Readiness For His Return

1. Holiness (1Jn. 3:2-3; 2 Pet. 3:11-14, Tit. 2:11-14)

In his first epistle, John says when Christ comes, we shall be like Him (1Jn. 3:2). In other words, John is speaking of our transformation into glorified bodies like that of the Lord, which we have seen before happens at the rapture. In the next verse, John immediately tells us what would be the practical evidence of believing in this truth: “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1Jn. 3:3). In other words, if we believe we shall be perfectly Christlike one day when He returns, then we would be seeking that purification even today. So, anyone who claims to be waiting for the Blessed Hope should be one seeking holiness in his life even today. If growing in holiness and putting off worldly and fleshly things does not mark our lives, then we are hypocritical when we claim to be longing for Christ’s return. On the other hand, putting it positively, the truth that at any moment the rapture could happen and we could meet the Lord and be totally transformed into His likeness is a great incentive to pursue holiness on a moment-by-moment basis. Our sure hope of future glorification drives our present pursuit of holiness.

While John looks at our Blessed Hope of the rapture, Peter looks at the destruction of all things at the second coming of Christ and exhorts his readers to pursue holiness by not living for this world destined for the wrath of God: “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness … looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless” (2 Pet. 3:11-14).

Paul teaches the same truth that while believers wait for the Blessed Hope, their lives would be marked with the grace of God empowering them to lead holy lives free from worldliness and zealous for good works: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds” (Tit. 2:11-14).

2. Steadfastness (Jas. 4:7-8, 10-11; 2 Pet. 3:3-9; Jude. 1:17-21)

Waiting for the promises of God requires endurance, and the same goes for the promise of Christ’s return, too. James exhorts his readers to be patient until the coming of the Lord (Jas. 4:7) and be strong or steadfast in their hearts as they wait, for the coming of the Lord is near (Jas. 4:8). Peter reminds his readers that many scoffers will rise in the last day and question the “delay” of the Lord’s return (2 Pet. 3:3-4). Peter points out that they are misunderstanding the long-suffering of the Lord as delay (2 Pet. 3:9). So, believers should avoid these mockers and rather consider the patience of the Lord as our salvation and grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus without falling from our steadfastness (2 Pet. 3:15, 17-18). Jude also says the same thing to avoid mockers and grow in our faith while waiting anxiously for the Lord (Jude 1:17-21). 

3. Watchfulness (Rom. 13:11-14, 1 Pet. 4:7;)

In light of the imminence of Christ’s return and the impending destruction of all things, the New Testament repeatedly exhorts us to be awake from all spiritual slumber. Lord Jesus after teaching on the end times constantly gave this practical application to be alert: “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Matt. 24:42; cf. Matt. 24:43, 25:13; Mk 13:33-35, 37; Lk. 12:37, 21:36). Paul says, since the day of our final salvation is nearer than when we first believed, we should be awake from all spiritual slumber, put on the Lord Jesus and avoid the lusts of the flesh (Rom. 13:11-14). Paul uses the same imagery of night and day to exhort the Thessalonians to be alert and sober in light of the return of the Lord (1 Thess. 5:4-6). Peter also exhorts his readers to be self-controlled and sober since the end of all things is near (1 Pet. 4:7). Since Christ could return any time, this is not the time for us to be spiritually asleep, but to awake, be alert, watchful, and live soberly. 

4. Hopefulness (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:50-58)

The obvious result of believing in the return of Christ is having hope and comfort in the face of death (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:50-58). Paul exhorts believers to, therefore, not grieve as others who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13). We have comfort even when we grieve the death of a believer, and we have encouragement to be hopeful beyond our own graves. 

5. Gentleness (Phil. 4:5; Jas. 5:9)

Not only does the return of Christ influence our vertical relationship with the Lord, but also our horizontal relationship with other men. Paul says, “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is near” (Phil. 4:5). James explains it as avoiding all complaint and condemning others because “you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door” (Jas. 5:9). As Jesus taught us, it is the merciful who shall receive mercy from God (Matt. 5:7; Lk. 6:36-37; Matt. 25:24-36). 

6. Faithfulness (Mt. 24:45-46; Mt. 25:1-13; 25:14-30)

Jesus called that servant blessed whose master will find him faithful in his discharge of duties when the master returns (Matt. 24:46). So to live in light of the return of Christ would mark a believer with faithfulness in the work entrusted to him. Jesus also taught many parables where the same theme of a master who returns to find his servants either as faithful or unfaithful (Mk. 13:33-37; Matt. 25:1-13; 25:14-30). In every parable, one needs to be ready beforehand, and no last-minute faithfulness would suffice. Slothful and unfaithful servants would suffer punishment from the master for their sins of omission (Matt. 25:30).

7. Eagerness (Heb. 10:24-25, 37; 1 Pet.4:7; 2 Tim.4:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:58)

Taking the return of Christ seriously would make any believer eager to serve the Lord. Paul describes believers as those who eagerly love and long for the return of Christ (2 Tim. 4:8; Phil.3:20), and this eagerness results in an urgency to serve others in the church. The author of Hebrews, therefore, exhorts us to “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the Day drawing near… For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay” (Heb. 10:24-25, 37). In other words, the imminence of Christ’s return is an incentive to urgency in our ministry to others. The time is short, and the church needs to be encouraged to be awake in her love and good deeds. 
Peter says we should live soberly and with self-control, knowing the end is near “for the purpose of prayers” (1 Pet. 4:7). Not only in our prayer and mutual fellowship, but also our preaching is to be marked with eagerness, knowing the return of the Lord. For Paul exhorts Timothy to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Tim. 4:2) in the name of the Lord Jesus Whom he says, will “judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:1). In other words, the charge to preach only the word, both in season and out of season with all seriousness is undergirded by the fact that the Lord Jesus is soon going to return and make an end to all things by judging all men.

Eagerness and urgency should also mark our evangelism. For we know from Romans 11:25 that God’s prophetic timeline would move from the church back to Israel, when all the fullness of the Gentiles is complete. When the full number of Gentiles has been saved, God will lift the partial hardening of Israel. Since we do not know the exact number of Gentiles to be saved to reach that fullness, we should be actively and urgently evangelising the lost to hasten that fullness.

Thus, knowing the return of the Lord makes us eager to serve the Lord in all forms of ministry – be it worship, encouragement, fellowship, discipleship, prayers, preaching, and evangelism. Hence, Paul, after illuminating the Corinthians on the great hope of the return of the Lord, encouraged the Corinthians to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).