Sovereign Grace Chapel located
at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia invites you to
listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome. everyone this morning that is
listening to me. I pray that you'll listen to
what I have to say. I have something I want to give
you this morning. I want to talk about a phrase
that's found in the scripture. It's looking for that blessed
hope. You hear it? Looking for that
blessed hope. We find it in Titus chapter two. That's Paul the Apostle's letter,
epistle, his letter to Titus, a young preacher, that Paul had
mentored and raised up into faith. He's writing to Titus, and he
tells Titus to talk to the people of the church over which Titus
was pastor, but he says, you'll see in Titus chapter two, and
I'm not gonna read all of it, but you'll see it in verse two,
talking to aged, things to say to aged men. Verse three, things
to say to aged women. There's verse four, things to
say to young women. There's verse six, things to
say to young men. There are things to say in verse
nine to servants and to masters. But then he writes these words.
These words, let's begin reading here. Titus chapter two and verse
10. Not purloining. but showing all good fidelity,
that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all
men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world,
looking for, and here it is, looking for that blessed hope
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior,
Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem
us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a people peculiar,
a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak
and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise
thee. What I want to concentrate on
this morning, as I said, is this one thought. Looking for that
blessed hope. Remember that's the phrase. The
first part of verse 13, looking for that blessed hope. I have
a question to ask you. Think about this. Seriously give
this some thought. Is Christ's return that blessed
hope? What does Paul, by inspiration,
actually write? What did he actually write to
Timothy? Now look what it says. Looking for that blessed hope
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior,
Jesus Christ. He does not say looking for that
blessed hope, which is the glorious appearing. Paul was not calling
the appearing the blessed hope, but he's calling or saying that
he who is to come again, he who is to appear again, he is that
blessed hope. Christ himself is that blessed
hope, which gospel-called people are looking for. He is our hope.
This is clearly what Hebrews chapter Six says, and listen
to what it says, Hebrews chapter six and verse 18, and listen
to what the word of God says. Hebrews chapter six and verse
18, that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for
God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for
refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us, which hope we
have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and
which entereth into that within the veil, whither the forerunner
is for us entered, even, here's the hope, even Jesus, you see
it? Even Jesus, made in high priest
forever after the order of Melchizedek. Listen to what Paul wrote to
Timothy. First Timothy chapter one. And listen to what it says. 1 Timothy 1 verse 1. Paul, an
apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior
and the Lord Jesus Christ, look at it, which is our hope. Do you see that? You see, I'm
trying to emphasize that what Paul actually wrote to Titus
is that yes, Christ is going to appear. He is going to come.
There will be a second advent of Jesus Christ. But the advent
itself is not the hope. It's the person who will come
who is the hope. So again, to say his coming is
that blessed hope is to miss a vital truth. You see, it is
him that is to return. He, the person, is our hope. This, I realize, would be a moot
point if Just a moot point, if Christ himself was the sum and
substance, if Christ's person and Christ's work was the sum
and substance of all professed Christianity, it'd be a moot
point for me to say this, but it's not. Sadly, it's not. He
is not the center and the sum and the substance of all of professed
Christianity today. Today, Christianity, when it
comes to Christ's second advent, now listen to me now. When it
comes to Christ's second advent, Today, professed Christianity
is all about times and seasons. Times and seasons. That means
fixed periods and particular events. That's the words. These
words are used in scripture. Times and seasons, fixed periods
and particular events. They are not concentrated on
Christ's person. Christ's work, Christ's perfections,
Christ's merits, Christ's righteousness, Christ's glory, Christ's wrath.
They don't concentrate on these things, but today's professed
Christianity, when they talk about the appearing of Christ,
the second advent of Christ, they talk about what? Fixed periods
and particular events. Now, Paul rejects that. Listen to what he wrote, the
Thessalonians. First Thessalonians five. And verse one, 1 Thessalonians
5 verse one. But of the times and seasons,
brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you for yourselves
know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief
in the light. For when they shall say peace
and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them. That doesn't
sound like hope for some folks. but Christ is our hope, and Christ
shall appear again. Paul rejects such an approach
of dealing with fixed periods and particular events, or that
is, times and seasons. You see, you know what I've said
to you is a fact. It's a fact. If you go on TV,
you go on the internet, you go listen to radio, you pick up
books today, and when they talk about the person and work of
Christ, or about the return of Jesus Christ, it's not about
his person and work. It's not about what he's going
to do, who he really is, but they talk about fixed periods. They talk about particular events.
You see, when a person has no hope in Christ now, in the present. That person has no reason to
hope in Christ's second advent. Why? Hebrews tells us plainly. It's just one short verse. Hebrews chapter 13, and listen
to what verse eight says. Hebrews 13, verse eight. Jesus
Christ, the same yesterday, and today and forever. Do you see
it? Jesus Christ yesterday, today,
and forever. Christ does not change. Therefore,
hear what Christ said. Now, Christ spoke about his second
advent when he was here at his first advent. He spoke about
his second advent. But listen to what Christ wrote
about it, or what he said about it, what Matthew writes about
it. Matthew chapter 24, listen to these two verses. Matthew
24, verse 30 and 31. And then shall appear the sign
of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes
of the earth mourn. They shall see the Son of Man
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and
he shall send his angels with the great sound of a trumpet,
and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds
from one end of heaven to another. The elect of God, when Christ
returns, he will send his angels to bring them out of the mass
of humanity. Listen to what he says in verse
36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man. Know not the
angels in heaven, but my Father also. But as the days of Noe,
or that is Noah, were, so shall also the coming of the Son of
Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were
eating and drinking and marrying and given in marriage until the
day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood
came and took them all away, so also shall the coming of the
Son of Man be. So we see clearly that the second
appearing the appearing of Christ, his second advent rather. We
see clearly it's not a blessed hope for everyone. Listen to
what Christ said and it's recorded by Luke. In Luke chapter 21.
Now listen to these verses. Luke 21 and verse 34, 35, 36. and to stand before the Son of
Man, you see that? Clearly, our Lord did not speak
of his second advent, his appearing, his coming again, as a blessed
hope for all men. Christ is the blessed hope for
all that are called by his gospel. You see, today's second advent
preaching, now think about this, just stop a moment, listen to
what I'm about to say. Today's Second Advent preaching,
that is when men preach about Christ's return, his appearing,
his second coming. Today's Second Advent preaching
is rapture events, seven-year tribulation events, fixed periods
relating to seals, trumpets, bowls, the 144,000, the Antichrist,
the woes, the thousand years, and 666. And it's all about these things.
And you know that I'm speaking the facts to you. You know that
when men talk about the second advent of Christ, in general,
not everyone, but in general, many of them profess Christianity
today, when they talk about the second advent of Jesus Christ,
that's what they're always talking about. Rapture, seven years tribulation,
fixed periods, bowls, trumpets, 144,000, Antichrist, 666,000
years. Yet consider this. How many today emphasize this?
Now, we know that the book of the Revelation certainly has
to do with many things that will have to do with his second advent,
that is, Christ appearing, Christ coming again. But how many of
them, when they talk about the second advent of Christ, read
and preach on things like this, Revelation chapter five, and
listen to what it says. Revelation chapter 5 verse 1,
and I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a
book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy
to open the book and to loose the seals thereof? And no man
in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth was able to open
the book, neither to look therein. And I wept much, because no man
was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to
look thereon. And one of the elders said unto
me, Weep not. Behold the line of the tribe
of Judah. The root of David hath prevailed
to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof. Now,
men talk about the seals, and there are certainly things in
here about the seals, but listen to what it's saying about this
book that has these seven seals that are about to be introduced,
which introduce then trumpets and bowls, vials, all of those
things. Verse six, and I beheld and lo, in the midst of the throne,
and of the four beasts, in the midst of the elders stood a lamb
as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which
are the seven spirits of God, sent forth unto all the earth.
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him
that sat upon the throne. This is Jesus Christ himself. And look, and when he had taken
the book, The four beasts and the four and 20 elders fell down
before the lamb, having every one of them harps and golden
vials full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints. And
they sang a new song, saying. Thou art worthy to take the book
and to open the seals thereof, for thou was slain and has redeemed
us to God by thy blood out of, notice this redemption is out
of. This redemption is not for everybody in the world, but it's
for redemption of a people out of the world, look, and has redeemed
us to God by thy blood. by thy blood, out of every kindred,
and tongue, and people, and nation, and hast made us unto our God
kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld,
and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne,
and the beasts, and the elders, and the number of them was 10,000
times 10,000, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud
voice, there it is, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and
glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in
heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as
are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I say, blessing,
and honor, and glory, and power, be it unto him that sitteth upon
the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. And the four
beasts said, amen. And the four and the 20 elders
fell down and worshiped him that liveth forever ever. You see,
When they talk about the second advent of Christ, they don't
talk about this glorious one. Here's another thing, Revelation
chapter six. Listen to what it says, Revelation six, verses
12 to the end of the chapter. And I beheld, and when he had
opened the sixth seal, here's one of those seals, that only
he, only Christ could open. And I beheld, and he opened the
sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake, and the sun
became black as sackcloth of Herod, and the moon became as
blood. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, and even
as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a
mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a
scroll, what is rolled away, and every mountain and island
were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and
the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the
mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man hid themselves
in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to
the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face
of him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath of
the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath
is come, and who shall be able to stand? This is the Christ
that is returning. Remember, he's the same yesterday,
and today, and forever. Here's another one. Revelation
chapter 13. Do you hear men, today, Most people, most preachers,
when you hear them preach about Christ's second advent, his appearing,
do you hear them talking about these kind of things? About this
person who is to return? No, they talk about the events,
the things. But they rarely ever talk about him. Look at what
it says, Revelation 13, verse one. And I stood upon the sand
of the sea and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven
heads and 10 horns, and upon his horns 10 crowns, and upon
his head Heads, the name of blasphemy. Now, think about this. I know
there are people who want to deal with that, but then look
at what it says in verse eight. And all that dwell upon the earth
shall worship him, that is, this beast, this beast with these
heads. And all that dwelleth on the earth shall worship him,
look at it, whose names are not written in the book of life of
the Lamb slain for the foundation of the world. How many people
do you know talking about the book of life being a book that
was written by God before the foundation of the world? God
is not writing men and women's names down in the book of life.
Their names are already recorded in the book of life. They are
called the elect. They're predestinated. is a blessed
hope because that's all based upon the person and work of Jesus
Christ. Listen also, listen to Revelation
chapter 17. And I'm just scratching the surface.
Revelation chapter 17 verse one. And there came one of the seven
angels which had seven vows and talked with me saying, come up
hither and I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore
that sitteth upon many waters. What a statement. But now listen
to verse 17. Now listen, you go ahead and
you read the rest of the context here. They're going to be men
following after this great whore. But then this is what it says
in verse 17. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his
will and to agree and to give their kingdom unto the beast.
until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which
thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings
of the earth." Is that the kind of God? Is that the kind of Christ
that you hear men proclaiming as men's hope? He is the hope,
but he's only the hope. He's only the hope for those
that God Almighty has given birth to, spiritual life to, by his
spirit, and converts them by the preaching of the gospel.
You see, if anyone dare, even dare suggest that Christ, let
me say it, maybe Maybe you've heard someone say this before,
maybe you haven't, but maybe even if you've heard it before,
maybe it haven't dawned on you, maybe God will open your eyes
and your ears and your heart this morning. Anyone dare even
suggest that Christ, who is God, will be different now than then,
that is nothing more than blasphemy. You hear what I said? I said
it's nothing more than blasphemy. The blessed hope is the person,
Jesus Christ himself. and that blessed hope shall return.
Look at it again. Looking for that blessed hope
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our savior
Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is that great hope
and believers are looking for that blessed hope and his appearing. Oh, what a passage. So Christ
is not different. Christ is the same, yesterday,
today, and forever. Now, hear what Christ said. And
here's what he said to his own heart and soul. Matthew chapter
11. And listen to what Matthew records in Matthew chapter 11.
Just a few verses there. Matthew chapter 11, verse 20.
Listen to this. This is who Jesus Christ is.
This is who he was. This is who he is, this is who
he'll be when he returns at his second advent, at his appearing.
Listen, verse 21, then began he to upbraid the cities wherein
most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For
if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in
Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth
and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall
be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment
than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which are
exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell. For if
the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in
Sodom, it would have remained unto this day. But I say unto
you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, do you
hear what I'm saying, in the day of judgment, than for thee. Now listen, he's not done yet.
At that time, Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from
the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes. And
I ask, I interject here, but I ask, why? Look at what even
Christ prayed to the Father. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight. and all things are delivered
unto me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son but the Father,
neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever
the Son will reveal him. Then, that's the context of when
you hear, come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest, take my yoke upon you, Learn of me,
for I am meek and lowly and hardened. Ye shall find rest for your souls,
for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. But what's he saying
at the end there? That you will take upon you his yoke. You will submit to the authority
of King Jesus in all things. And he will be your hope. And he is going to appear again. This is what he thought. Listen
to another, this John chapter 17. And this is the Lord Jesus
Christ praying to the Father again. We just read one prayer
of Christ. In John chapter 17, we found
that John recorded a prayer of our Lord to the Father, another
prayer of our Lord to the Father. Now listen to what Christ wrote.
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven,
and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify thy son, that thy
son also may glorify thee, as thou hast given him power over
all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou
hast given him. And this is life eternal, that
they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
thou hast sent. So you notice he's Thanking God
for the people that God gave him for this people out of the
world that God gave him out of the world and they're going to
be brought eternal life by him then listen verse 9 I Pray for
them that is those that God gave him out of the world. I pray
for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast
given me for they are Thine then listen to verse 20 20 to 21,
neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall
believe on me through their word, that they all may be one as thou,
Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in
us, that the world, the world that he didn't pray for, but
that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And let me
ask you a question. Is that happening right now?
You know the answer to that. No, sir, it is not. But one day
it will. Did you hear what I said? I said
one day it definitely will. When Christ, who is the blessed
hope of his elect, When Christ comes again, he who is the blessed
hope of those who have been called by the gospel, Christ in his
second advent, Jesus Christ will make all men without exception
to know that when he came in his first advent and in his second
advent, that he came to save his elect. And one day everyone
will be made to confess that. Listen to what Paul wrote, 2
Thessalonians. And listen to these words. 2 Thessalonians
chapter one. Here's what the apostle Paul
wrote. 2 Thessalonians chapter one, begin. 2 Thessalonians chapter one. Here's what he writes, and we
begin in verse seven. And to you who are troubled, and he's
writing to the church at Thessalonica, of course. To believers, and
to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, inflaming
fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey
not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished
with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord
and from the glory of his power, when he shall come to be glorified
in his saints. and to be admired in all them
that believe because our testimony among you was believed in that
day. Wherefore also we pray always
for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and
fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work
of faith with power that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
may be glorified in you and ye in him according to the grace
of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. So here's a question. Here's a question. Is Jesus Christ
your hope? That's the question. His return
is not the blessed hope for all men, but he is the blessed hope
for all that's been called by the gospel of Jesus Christ. The
apostle Paul told these same Thessalonians that he knew God
had chosen them before the world began. Did you know that? That's
when election took place. God's election of a people took
place before the world began. And he says to them, 1 Thessalonians
1, knowing brethren, beloved, your election of God. Now how
in the world could you know that? How could you know God chose
someone before the world began? We don't see their names. Their
names are written in the Lamb's book of life before the world
began. But we don't see their names. But look, knowing brethren,
beloved, your election of God, for our gospel came not unto
you in word only, I did come in word, but not 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 sakes.
And ye became followers of us and of the Lord, having received
the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost, so that
ye were in samples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the
word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also
in every place. Your faith, the God word, spread
abroad so that we need not speak anything, for they themselves
show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you and how you
turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and
listen, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from
the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. So
again, I'll say this, Jesus Christ is the blessed hope. But he's
only a blessed hope for those that God Almighty calls in his
sovereign power by the preaching of the gospel. Else, when he
comes, there will be no hope for you. This is thus saith the
Lord. Now, if this gospel, this message
interests you, then I'll let you know at 12 noon every Sunday,
WVBACW, you can hear a message from Sovereign Grace Chapel.