Between the Appearings The Two Advents of Our Lord and Our Work and Hope in the Interim. Reality of Both Comings By thé late CHARLES H. SPURGEON Metropolitan Tabernacle, London
dwell between these two boundaries: these are our Dan and Beersheba, and all between is holy ground. As for our Lord’s first coming, there lies our rest: the once-offered Sacrifice hath put away our sins, and made our peace w ith God. As for his second coming, there lies our hope, our joy, for we''know th a t when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. I want a t this time, to bring before you those two appearings of our Lord. The tex t says, “He h ath appeared,” and again, “He shall appear.” The twenty- sixth verse speaks of his unique mani festation already accomplished, and the twenty-eighth verse promises the glori ous second outshining, as it promises, “He shall appear.” Between these two lights— “He h ath appeared,”, and “He shall appear’W-we shall sail safely, if the Holy Spirit will direct our way. 1. Our first theme is Once, and No Second “Now once in the end of, the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacri fice of himself.” This he has done once, and he will never repeat it. Let us dwell on th e subject in detail. Our Lord Jesus Christ has once appeared, and though he will appear again, it will not be for the same purpose. On his first appear ing fix your thoughts; for the like of it will never be seen again. I know of no appearance th a t could have been more •complete, more unreserved. He moved in the m idst of crowds, he spake to men and women one by one. He was on the mountain, and by the sea; he was in the desert, and by the river; he was both in house*and in temple; he was everywhere
“Now once in th e end of th e world h a th he appeared to p u t away sin by th e sacrifice of him self, . . . . a n d u n to th em th a t look fo r him shall h e ap pear th e second tim e w ithou t sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:26-28.
two great links between th and heaven are the two ents of our Lord: or, rather, ‘is the great bond of union,
by these two appearings. When the world had revolted, and God had been defied by his own creatures, a great gulf was opened between God and man. The first coming of Christ was like a bridge which crossed the chasm and made a way of access from God to man, and then from man to God. Our Lord’s second advent will make th at bridge far broader until heaven shall cojne down to earth, and ultimately earth shall go up to heaven. - Jesus is seen as opening the door which none can shut, by means of which the Lord is beheld as truly Emman uel, God w ith us. Here, too, is the place for us to build a grand suspension bridge, by which,, through faith, we ourselves may cross from this side to the other of the stormy riv er of time. The cross a t whose feet we stand is the massive column which supports the structure on this side; and as we look forward to the glory, The Second Advent of our Lord is the solid support on the other side of the deep gulf of time. By faith we first look to Jesus, and then look for Jesus; and herein is the life of our spirits. Christ on th e cross of shame and Christ on th e th rone of glory, we
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker