The Kingdom of Heaven is not merely about going to Heaven when we die, but also about living under God's rule now. There are three stages of salvation: justification (becoming a Christian), sanctification (growing in holiness), and glorification (being perfected in Heaven). Many believers focus solely on justification but neglect sanctification. This neglect can lead to unpreparedness for Christ's return or our own death. We must actively pursue spiritual growth, eagerly awaiting His return. The delay in Christ's coming is a grace period for us to deepen our relationship with Him. Our goal should be to know more intimately, not just to secure a place in Heaven.
Jesus considers the Church His current home on Earth, but He has gone to prepare a place for believers in Heaven. At the Second Coming, Christ will return to collect His followers - both the dead and the living - in an event known as the Rapture. We will then be eternally united with Him in our heavenly home. This promise offers great comfort and hope, but it also emphasises the urgency of ensuring a personal relationship with Jesus now, before His return. The Church isn't just a building or tradition, but a family of those who do the Father's will and know Christ personally.
"If ever there were a topic, there was a topic, where there's so many details, and so many aspects, and so many different opinions, that's got you a bit confused, I guess it's mostly likely to be about the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The fact that the Scriptures teach that Christ is going to return is called the Second Advent. The First Advent, of course, is when He came at Christmastime and He came to be born, and the Second Advent is when He's coming to rule and to culminate the history up to that point of the entire world. And this is taught in the Scriptures in many different places, including the Old Testament, but certainly in the New Testament, so it's beyond doubt that Jesus Christ is going to come back again."
"The topic that I thought would be good for tonight is to talk about something that there are differing opinions about, and that has to do with the idea of the rapture of the Christians or the saints."
Bible Text: Ephesians 4:30-32, Isaiah 63:10, Luke 3:21-22, Acts 13:1-4, Matthew 12:31-32, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 | Speaker: Rev Dr Jim Gibson | Series: Ephesians
Bible Text: John 14:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 | Speaker: Rev Dr Jim Gibson
Bible Text: Matthew 24:3, 24:27, 24:37, 24:39, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 | Speaker: Rev Dr Jim Gibson | Series: Expositions about Christian Victory
Bible Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 | Speaker: Rev Dr Jim Gibson | Series: Expositions about Christian Victory
Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-32, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 | Speaker: Rev Dr Jim Gibson | Series: 1 Corinthians