This is a verse that sadly, even many Christians only look at or refer to at Christmas time when peoples thoughts are about Jesus and His birth. I know that He was not born on Dec. 25th but we need to use that opportunity to reach folks who at other times would not be as responsive.

But the main thrust of this short passage to me is that at all time of the year and forever it gives us a picture of the Lord Jesus and who He was, is and is to come. Thanks be to the Heavenly Father that we have a Savior who is called “ Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Theses traits that He has help us understand just how much the Godhead loves us! We can rest assured that the Lord Jesus will always be there for His people showing the example we need to be fruitful, productive members of His Church who are always ready to reach the lost and strengthen the saved. So, when you hear these words in Is. 6:9, and I hope that it is not just at Christmas, share them with others and stop to praise our “Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ!”

-Larry Miles, Louisville, KY January 27, 2011

In light of the fact that we cannot know the timing, what should our attitude be in regards to the fact that He is coming again as He promised? The Bible is full of many promises of the return of Jesus for His own.

We have the testimony of the Lord Jesus Himself in John 14:1-4. In telling the Disciples of His upcoming death He gave them the promise that He would come back for them. At the Ascension we have the testimony of the holy angels. In Acts 1:11 they give the Eleven this great and comforting words: “why do you gaze up into the sky? This SAME Jesus who you see go up I to heaven will return in like manner.” This passage, along with the one in John and others in the New Testament tell us that Jesus Himself will keep His Word and come back personally for us.

All throughout the Epistles we have the teachings that Jesus is coming again. In 1 Thessalonians 1:10 the Christians at Thessalonica and we today are told to “wait for His Son from Heaven.” In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul tells us that ‘the Lord HIMSELF” will come back for us! We have the same admonition in Titus 2:13 to. Be looking for the return of the Blessed Hope.

But while we are admonished to be a people who are always on the alert and looking for His coming, we must also be a people who are active in His service. We must be waiting and watching every day but also we must be a people who, because we are saved, are working for the Lord in His Kingdom. We must be thankful to have been called out of kingdom of darkness into the marvelous light of the Gospel.

Since we are now in the light of the Gospel we must be seeking to help the lost find their way into the light of the Gospel. We must also be found seeking to strengthen the saved.

Keep looking up! Jesus may come today! This attitude must translate into greater service. It must motivate us to love the lost more and concentrate our labors in that behalf.

–Larry Miles, Jan. 20, 2011

Phil. 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Tim. 4:6-8 ⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Titus 2:11-14 ¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

We Have a Heavenly Citizenship

“For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus,” (Phil. 3:20).

We thank God that the Holy Spirit inspired (2 Timothy 3:16-17) the writers of the Bible to write in terms that we can understand. Most of us are familiar with the word “citizenship.” We understand that we are citizens of the United States of America. We are “Americans.” We further understand that this right has many responsibilities and duties as well as privileges. We are to obey the laws of the land.

The Apostle Paul’s use of the word “citizenship” in Phil 3:20 has great importance for us in a spiritual way. Since we are “in Christ,” and therefore a Christian, we have certain responsibilities and privileges.

2 Timothy 4, chronologically is the last book the Apostle Paul wrote. It has been called “The Last Will & Testament” of Paul. We dealt with verses 1-5 in our previous lesson.

This is the second imprisonment of Paul, not to be confused with the first imprisonment in Acts 28. This is in Rome in the reign of Nero, probably around A.D. 67. Paul is facing execution for his faith. As a Roman citizen he will be beheaded instead of crucified.

The Last Will & Testament of Paul (vs. 6-8) Paul tells us he knows his time is short (v. 6). He is not bitter; he knows he has been faithful & that he serves a Lord who is equally faithful.

In verse 7 Paul recounts his walk for Jesus. He says ‘I have fought the good fight – I Tim. 6:12ff; I have finished the course (race) I Cor. 9:24-27 “The Imperishable (Incorruptible (KJV) Crown and I have kept the faith (Jude 3)

Verse 8 The Result of a life lived for Jesus and one based on living in expectation of the return of the Lord Jesus. What can we learn from Paul’s example:

1. Jesus is coming back personally
2. Rewards (Crowns) are to be obtained through faithful service.

The Crown of Righteousness (v What is the basis of receiving this crown? Believing that Jesus is coming again and living a life of expectation of this fact.

Who gives the crown?—the faithful judge, Jesus. Paul had seen many unfaithful and unfair judges.

Who will receive the Crown of Righteousness? All who love the Lord’s Coming.

Titus 2:11-14 “Christian Living In Expectation of the Return of the Lord Jesus!

Introduction: The Lord Jesus is coming back for His Church. This great truth and promise is all over the Word of God. In John 14:1-4 we read the following

¹ “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. ⁴ And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

In Acts 1:11, we have the testimony of the angels at the Ascension: “…Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This SAME Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

In I Thes. 1:9-10 the Apostle Paul commends the church at Thessalonica for their service to the Lord. He recounts in I Thes. 1:9 their journey from idolatry to serving Jesus. He further states that they were a serving congregation. Since we serve the “living and true God,” Since he could come at any moment—we must be ready at all times—we must be active in His work at all times. We must put our faith into action. We must be seeking the lost and striving to strengthen the saved. Mission work and evangelism does not stop with conversion—the more we learn about Jesus and His Church and the Word of God—we will be mission minded.

Jesus has told us to be waiting and watching for the time he will come back for us. But we must not be idle; we must as the song goes, “we’ll work ‘till Jesus comes.” Some in the New Testament were condemned because they were not active in the Lord’s service while waiting for His coming. That must never be said of us. We will be rescued from the wrath to come (I Thes. 1:10), so let’s allow Jesus to equip us for service. He has provided much for us if we will only appropriate it. Let’s always seek to reach the lost and strengthen the saved!

In Titus 2:11-14 the Apostle Paul tells us how to live for Jesus while we are waiting for His coming.

“For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men.” We find these words in Titus 2:11. This is the opening passage to the thoughts in Titus 2:11-15. This passage might be titled “Christian Living in Expectation of the Return of Jesus.”

In this passage “grace” is both a person and an action. It is evident to the reader that this verse is talking about the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus. In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son”¦” (Gal. 4:4-5) to redeem mankind. God had promised throughout the Old Testament to send forth the Redeemer prophesied in Genesis 3:15. Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10); He came to save all mankind (Romans 5:8).

This grace is also an action. The saving grace of Jesus illustrates His great love for mankind. God so loved the world (John 3:16). It is in this action that we have the Godhead showing forth this great love towards mankind.

The main crux of the verse is that both of these thoughts in Titus 2:11 bring salvation. There is no salvation outside of Jesus (John 14:6; and Acts 4:12). Let’s embrace Jesus as our Savior and Lord and never fail to praise Him and thank Him for His great mercy “in that while we were yet sinners.” He died for us.

What Does It Means to “Wait for His Son from Heaven.” The Apostle Paul commends the Christians in Thesalonika for their faithfulness. He tells them that the news of their faith has spread beyond their home. Other Christians have heard of the commitment to the Lord Jesus. (I Thes. 1:6-8). In I Thes. 1:6 we are told that they were imitators of the Lord. It was not a “bed of roses” for them when they accepted the Lord Jesus and began to follow Him.

They became an example to others-Oh that it could be said of us today that we live lives so close to Jesus that others will want to “conform to the image of the Son of God.” They left a life of idol worship with no hope of salvation and no hope of an eternity outside of the “Lake of Fire.” We are told in I Thes. 1:9 that they made a complete turn around in their lives and identified with the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Thes. 1:10 gives us the words in our title. Jesus is coming again! That is not just a pipe dream, it is a reality! We don’t know when He will come; it may be today. We are told here to be “waiting” for His return.

What does that entail? Waiting for the Lord Jesus in the Scripture means that while we are waiting we are “watching,” and working for Him. We sing a song written by Fanny Crosby, “Blessed are those whom the Lord finds watching, In His glory they shall share; If He shall come at the dawn or midnight, Will He find us watching there?” True waiting involves working for the Lord Jesus; not a working to be saved but a working because you are saved. We are saved by grace through faith, in baptism unto good works. Let’s be like the Thessalonians and be a people who live our lives for the Lord so that others see us and glorify God. (Matthew 5:14-16).

We build our lives on all kinds of foundations. Jesus spoke  of those who build  their lives on the sand, which has no permanent foundation. He contrasted that with the ones who built their lives on a solid foundation.  The one who built on the sand had all kinds of problems; the one on the solid foundation had the blessings of God.

We need to base our faith on the foundation of the Lord Jesus and His blessed Word.  Romans 10:7 reads, “and so faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

We must be found standing on a faithful Word.  We must have the assurance that the Bible we read, study and live by is really God’s Word.

The Apostle Paul answered that question for us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

It is the responsibility of every Christian to be steadfast. We have a reliable Bible and in  it we find out how to live the Christian life.  If we will but allow the Lord, He will equip us for service today!

We must be willing to put Him first in our lives at all times, not just when it is convenient for us.  The song “I’ll Put Jesus First in My Life,” tells us in verse 1 that to the Christian the “the world all about me has now no allure.”

This  means that  once we put the Lord Jesus on in baptism  we change“kingdoms.” Paul told the Colossian church that we have been conveyed out of a “kingdom of  darkness” that leads to Hell and now we are in the “kingdom of the Son of His love,” a kingdom of light ruled by the Jesus. We are now in the“marvelous light of the gospel” and have the privilege to help other find that light.

By having the “firm foundation” of the Faithful Word of God, we  are on the path of spiritual growth, a lifelong privilege to look into the very thoughts of The Godhead and know that They love us and want us to, as the Apostle Peter said,“to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ!”

• What It Means To “Wait For His Son from Heaven.”
• What Kind of Foundation Do You Have?
• Why Do You Believe?
• Give Your All For The Lord
• Our Citizenship Is In Heaven
• The God of All Comfort
• I’ll Put Jesus FIRST in My Life!