Bible Study: Ready For Christ's Return

King James Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Ready For Christ's Return
For: Tuesday December 07, 2010
Chapters: The Book of I Thessalonians
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-december-7

Details of Today's Chapters: Patience, obedience, being examples for Christ, being sober, Christ's return, and children of the light.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
Every generation sees signs that they have read from the Bible concerning Christ's return and swears that Christ is coming really soon. In my opinion, from what I read in the Scriptures, every day is one day closer to His return, yes, there are many sings leading us to believe that He is returning very soon, but there are many things that still need to come to pass before He returns. Jesus said, “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows...And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” - Matthew 24:5-8,14.

The Book of I Thessalonians is the thirteenth book of the New Testament, the fifty-second book of the Bible, and contains five chapters. The author of this epistle is Paul and it was written to the believers of Thessalonica. The purpose of the letter was to assure the people that Christ is returning and to correct any false teaching. What we are to learn from the book is that Christ indeed is returning, that we are to be godly examples to follow, and seek comfort in the hope of His glorious return. “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” - I Thessalonians 3:13.

Even Paul when he traveled the world preaching the Gospel thought that Jesus would return before he left the earth. While no one can predict when He will return it is important that we be prepared. Paul encourages the believers at Thessalonica to keep preaching the Gospel looking for that hope of His return. “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake...And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” - I Thessalonians 1:3-5,10.

We must not forget that Christ is returning one day and when He does all will face Him for judgment, even those who are saved must face Him and we are going to be accountable for everything we did or did not do after we were saved. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” - II Corinthians 5:10.

Knowing this Paul encourages the Thessalonians to make sure they keep their bodies holy, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” - I Thessalonians 4:3-7.

Since we are vessels that contain the Spirit of God we need to honor our bodies, fornication means unmarried sex, concupiscence means fulfilling sexual desires. The Bible says, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” -I Corinthians 6:18-20. We are God's elect, we are to be examples of what it is like to be a true Christian. Whether you realize it or not, you are being watched not only by God, but by fellow Christian's and others as well. We are all God's witnesses and are to live according to His Will, giving Him glory for all things. This does not mean that we can not enjoy being with our husbands or wives, it means we are to respect our bodies and only give them to our spouse. If you have no spouse, wait for one, you will feel much better about yourself. “It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.” - I Corinthians 7:1-3.

We have no way of knowing when the appointed time of Christ's return will be so we can not wait for the time we think is the right to live the Christian way. We need to put aside anything that hinders us from bringing Him into our lives. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness...Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - I Thessalonians 5:2-5,21-23.

Remember, you are a child of the light of the world therefore, you must be prepared for the day He does comes to get us. It is okay to live your life, but it is now time to think about what you are doing and where you may be headed if you continue the path you are following. Can you honestly say you are walking with Christ? If not, you can save yourself from some unnecessary suffering by getting right with God, everything else will follow, just take that first step. “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” - I Thessalonians 5:24.

Be blessed, enjoy the rest of your day/night and week,
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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