He Came, and He's coming again

He Came and He s coming

December 3,2006

Introduction

It is the first Sunday in December. Thanksgiving is past, and people’s thoughts turn toward Christmas. It is a holiday unlike any other. It is a holiday for which almost every business will close. IHOP is the only eating place I know that will be open, and the last time we ate there on Christmas, the waitresses were not to happy about that.

What is it that is so special about this day? Why is it that even the world takes notice? The ACLU goes on a rampage every year against every nativity scene, and every other reminder of Jesus Christ. Why?

Body

I. As people celebrate Christmas today, we ask the question, “Why is Christmas so popular and Christ and His will so unpopular?

A. There is the Christ of the manager.

1. This is a Christ that seems manageable enough.

2. Almost everybody can love a baby, especially this One.

B. There are the gifts of the wise men.

1. We mimic this to some extent with the gifts that we give to each other.

2. Sometimes we conveniently forget that these were gifts that were made to Christ, and not to our relatives and friends.

3. Sometimes there is little time for Christ, and some report that church contributions are the lowest in December.

C. There is the theme of the angels, “Peace on earth, Good will to men.”

(Luke 2:10-14 NKJV) Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. {11} "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. {12} "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." {13} And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: {14} "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

1. To have peace with God, we must learn to live by His laws.

2. Yet, many are willing to cry, “Peace, Peace” when there is no peace.

a. No real peace with God

b. Really no peace among ourselves.

II. There is also the Christ of the cross.

Paul said he preached Christ and Him crucified.

(1 Cor 2:2 NKJV) For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

The cross was part of the plan of “Peace on earth.”

(1 Peter 2:21-24 NKJV) "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: (22) "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; (23) who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; (24) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed."

The cross means there may also be a cross for us.

(Mark 8:34 NKJV) When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

III. Then there is a third thought concerning Jesus coming—he’s again.

A. He is returning! -- Quite differently from His first coming.

(2 Thessalonians 1:7-12 NKJV) "and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, (8) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (10) when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. (11) Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, (12) that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

B. He is returning apart from sin for our salvation.

(Hebrews 9:27-28 NKJV) "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (28) so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."

1. That means he will be returning in glory and power.

2. Every eye will see Him.

(Rev 1:7 NKJV) Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Conclusion

I. At this time of the year, many think of Jesus as the baby in the manger.

They think happy thoughts, and we understand.
But Jesus did remain a baby. In fact, He went on to say that He did not come to send peace to all.

(Mat 10:34-35) "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. {35} "For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law';

The challenge for us is to endure to the end.

(Mat 10:22 NKJV) "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

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