His Appearing!

There are 5 passages in the Pauline epistles that use directly the term “APPEARING” in relationship to the believer and their soon coming Lord.

How does “His Appearing” influence our lives? Let’s talk about that.

THE FIRST reference we happen upon is in 1Timothy 6.

UNTIL THE APPEARING…

VERSES: 1 Tim 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

COMMENT: The apostle Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, writing in the dispensation of the grace of God, tells us 1 Cor 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. And so here we find one of the commandments of the Lord to the body of Christ. The commandment is follow and fight! This following and fighting is to take place “until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

This is not to be a “dirty fight”! We are to invoke the power of the word of God in our lives to follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

These are the attributes of God on display to the world in the lives of the saints.

It is interesting to me that Paul tells Timothy to be an example of the believers… NOT an example to the believers (1 Tim 4:12). Let me illustrate what this means. You have a jar at home labeled “jelly beans” on the container. There are some logical expectations do be derived from this label.

• You expect to find jelly beans in the jar
• You expect a consistent shape
• You expect a consistent quality
• You expect consistent taste
• You expect consistent colors for jelly beans.
• Anything outside of these parameters would constitute something other than jelly beans. For example:
• You do not expect to find pasta with cheese sauce in a jar marked “Jelly Beans”.
• You do not expect to find “dino” shapes.
• You do not expect the jelly beans to be bits and pieces.
• You do not expect the jelly beans to taste like soap.
• You do not expect the jelly beans to have a metal color.
• No, we are to be an example OF the believers, in one mind, one spirit, one hope until his appearing.

It is only logical and natural that the world would expect us to be different because of our relationship with God in Christ. We then should be examples in righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.

How this commandment needs to be followed today! To many pulpits sound out the misleading and confusing message of following the law of Moses while the “pattern” is ignored by professing believers. (1 Tim 1:16)

The “good fight of faith” has to do with the application of sound Pauline doctrine in the lives of believers.

THE SECOND reference is found in 2 Timothy 1.

BY THE APPEARING

THE VERSES: 2 Tim 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

COMMENTS: Here we are reminded that our calling comes by “His appearing”.

We are not called by our works but by his purpose and grace. This calling was given “before the world began”. Before God made a when or where he had us “in Christ” in mind all the time. We are a part of what he is doing today in the dispensation of the grace of God.

Is there any doubt that Paul is referencing Acts 9 when he writes verse 10? Paul is the due time testifier of the message of grace. This message frees Jews and Gentiles alike in that it abolishes the law and sacrifices of the old testament and ushers in salvation by grace through faith apart from works.

THE THIRD reference is found in 2 Timothy 4.

AT HIS APPEARING

THE VERSES: 2 Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

COMMENTS: At this appearing comes the judgement of the quick (alive) and the dead. When Christ returns to “catch away” the church the body of Christ the stage will be fully set for the judgements to begin.

Paul warns the body of Christ – 2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

And again – Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

There will be a time when believers will – Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

This is not all that will be accomplished at the “rapture or catching away” of the body of Christ, for the Mystery program will be at an end and Israel’s prophecy program will begin again.

This prophesied program was interrupted when God set aside the nation of Israel for a time. Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

This interruption stopped the prophetic time clock and the rapture of the church will start it ticking again.

The next event on Israel’s prophetic calendar is Daniel’s seventieth week of judgement to be poured out on the unbelieving nation and nations.

This judgement will culminate in the casting of Satan and unbelievers into the lake of fire.

Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Are you rapture ready? Are you saved by the blood of the crucified one? Not even Satan, the most powerful being ever created, will be exempt from the judgement that will follow “His appearing”.

THE FOURTH reference is found in 2 Timothy 4

LOVE HIS APPEARING

THE VERSES: 2 Tim 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

COMMENTS: These verses reflect the attitude of the faithful saint.

I fought a good fight

I finished my course

I have kept the faith

Thus Paul sets the standard for other believers. Paul loved the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ and it was this love that motivated him to speak boldly – Phil 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Paul is not boasting in his flesh but rather in the application of the doctrine and the effectual outworking of the word of God in him that believeth.

It is interesting to me to note that Paul was…

The chief of sinners – this means then that if Paul could be saved anybody can.

The least of all saints – this is great motivation in the spirit, is it not???!!

(1 Tim 1:15 & Eph 3:8)

Do you love his appearing? Are you looking forward to his return? Paul could and would answer in the affirmative! Not because of himself but because of Christ in him.

THE FIFTH reference is found in Titus 2.

THE GLORIOUS APPEARING

THE VERSES: Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

COMMENTS: It will be a glorious appearing!! Why? Because we know what the end will be… O that will be glory for me! It is not always easy to deny ungodliness and worldly lust. It is sometimes difficult to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. But when we see him… GLORY!

Dear friend are you discouraged? Look up! Be expectant! The LORD will return one day and when he does it will be glorious! I can’t wait. I feel like Paul. Having a desire to depart which is far better.