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Christian Life Church
December 20, 2020 10:00am
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5, ESV
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 9:30 AM
ADVENT(S) December 20, 2020
SCRIPTURE
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5, ESV
God is at work while we wait. In that, He builds anticipation for what’s next!
THREE ADVENTS
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He (Jesus) will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.” Genesis 3:15, BSB
The word advent means “arrival,” or “coming”.
1/ The Incarnation
So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14, NLT
2/ The Rapture
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, ESV
“Precisely because we cannot predict the moment, we must be ready at all moments.” C.S. Lewis
3/ The Second Coming
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Revelation 1:7, ESV
THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR
Advent Four Sundays before Christmas
12 Days of Christmas December 25 – January 5
Epiphany January 6
Lent Begins Ash Wednesday; ends Holy Saturday
Easter Resurrection Sunday
Ascension Day 40 days following Easter
Pentecost Sunday 50 days following Easter
The entire Christian calendar serves as a reminder & as a tool of anticipation.
PROCESS & FULFILLMENT
1/ Jesus first came to fulfill mid-time prophecy, but will return to fulfill end-time prophecy.
Daniel, Matthew, Thessalonians, & Revelation
2/ Jesus first came through His mother, but will return with His Bride.
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14, ESV
The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Revelation 19:14, NIV
3/ Jesus first came as a helpless child, but will return as a triumphant King.
Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. Philippians 2:6-7, NLT
Then I saw heaven open, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written that no one knows but Himself. He is clothed inn a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is The Word of God. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 19:11-13, 16, ESV
4/ Jesus first came in a manger, but will return from His throne.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:6-7, ESV
Revelation 20:11
5/ Jesus first came in obscurity, but will return in full view.
Luke 2:6-7
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Revelation 1:7, ESV
6/ Jesus first came being sought by wise men, but will return being sought by discerning men.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1-2, NJKV
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 1 Timothy 4:1, NIV
7/ Jesus first came under the threat of a tyrant, but will return to remove all tyrants.
Matthew 2:16 & Revelation 19:19-20
8/ Jesus first came to in a dark time, but will return in the darkest of times.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” Isaiah 9:2, ESV
Matthew 24:1-51 & 2 Timothy 3:1-9
9/ Jesus first came riding on a donkey, but will return riding a stallion.
Matthew 21:1-11 & Revelation 19:11
10/ Jesus first came with a crown of thorns, but will return with many crowns.
Matthew 27:29 & Revelation 19:12
11/ Jesus first came to make peace with sinners, but will return to make war against evil doers.
…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1, ESV
…in righteousness He judges and makes war. Revelation 19:11, ESV
“The first time He came to slay sin in men. The second time He will come to slay men in sin.” A.W. Pink
12/ Jesus first came as a Lamb, but will return as a Lion.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29, ESV
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah…” Revelation 5:5, BSB
CHRISTIAN LIFE LESSONS
1/ Keep your eyes on the things of heaven, not just the things of earth.
“It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.” C.S. Lewis
2/ Encourage one another with this hope.
3/ Pray often, “Come quickly!”
SCRIPTURE
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5, ESV
God is at work while we wait. In that, He builds anticipation for what’s next!
THREE ADVENTS
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He (Jesus) will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.” Genesis 3:15, BSB
The word advent means “arrival,” or “coming”.
1/ The Incarnation
So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14, NLT
2/ The Rapture
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, ESV
“Precisely because we cannot predict the moment, we must be ready at all moments.” C.S. Lewis
3/ The Second Coming
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Revelation 1:7, ESV
THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR
Advent Four Sundays before Christmas
12 Days of Christmas December 25 – January 5
Epiphany January 6
Lent Begins Ash Wednesday; ends Holy Saturday
Easter Resurrection Sunday
Ascension Day 40 days following Easter
Pentecost Sunday 50 days following Easter
The entire Christian calendar serves as a reminder & as a tool of anticipation.
PROCESS & FULFILLMENT
1/ Jesus first came to fulfill mid-time prophecy, but will return to fulfill end-time prophecy.
Daniel, Matthew, Thessalonians, & Revelation
2/ Jesus first came through His mother, but will return with His Bride.
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14, ESV
The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Revelation 19:14, NIV
3/ Jesus first came as a helpless child, but will return as a triumphant King.
Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. Philippians 2:6-7, NLT
Then I saw heaven open, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written that no one knows but Himself. He is clothed inn a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is The Word of God. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 19:11-13, 16, ESV
4/ Jesus first came in a manger, but will return from His throne.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:6-7, ESV
Revelation 20:11
5/ Jesus first came in obscurity, but will return in full view.
Luke 2:6-7
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Revelation 1:7, ESV
6/ Jesus first came being sought by wise men, but will return being sought by discerning men.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1-2, NJKV
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 1 Timothy 4:1, NIV
7/ Jesus first came under the threat of a tyrant, but will return to remove all tyrants.
Matthew 2:16 & Revelation 19:19-20
8/ Jesus first came to in a dark time, but will return in the darkest of times.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” Isaiah 9:2, ESV
Matthew 24:1-51 & 2 Timothy 3:1-9
9/ Jesus first came riding on a donkey, but will return riding a stallion.
Matthew 21:1-11 & Revelation 19:11
10/ Jesus first came with a crown of thorns, but will return with many crowns.
Matthew 27:29 & Revelation 19:12
11/ Jesus first came to make peace with sinners, but will return to make war against evil doers.
…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1, ESV
…in righteousness He judges and makes war. Revelation 19:11, ESV
“The first time He came to slay sin in men. The second time He will come to slay men in sin.” A.W. Pink
12/ Jesus first came as a Lamb, but will return as a Lion.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29, ESV
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah…” Revelation 5:5, BSB
CHRISTIAN LIFE LESSONS
1/ Keep your eyes on the things of heaven, not just the things of earth.
“It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.” C.S. Lewis
2/ Encourage one another with this hope.
3/ Pray often, “Come quickly!”