tactic #1: they question God’s Word.

                1. Satan undermines and attacks the truth of God’s Word by                 questioning it. See Gen. 3:1-4.

                2. The media does the same thing: it constantly questions God’s                 Word.

                3. And scholars, supposed experts on history and the Bible do                 the same thing: they question the authority, integrity, reliability,                 truthfulness, and veracity of the Bible.

        B. Tactic #2: they twist God’s Word.

II. The doctrine of Christ’s Second Coming misunderstood.

        2 reasons why the doctrine of Christ’s Second Coming is misunderstood.

        A. Because Biblical doctrine today, in general, is neglected.

                1. One of the main focus’ of the time that Christians spent                 together in the early church was studying doctrine. The apostles’                 knew and taught that in order to survive Christians have to                 know God; they have to know what they believe – and the way                 we do that is to know His Word. If we don’t know what the                 Bible teaches, then we don’t really know what we believe, and                 this condition makes us susceptible to questions about our faith.

                2. We live in a day when doctrine has become so neglected that                 countless people attending church don’t know their Bibles.                 There is even a reaction today against doctrine.

                3. Preaching and teaching today has the ever increasing                 tendency to indulge people in a vague, general, and moralizing                 philosophy with respect to life.

        Next week:

        B. Because the study of prophecy is over-emphasized.

III. The doctrine of Christ’s Second Coming taught.

Conclusion

        Communion Sunday – a day when we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again!!