The first coming of Jesus and the second coming of Jesus connect to one another.

 1. TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM

Matthew 20:28; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18-20; Leviticus 25:25-28

Jesus came to redeem us from our wickedness.  The Bible is about redemption, the recovery and restoration of all that was lost due to sin.

Adam and Eve were created, not born, and they were never supposed to die.  They had a wonderful relationship with God but they disobeyed God and were removed from the Garden.

Fellowship was destroyed.

They became subject to sickness, disease and death.

They lost control of earth and Satan took over.

Q. How did you come to realize that you were in need of a Savior to restore what was lost due to the disobedience of Adam and Eve?

Jesus will come back and take charge and control of the earth once again.  Through Him, we are reconciled back to God, we can have fellowship with Him and we have eternal life.  The earth will one day be restored.

2. TO CALL SINNERS TO REPENTANCE

 Luke 5:31-32; Matthew 4:17; Luke 13: 3-5

Jesus came for the sick not the righteous.  The Church has lost the importance of repentance.  Jesus began His ministry emphasizing repentance.  Repentance is the change of mind, attitude, outlook, and behavior.  Many people say they are Christians but there is no change in their life.  We must have Godly sorrow which leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).  We are called to repent.

Q. When have you just felt sorry for your sins rather than truly repenting?

Q. What is the difference between feeling sorry and being truly repentant?

 3. TO GIVE EVERLASTING LIFE ETERNAL

 John 3:16 1 Corinthians 15

Adam and Eve were to live forever but because of their disobedience, they became subject to death. But Jesus has restored them as he has done for us.  We will physically die, but we receive eternal life and live forever as God’s people the moment we surrender our lives to Him.  We will spend eternity with Him.

Q. As a Christian, how does knowing you will spend eternity with Jesus, change the way you spend your time, talent, and treasure on earth? (Are you serving others? Giving…)

4. TO SAVE FROM CONDEMNATION

John 3:17-18

Those that do not believe are condemned already.  Jesus came to lift the cloud of condemnation.

Q. What are you struggling with in-regards to condemnation? (Are you condemning yourself, are others condemning you? Are you condemning someone?)

5. TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL

1 John 3:8

When Jesus came, he grew up and then was baptized.  The Holy Spirit descended on Him and from that moment he would begin to do what God sent him to do.  He is the King of the kingdom.  His kingdom is not of this world.  Our world is going to come to not.  Jesus came to set the captives free, heal the broken-hearted, and destroy the works fo the Devil.  There are many examples in the Bible of where He did just this.  He healed the lame, the blind, and the diseased.  Satan is powerless.  Jesus struck the ultimate blow at the cross.  Resist him (the devil) and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

Q. What is an example of how you had resisted the Devil and he fled from youth?

6. TO INAUGURATE HIS CHURCH 

Inaugurate = establish ; to set up; begin or launch

Matthew 16:18; Acts 2: 42-47

Jesus Christ is the anointed One and upholds that glorious truth that he would build His Church.  A triumphant and victorious Church who will defeat the Devil wherever they go.  The book of Acts is where the Church began and it has not stopped!

Q. How does knowing that nothing can stop the Church from growing,  give you the confidence to live as a Christian?

7. TO MAKE A WAY FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT

John 16: 7-8

The Holy Spirit makes Jesus real to us.  He is the Teacher of the word of God.  The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin.  We must make room for the Holy Spirit if we are to accomplish the great purposes of God.  We are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

This week: Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit to help you fulfill His purposes in your life.

His first coming is far more than just Him saving us.