Series: 1 Peter
Title: The End is at Hand
Text: 1 Peter 4: 7
Date: July 14, 2011
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
If you knew the Lord was about to appear to redeem all those he has purchased with his own blood, would you be serious-minded, would you be ready? The apostle Peter, speaking by the Holy Spirit of God says, 1 Peter 4:7: But the end of all things is at hand.
The end of the world is at hand and we know the end is at hand because Christ has come and made an end of sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 9:26…now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
For everyone whom he represented on the cross—
· Christ has finish the transgression,
· Christ has made an end of sins,
· Christ has made reconciliation for iniquity,
· Christ has brought in everlasting righteousness,
· Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes
Truly, the end of all things is at hand. Peter wrote this expecting the Lord’s return at any time—and looking forward to it with great delight. And I bring this message to you with the same earnest expectation and delight—the end of all things is at hand. Many laugh and joke to hear that—their scoffing only proves the end of all things is at hand.
2 Peter 3: 3: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4: And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5: For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8: But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The reason the Lord is waiting to return is the same reason he waited in the days of Noah—until all whom purposed to save are in Christ the Ark. He will not lose one but all whom God has reconciled to himself in Christ Jesus, all whom Christ has purchased with the price of his own blood shall first be brought to repentance and faith in Christ Jesus through his gospel by the Holy Spirit—then the Lord will come. Count the longsuffering of God as salvation—he has given all under the sound of my voice space to repent. But notice this next word:
2 Peter 3: 10: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;
Peter does not concern us with the precise day or the precise hour. Whether Christ returns this hour or 2000 years from now is God’s business, the precise time is not the point—Christ is He by whom our minds our girded, Christ is the End for whom we watch. It is upon Christ that we casting all our care for he cares for us right now in this present world...the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer (1 Peter 4: 7.)
BE SOBERMINDED
It is not healthy for believers to get in the mind-set that we have a long time on this earth. It causes us to be careless-minded—too concerned for this world. The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, the lust of the flesh, of the eyes, the pride of life, these things put a strangle hold on the word.
1 Thessalonians 5: 5: Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6: Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7: For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8: But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9: For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Believers are children of the day. Whether we are naturally asleep in our beds at night or awake, whatever our lot in this life, whether we live or die—the Lord has provided and will provide! God has provided freely without any merit from us by his
· Sovereign election of grace—choosing whom he would before the world began
· By his predestinating us to the adoption of children
· God has not appointed us to wrath but appointed us to obtain salvation
· Christ Jesus, the Son of God, died for us—he gave his life for us—
· We shall live together with him.
Therefore be not overly concerned with this life for this is not our life.
Luke 12: 29: And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30: For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31: But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32: Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Turn to Romans 13)
Illustration: Kids sleeping late in the summer
Romans 13: 11: And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12: The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13: Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
The night of darkness—of this present world--is almost over—the day is at hand. It is time to awake. The Sun of righteousness has shined to us in this place. Christ the Righteous is at hand. The day of God’s grace has come near to you. Awake, seek Christ and his kingdom while he may be found. The day of his return is at hand
Illustration: Rreading with Emma and Will—first thing in the morning—the point is-first—
Let us set our minds on him first, be sober-minded. Use these means God has given: put on the armor of light, put on the breastplate of faith and love, put on the helmet of hope.
WATCH UNTO PRAYER
Christ is returning, as a thief in the night, when no one expects him—be ready. (Luke 12: 35)
Luke 12: 35: Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; [Girded with truth, robed in the righteousness of Christ alone, our lights burning by the oil of the Holy Spirit--Grace, pure, free, sovereign grace, looking to Christ alone for all things.] 36: And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37: Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38: And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39: And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40: Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Application: I want to send you home with a question: If our Lord returns tonight will it be a joy to you or will you be terrified of judgment?
Hebrews 10: 26: For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27: But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Willful sin is to hear the good news of free forgiveness in Christ Jesus and to tread his blood under foot by not believing on him. Hear the word of the Lord:
Acts 10:43: To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
For those sitting here, who believe on Christ—this is great reason to rejoice. The end of all things is at hand—you will soon see your Redeemer face-to-face.
Luke 12: 37: Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Illustration: Friday afternoons watching for Uncle Brad-He said he was coming but he never gave me a precise time—but I was eager to see him pull in my driveway—so I was dressed, had my bag packed, was watching, and saying—o come quickly.
1 Peter 1:13: Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Revelation 22: 20: He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus
1 Peter 4: 7:…the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
AMEN!