Christ-Centered Preaching

The average Church of today boasts itself to be a ministry of Christ-Centered Preaching. I'm sure you've heard the claim! They believe the centrality of Christ is an inexpendable feature of all true biblical Churches. Indeed! Yet, as is commonly the case, the significance of the 2nd Coming of Christ is a nonissue. These Churches attempt to promote Jesus centre stage while the 2nd Advent of Christ is an irrelevant part of the act. 

Fearfully, this directly contrasts with the Pastoral Ministry of the apostles in the New Testament. For, this commonly neglected topic permeates the preaching and pastoring depicted in the Epistles! Really, it's inescapable! The sheer number of references to the 2nd Coming of Christ should bring the pastoral ministries of so called "Christ-Centered Preachers" everywhere to a staggering halt! 

“the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” – 1 Thess. 3:12-13
“His Kingdom & Glory” – 1 Thess. 2:11-12
“at His appearing & His Kingdom” – 2 Tim. 4:1
“the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” – 1 Tim. 6:14
“His Heavenly Kingdom” – 2 Tim. 4:18
“the glorious appearing of the great God and Savior Jesus Christ” – Titus 2:13
“the coming of the Lord” – Jas. 5:7 
“the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” – Jas. 5:8
“at the appearing of Jesus Christ” – 1 Pet. 1:7
“the revelation of Jesus Christ” – 1 Pet. 1:13
“when His glory shall be revealed” – 1 Pet. 4:13
“when the Chief Shepherd shall appear” – 1 Pet. 5:4
“the power and coming of our Lord Jesus” – 2 Pet. 1:16
“Behold, the Lord cometh…” – Jude 1:14
“before Him at His coming” – 1 Jn. 2:28
“I will come unto thee quickly” – Rev. 2:16
“I will come unto thee quickly” – Rev. 2:5
“till I come” – Rev. 2:25
“Behold, I come quickly” – Rev. 3:11
“Behold, I come quickly” – Rev. 22:7
“behold, I come quickly” – Rev. 22:12
​“Surely I come quickly” – Rev. 22:20

What's even more shocking is the context of these references! It is apparent that the 2nd Coming of Christ is a major topic of Scripture. Yes! But what's most important is that we understand "why" it is mentioned with such frequency in the pastoral rhetoric of the New Testament. In other words, we must discover the authorial intent that compelled the writers of the New Testament to speak so much about this topic. 

In the pursuit, diligent study will lead to the discovery of many associated doctrines of Scripture. Namely, when, how, and why, John says, "the world passeth away" (1 Jn. 2:17); or, when, how, and why the 2nd Coming of Christ is “the End of all things” (1 Pet. 4:7). Perhaps you remember how the apostles asked the Lord Jesus, "...what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the End of the World?" (Matt. 24:3). In other words, we need to understand all that is associated with the 2nd coming of Christ. For, then, and only then, will we be able to comprehend the motivating factors that compelled the New Testament writers to speak so much about it. 

One thing's for sure. When the apostles thought about the 2nd Coming of Christ, they weren't thinking about the meekness and humility exhibited in the 1st Coming of Christ. Rather, when Paul made reference to the 2nd Coming of Christ, he described it as "the Wrath to come" (1 Thess. 1:9-10). Why? Certainly, because Christ has something to be angry about! And, on this Day, unlike any other day, the LORD is going to execute judgment in the fury of divine wrath! 

"that Great and Notable Day of the Lord" - Acts 2:20
“the Day is at hand” – Rom. 13:12
"the Day of the Lord Jesus" - 1 Cor. 5:5 
"the Day of the Lord Jesus" - 2 Cor. 1:14
“the Day of Christ” – Php. 1:9-10
“the Day of the Lord” – 1 Thess. 5:2
“against that Day” – 2 Tim. 1:12
“in that Day” – 2 Tim. 1:18
“at that Day” – 2 Tim. 4:8
“against the Time to come” – 1 Tim. 6:19
“the Day of Visitation” – 1 Pet. 2:12
“the Day of Judgment” – 1 Jn. 4:17
“until the Day dawn, and the Day Star arise in your hearts” – 2 Pet. 1:19
“the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men” – 2 Pet. 3:7
“the Judgment of the Great Day” – Jude 1:6
“the Day of the Lord” – 2 Pet. 3:10
“the coming of the Day of God” – 2 Pet. 3:12

The responsibility is laid upon us to search the matter out. We need to secure “an entrance…into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:10-11). How? Well, apparently, by the grace of God in Christ, the LORD will lead true believers to weigh the terms of divine acceptance and divine rejection on the Day of Judgment. Do you agree? This is what the grace of God teaches men (Titus 2:11-14)! For, it was written, "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished." (Prov. 22:3, 27:12).

“a Day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man” – Acts 17:31
“In the Day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel.” – Rom. 2:16
“the Righteous Judgment of God” – 2 Thess. 1:3-12
“…the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom” – 2 Tim. 4:1
“the Righteous Judge” – 2 Tim. 4:8
“Behold, the Judge standeth before the door” – James 5:9
“Judgeth according to every man’s work” – 1 Pet. 1:17
“…who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead” – 1 Pet. 4:5
“Behold, the Lord cometh…to execute judgment upon all” – Jude 1:14-15
“whose judgment now of a long time lingerith not, and their damnation slumbereth not” – 2 Pet. 2:3
“The Lord shall Judge His people.” – Heb. 10:30-31

Should we be surprised that true believers are devoted to "the apostles doctrine" (Acts 2:42)? My reader, what about you? Are you ready for "the Hour of His Judgment" (Rev. 14:7)? Perhaps you haven't duly considered what this Day entails because you were taught that "Eschatology" is just a side issue. Make no mistake about it, my reader: God wants us to understand exactly what is going to happen on this Day! Apparently, Paul taught the 1st Century Christians so much about the doctrines of the Last Days that, when speaking to the Thessalonians, he said, "But of the times and the 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 night." (1 Thess. 5:1-2).