Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose from the dead (1 Cor 15:3-4). He then ascended into heaven with an angelic assurance of his return: “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” (Acts 1:11). Jesus is coming back.

     From the first century until the present there have been many unfounded speculations about when Jesus will return and what will happen when he does. False doctrines about “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him” will not trouble or deceive those who believe the word of God (2 Ths 2:1-2). God’s word is clear that:

     1. Jesus will not return to the earth. There is not one single passage in the Scriptures that teaches Jesus will ever set foot on the earth. His return is certain, but he will not set his foot upon terra firma. The Scriptures assure us that when the Lord descends the dead and living saints will “meet the Lord in the air” and in this manner “always be with the Lord” (1 Ths 4:16-17). Upon his return the heavens and earth will “pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Pet 3:10). When Jesus returns the earth will be no more!

     2. Jesus will not return to establish His kingdom and reign from Jerusalem for 1,000 years. Since the earth will be destroyed when he returns, the Lord will not be establishing a kingdom on the earth. This accords with the Scriptures that teach us “at His coming” Jesus will “deliver the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Cor 15:23-24). The kingdom of Christ is “not of this world” (Jno 18:36). It is a spiritual kingdom composed of Christians; it is the church of Christ and was established on the Pentecost following his ascension into heaven (Acts 2:41; cf. Matt 16:18-19; Lk 17:20-21; Col 1:13). A thousand year reign of Christ on the earth is the fanciful false doctrine of those who refuse to accept that the church and not an earthly kingdom is God’s eternal purpose (Eph 3:10-11). King Jesus reigns today (Psa 2:6-7; Acts 13:32-34).

     3. Jesus will not return to gather the nation of Israel to its homeland. God promised the descendants of Abraham the land of Canaan (Gen 12:7). God kept His promise: “So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it” (Josh 21:43). It is false hope to expect God to do what He has already done.

     Those who have not obeyed the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ will suffer eternal punishment when Jesus returns (2 Ths 1:7-9). On the other hand, the righteous will receive eternal rest and glorify His name (2 Ths 1:7, 10). We must all “be ready” because we do not know when Jesus will return. But we do know that he will return and usher in eternity (Matt 24:44; 1 Ths 5:1-11).

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Blaming someone else for our own sins is as old as man himself. Eve blamed the serpent; Adam blamed Eve. (Adam even seemed to imply that God bore some of the blame since “the woman whom You gave to be with me gave me of the tree, and I ate”, Gen 3:12).

     You would think by now that we would learn we cannot cover up our sins. Someone always knows the shameful thing we did “in secret” (God and you, for starters). If not, how could others speak of these private sins in Ephesians 5:12? Private sin usually does not stay private for long!

     The truth is, our sin “will find us out”. Moses warned the Transjordanic tribes it would be so if they did not keep their word and help their brethren take Canaan (Num 32:23).

     For our sin to “find us out” means more than making public those sins done in secret. It means we will be held accountable and punished for our sins – even those we think we get away with. Nothing escapes “the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb 4:13).

     Knowing that God sees and judges everything we think, say and do ought to bring us to repentance when someone shows us, warns us and rebukes us about the sin in our lives. Sadly, many try to cover up their sins instead.

     1. Some try to blame others. Like Adam and Eve, some blame others for their own sinful decisions. Only when we confess our sin will we seek God’s forgiveness. If we say “we have no sin” we deceive ourselves; the sin remains (1 Jno 1:8-9).

     2. Some refuse to take responsibility. Like Cain who lied when God asked him where was Abel (“I do not know”), some sin against their neighbor and say “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:9) Washing our hands with Pilate, we fail to stand up and do the right thing when our sin is exposed.  We cannot hope for heaven when we do not see ourselves responsible for our sins. Until we are cut to the heart, redemption will elude us (Acts 2:37).

     3. Some try to hide the evidence. Like Achan who took forbidden spoils from Jericho and hid them in his tent, many try to hide the evidence of their sins (Josh 6:18; 7:1, 20-21). Some try to hide sin with night’s darkness. Sin loves the cover of darkness; light exposes its evil (Jno 3:20). Many commit sin at night thinking the darkness hides their sin – it doesn’t (1 Ths 5:7). Some think they can hide their sin in the anonymity of the crowd. “Everybody is doing it” and so we deceive ourselves that we are free from accountability. Whether it is the sin of drunkenness, revelry, lasciviousness, adultery, thievery or any other, none are hidden by darkness and the mob (One man, Achan, was chosen out of millions of Hebrews and punished).

     4. Some try to cover up sin with more sin. King David’s lust and adultery was compounded by the attempted cover up: getting Uriah drunk, conspiracy to commit murder and finally, murder itself (2 Sam 11). Though the sin was still known only to David and Bathsheba, “the thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Sam 11:27). God knew what happened. One sin takes another sin to conceal, then another and another. We cannot do evil and produce good results (Rom 3:8).

     What must we do about our sins? We must be convicted of our sins and admit them to God (Psa 32:3-5; 51:3; 1 Jno 1:9). This requires a humble heart that is willing to examine oneself (Psa 51:17; 2 Cor 13:5). We must repent of our sins. God told Israel, “Repent and turn from all your transgression, so that iniquity will not be your ruin” (Ezek 18:30). Christ tells us the same (Lk 13:5; Acts 2:38; 17:30). Repentance is changing our mind about our sin. No longer trying to cover up our sins, repentance says “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Lk 18:13). Be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Or, Christian, pray God’s forgiveness (1 Jno 1:9). God will remember your sins no more (Heb 10:17). You’ll have nothing to hide!

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. God’s word is not bound (restrained), 2 Tim 2:9 (Isa 55:11).
2. God’s word is powerful, Heb 4:12.
3. Why we must know God’s word, Psa 119:1-8.
4. The power of God’s word compels responses of faith and obedience.

I. GOD’S WORD: A CREATIVE FORCE.

  A. The Physical World, Heb 11:3; 2 Pet 3:5; Gen 1:3, 6; Psa 33:4-9.
  B. Man’s Spiritual Life, Matt 4:4; Rom 10:17; 1:16; Jno 8:31-32, 51; 17:17; Acts 13:26; 1 Pet 1:22-23.

II. GOD’S WORD: A SUSTAINING FORCE.

  A. The Physical World, Heb 1:3 (preservation); 2 Pet 3:7 (Psa 147:15-18).
  B. Man’s Spiritual Life, 2 Pet 1:3; Matt 13:23.
    1. Spiritual growth, 1 Pet 2:2.
    2. Protection against evil, Eph 6:17.
    3. Instruct in righteousness, 2 Tim 3:16-17.
    4. Hope and grace, Col 1:5-6.

III. GOD’S WORD: A JUDGING FORCE.

  A. The Physical World, cf. 2 Pet 3:7, 10, 12.
  B. Our Life on Earth, Jno 12:48; Rev 20:12.
    1. Our words, Matt 12:36-37.
    2. Our thoughts and motives, 1 Cor 4:5.
    3. Our actions, 2 Cor 5:10.
    4. Our beliefs and practices, 2 Tim 4:1-4.

IV. PRACTICAL RESULTS OF HONORING THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD.

  A. Spend Time with God’s Word, Psa 119:97.
  B. Use God’s Word Every Day in your Life, Psa 119:104-105, 133.
  C. Share God’s Word with Others, Mk 16:15.

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1. The Christian’s character must rise above the world.
2. Jesus is our role model, 1 Pet 2:21; Lk 6:40.
3. Character is the virtue or inner strength that defines who you are.

I.  CHARACTER: THAT WHICH DEFINES THE PERSON, Prov 3:1-12.

  A. Character is the Issue of the Heart, Prov 23:7; Matt 12:35.
  B. Results of Character: Life and peace, 3:2; favor, good understanding, 3:4; direction, 3:6; strength, 3:8; plenty, 3:10; God’s love, 3:12.

II. CONVERSION: CHANGING CHARACTER, Col 3:5-17.

  A. A New Relation to Sin, 3:5-11; cf. Rom 6:1-7.
  B. A New Heart, 3:12-15; Matt 12:43-45; 1 Sam 28:3-8.
  C. A New Message is Accepted, Col 3:16. (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:3)
  D. A New Authority, Col 3:17.
  E. New Relations with Others, Col 3:18-4:1.

III. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT (He 12:4-11).

  A. Difficult Circumstances.
    1. Trials of faith, Gen 22:1-2, 8-12 (15-19); Rom 5:3-4; 1 Pet 1:6-7.
    2. Temptations, 1 Cor 10:12-13; 1 Pet 5:8-9; Jas 4:6-8.
  B. Successful Circumstances, 2 Chrn 32:31, 24-26; Deut 8:2-3, 11-18.

Conclusion
     For the Christian, our character is to be conformed to the image of Christ. 

Brian Richard Gray, 32-year preacher in Walton County, Georgia was extradited from Alabama to Georgia this week where he is facing charges of child molestation and statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl (a member of the Monroe Church of Christ where he was the youth minister). The local sheriff reports that “Gray allegedly visited the teen several times in her family’s Oconee County home while her parents were away” (WGAU Local News; ajc.com).

     Preachers and elders must be very careful to maintain personal purity and propriety toward those of the opposite gender with whom we work. Of course, this principle is true for all Christian men and women (1 Pet 1:14-16).

     The apostle told the young preacher Timothy to “exhort…younger women as sisters, with all purity” (1 Tim 5:1-2). Preachers and elders are not immune to temptation. Plus, your godly influence and reputation can be severely damaged by failing to vigilantly honor the purity of younger (and older) women.

     Fellow preacher, elder and Christian man, it is wise to...

     1. Never go to a woman’s house alone. This is one of the mistakes this young man made. Even if you are having a Bible study, take someone with you. No exceptions – once is all it takes to be falsely accused of wrong doing or to fall into temptation and sin. Appointments can be rescheduled, but your reputation and purity are not so easily rehabilitated (Prov 22:1).

     2. Remember that you are not above temptation and sin. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” also applies to preachers – young and old (1 Cor 10:12). Do not put yourself in temptation’s way (Jas 1:14-15).

     3. Remember that some people want to see you fall. Paul asked for prayers “that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith” (2 Ths 3:1-2). Whether that is true in the above case is unknown, but it is a cautionary tale. “Do not be unwise” (Eph 5:17).

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