Between the Two Comings

Although the Mayan calendar could not possibly predict the time of Jesus’ second coming, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus is coming indeed. One of the major differences between Jesus’ first coming (what Christmas celebrates), and his second coming is this:

 

·         Jesus’ first coming was to bring salvation, but his second coming is to bring condemnation.

·         Jesus’ first coming created the way for us to be saved from the wrath of God against sin, but his second coming will bring the wrath against sin that is expressed to all those who would not be saved.

·         In Jesus’ first coming, he himself bore God’s wrath against the sins of those he would redeem, but in his second coming, he will come to pour out God’s wrath on the unredeemed.

·         In Jesus’ first coming, he came to seek and to save the lost, but in his second coming, he will find and condemn the lost.

Christmas is not only a celebration of Jesus’ first coming, that he came into the world to save sinners. It is also the celebration of redeemed sinners who know that, when Jesus comes the second time they will not experience any wrath from God, but only the joy of experiencing God lovingly receiving them into his presence forever. Such hope is based solely on this one thing: that those who receive Jesus Christ through repentance and faith are adopted into God’s household as his children and are now simply waiting for our Big Brother to return and take us to the home he has already prepared for us in our Father’s House.

 

 © 2012 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, Canada, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com