Sermon Central
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What If Jesus Comes Back Like That
Contributed by Joe Harding on Dec 5, 2001 (message contributor)
Summary: We are called to live as those living in the light for Christ is coming for those who have separated themselves from the night.
WHAT IF JESUS COMES BACK LIKE THAT
ROMANS 13: 8-14
DECEMBER 2, 2001
INTRODUCTION: What If Jesus Came Back Like That by Collin Ray
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Our text for this day, the first Sunday in Advent, calls us to think of the soon coming of Christ. Just like Collin’s song, we never quite seem prepared for His appearing. The Apostle Paul addresses the issues that are pressing concerning the imminent return. If He is coming back, and John chapter 14 makes that exceptionally clear, what should our lives be look like? Paul addresses this issue using the images of light and darkness. The contrast is clear. The difference is most definitely noticeable. In the season of Preparation for the coming of the Christ Child, let us dig into the is text and see what difference a little daylight can make!
THESIS SENTENCE: We are called to live as those living in the light for Christ is coming for those who have separated themselves from the night.
What is the difference between Day and night?
I. NIGHT AND DAY REFER TO THE ISSUE OF TIME
A. Night concerns the end of time
1. Verse 11 starts with a strange phase, “And do this, understanding the present time.” Why this strange phase? What time was it? How were these Roman Christians to know?
2. Paul continues with the Answer. “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber,...”
3. When is it time to wake up? What about the cows and the chickens? The rooster at the Murray’s house next to Mom and Dad’s house. It is time to wake up. Bryson seeing light out side, the street lamp. It is time to wake up. When the night is over, it is time to wake up.
4. Verse 12 qualifies the time. “The night is almost over;”
5. It is just about time, are you ready!
WHAT IF JESUS COMES BACK LIKE THAT?
B. Day focuses on the beginning of a new time
1. Verse 12 continues with this clause, “the day is almost here.”
2. But, what day is it?
3. Is it Christmas yet? Is it Saturday yet? Is it my birthday yet? Is it pay day yet? Just what day is it?
4. Our text is specific, but before I move with our text, let me mention another text, 1 Thessalonians 4:13 --5:8.
5. Specifically in 5:2 Paul says the “Day” is the day the Lord that will come like a thief in the night.” I love this whole passage, but maybe another will make it clearer.
6. Matthew 24: 42 --44 points to the day. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. SO you also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
WHAT A DIFFERANCE A DAY CAN MAKE!
WHAT IF JESUS COMES BACK LIKE THAT?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERANCE BETWEEN DAY AND NIGHT?
II. NIGHT AND DAY REFER TO THE ISSUE OF BEHAVIOR
A. NIGHT IS SINFUL BEHAVIOR
1. John 3: 19 is a sad commentary on us. It reads, “this is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness in stead of light because their deeds were evil.”
2. Our text is loaded with the nocturnal nature running rampant. I believe it would be safe to say we love the “NIGHT LIFE.”
3. The passage in I Thessalonians pointed out the contrast.
4. Paul goes wild in our text, even quoting some of the Ten Commandments in verse 9. You mean Business when you quote the 10 commandments, but only if you don’t forget some of them!
5. Do you think Paul had forgotten the Word or was he pointing something out? The Commandments he quotes concern behavior between persons, not between God and us.
6. In verse 12 Paul tells us to “Put aside the deeds of darkness.”
7. And if you are unclear about those, he points them out. “Not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy (Verse 13).”
8. Do you see something in the list that might pertain to you? PUT IT ASIDE!!!
WHAT IF JESUS COMES BACK LIKE THAT?
B. DAY IS MORAL BEHAVIOR
1. Love is the contrast here.
2. It is the one debt that must be continually owed. I owe I owe, off to Love I go! 3. “For he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.... Love your neighbor as yourself... Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Verses 8-10).”
