The Glorious Appearing

 

Scripture Text 

Titus 2:11-14

Intro: We are to be looking for the glorious appearing of or God and Savior Jesus Christ. The blessed hope and appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ are not two different things; the blessed hope is the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He shall appear in all the glory and majesty of His Being. What will be so blessed about His return? The word "blessed" means to be filled with happiness, prosperity, richness, benefits, the highest good, all the great and glorious benefits imaginable. Therefore, the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the Lord's return is to be filled with all that you can imagine and more.

1.  The return of Jesus Christ will mean a glorious union. We shall see Christ for the first time and be united with Him forever. John 14:2-3 (NKJV) ²  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

2.  The return of Jesus Christ will mean a glorious reunion. The dead in Christ shall arise and we who live shall be reunited with our loved ones and friends forever.  1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 (NKJV) 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 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.18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 

3.  The return of Jesus Christ will mean a glorious transformation of our bodies. We shall receive our new incorruptible and eternal bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (NKJV) 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"  Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹  who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

4.  The return of Jesus Christ will mean a glorious life of happiness. We shall receive perfect joy and freedom from trials, pain, suffering, evil, and death. Matthew 13:43 (NKJV) Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Revelation 21:4-5 (NKJV) ⁴  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." ⁵  Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

5.  The return of Jesus Christ will mean a glorious inheritance. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NKJV) ³  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵  who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6. The return of Jesus Christ will mean a glorious dwelling place and mansion. [John 14:2-3] "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." You may have a fine home or a humble dwelling here on this earth but nothing will compare with the mansion Jesus has prepared for you. When He returns we will take possession of those mansions where there are streets of gold and gates of pearl.

Invitation: Are you prepared for Jesus to break through the clouds as He comes to receive His church to Himself. It could be any day and Jesus warns us to be prepared so we will not be left behind. If you are not sure you are ready for Jesus to return then right now confess your sins to Him and ask Him to forgive you and give you a mansion in heaven when this life is over. Then publicly profess your faith in Jesus as your Savior and Lord and be baptized. You will be so glad you did!