JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN!!
"This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11, NKJV)
Devotion #5 of 15
               
HE SHALL APPEAR WITHOUT SIN
     The return of Christ is pivotal! Because it concerns the activity of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is at the very heart of sound doctrine. There is no more room for opinion on the coming of Christ than on His atoning death, resurrection, or present intercession. When it comes to this subject, we are shut up to Scripture. Had Christ's second appearing not been affirmed in the Word of God, we would not have known about it. What is more, the fact that God has spoken on the subject means He desires for us to know about it and prepare for it. It is His desire that Christ's return be for our eternal advantage.

     When Jesus comes again, it will be a blessed time for the saved! "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Heb 9:28). When Jesus comes again, He will not face believers with their sin! He has already taken that away, and they received the reconciliation by faith. For them, His return will not be a fearful time, but one of unparalleled blessing. Our faith will be "found unto praise and honor and glory AT THE APPEARING of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 1:7). Neither, indeed, will Jesus reurn to deal with sin -- He did that when He appeared "once in the end of the world" to put it away (Heb 9:26). The fulness of grace will be brought to us at the revelation of Christ Jesus. As it is written, "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 1:13).

     Note, all of this will occur when He "appears the second time." It is not that believers will see Him, and unbelievers will not. When He "appears, " "every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen" (Rev 1:7). However, for the saved, He shall "appear without sin." They will then experience the fulness of the "salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet 1:5).

     The fulness of salvation is not ours until He appears "without sin unto (in order to) salvation." Then we shall testify to an assembled universe "that He which hath begun a good work in" us DID perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:6). Any religious posture that does not ascribe preeminence to this blessed return, or appearing, of Jesus is your enemy!

     Those who avail themselves of the atonement of Christ will experience cleansing from sin now. This forgiven condition assists them to look for, or anticipate, the coming of the Lord. For those looking ones, they will never again confront their sin -- praise the Lord! The fact that Jesus will NOT appear the second time to deal with sin confirms that it was thoroughly and once-and-for-all dealt with in His death. God is satisfied with the atonement made by His Son. There is no reason why you cannot be also!

PRAYER POINT: Father, I praise Your name for enabling believers to look forward to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am comforted by the thought that He will come to bless those looking for him, and not curse them. Accept my thankgiving in Jesus' name!

-- TOMORROW: THE RISEN CHRIST --