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Truth 12: The Second Coming

Biblical Truth #12: The Second Coming

As you may recall in Truth #4, the “First Coming” happened approximately 2,000 years ago in the town of Bethlehem, in which Jesus was born. He came from heaven with a mission: 1) to teach and warn us of our sin problem, 2) to teach us about God’s words, works, ways and will, and 3) to reconcile us with God by living a sinless life and dying on a wooden cross to become the perfect sacrifice. He was our sinless lamb whose blood covers the sins of all those who put their faith in him.  The “Second Coming” is the Biblical truth about Jesus’ future return to earth in which he will: 1) eradicate all sin and death, 2) judge the living and the dead, 3) restore believers with new everlasting bodies, and 4) deliver the new heaven and new earth.

New Heaven and New Earth

The Bible speaks of the afterlife as a change of earth and heaven. It is a reconciling of all the pain and sin that entered the world from the first sin in a Garden called Eden. Thus, it is less like leaving earth, and more like seeing it through a different set of eyes. Natural disasters will disappear, calmed so that no one will suffer from them. Races will be treated equally, without partiality. Jesus will lead humanity in the care for the world, helping them tend it and guiding them. Love will be so often used it will become a byword. The world will be one government, a theocracy/monarchy under Jesus who will rule fairly and gently. Sickness and disease will vanish. Men and women will have new bodies that do not wrinkle. We will always be in the prime of our youth. All of heaven and earth will reveal its beauty, causing each man or woman to bow and worship the Lord that made it. A blessed reunion with those long dead will occur and we will be united with them perfectly, without division. These things are only a taste of the beauty that the Bible reassures living Christians will come. The Bible calls these things a Christian’s inheritance, a blessing from a loving father to his adopted children.

Ticket to Heaven or Hell?

The Bible states we were all created for eternity. The Bible also states there are only two eternal destinations: heaven and hell. Each of us can only go to one. During our short period of time here on earth, we all make choices about how we will live and who or what we will place our faith in. The Bible teaches us how we can receive our “ticket” to heaven – see below:

 

      

The $1 Million Dollar Question:

Will you go to Heaven when you die? Here’s a quick test:
Q. Have you ever told a lie?
Q. Have you ever stolen anything?
Q. Have you ever used God’s name in vain?
Q. Have you ever lusted over someone?
Q. Have you ever hated someone?

If you have done these things, God sees you as a liar, a thief, a blasphemer, an adulterer-at-heart, and a murderer-at-heart. And this is only 5 of God’s Ten Commandments (a/k/a “God’s Law”). And the Bible warns that on the Day of Judgment, God will punish you in a terrible place called Hell. But, there is “good news”! God is not willing that any should perish. Sinners broke God’s Law, but Jesus paid their fine by shedding His sinless blood on a cross ~2,000 years ago. This means that God can legally dismiss their case (and yours!): “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Then Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death. Today, repent (turn away from your sins), put your complete trust in Jesus, and confess Jesus as your Lord & Savior… and God will give you eternal life as a free gift.

The $1 Million Dollar Myth:

Contrary to popular belief, being a “good person”, doing “good deeds”, or being “religious” will not get you a ticket to heaven! Many people are hoping God will dismiss their sins because their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds. They further hope that because God is “good” he will let them go unpunished and enter heaven. However, because God is “good” he must by nature punish sinners (i.e., God would not be a good judge if he let criminals go free). The Bible states: “There is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20) The Bible also states: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) And finally, think about this, if your goodness could save you, Jesus would have died in vain (i.e., for no good reason). The Bible states: “I (Jesus) am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through me. (John
14:6) Friends, please don’t “roll-the-dice” and gamble your eternal life on the life-threatening lie that being a “good person” will get you to heaven.

Yes, today I am deciding to follow Jesus:

Here is a prayer you can use to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord & Savior. It is a suggested prayer – the key is that you are speaking from your heart.
“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me turn away from sin going forward. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus into my heart and I confess him as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for sending your Holy Spirit to help me obey you, and to do your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Congratulations! And welcome to God’s family!

 

Yes, I am already a follower of Jesus:

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    I am a Christian and want to grow in my faith.I am recommitting my life to Christ.

    I still have questions:

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