Paul prays the Philippians will be pure & blameless for the Day of Christ, but what is the Day of Christ?
Philippians: Shine Like Stars – DAY 16
Family Discussions for a New School Year
*This is DAY 16. Click here for 1-15.
DAY 16/FRI.-SAT.
Philippians 1:9-11
The Day of Christ
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)
What is “the Day of Christ”? Let’s study Acts 1, Matthew 24, and I Thessalonians 4 & 5 to find out.
| The following material is from a post on my Colossians Bible Study page, When Christ Appears. |
The Second Coming of Christ
Have you ever read much about Christ’s Second Coming? Have you ever searched the Scriptures to read what the Bible actually says about Jesus’ return?
If you’re like I was, you’ve heard more about it from others than you’ve read about it for yourself in God’s Word!
Even if you have studied the Second Coming for yourself, I invite you to join me today for a brief “refresher course” straight from the source.
Let’s start in Acts 1 as the resurrected Jesus was about to ascend into heaven.
Timing Is God’s Business
“When they (the apostles & the resurrected Jesus) were together for the last time they asked, ‘Master, are You going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?’
7-8He told them, ‘You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be My witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.'”
Acts 1:6-8 (MSG)
What is it with us humans and wanting to know the when of everything? From little kids in the backseat asking, “Are we there yet?” to the parents of adult children asking, “When will you get here?” we all want to know the when.
…
For Christians, our next biggest when is the one Jesus’ apostles asked about in the Scripture above: When is Jesus going to rule His earthly kingdom?
Jesus tells them that timing is the Father’s business. Here it is in the NIV:
“He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority.'”
Acts 1:7 (NIV)
This was not the first time Jesus had talked to His disciples about timing.
God Only Knows
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”
Matthew 24:36-44 (NIV)
Who knows the big when? Only God the Father knows.
What are we to do (instead of trying to figure out the day or the hour)?
- Keep watch.
- Be ready.
The Disappeared Will Reappear
Now, back to Acts 1.
“Then they (the disciples) gathered around Him (the resurrected Jesus) and asked Him, ‘Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’
7He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
9After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.'”
Acts 1:6-11 (NIV)
We don’t know the when, but we do know the where — Jesus will come back by way of the sky.
The apostle Paul gives us more details in I Thessalonians.
“For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
I Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NIV)
Compare the way Jesus left with the way He will return.
| Christ’s Ascension (Acts 1) | Christ’s Return (I Thess.) |
| He was taken up. | He will come down from heaven. |
| A cloud hid Him. | We will be caught up together in the clouds. |
| They looked into the sky as He was going. | We will meet the Lord in the air. |
What does Paul instruct the Thessalonian believers to do with this information? Encourage one another!
In context, Paul was addressing some concerns the church at Thessalonica had about the Second Coming. They were apparently worried about what happened to brothers & sisters in the faith who died before Christ’s return. Paul set them straight to encourage them and so they could encourage one another.
Like a Thief in the Night
We won’t know the when; we do know the where; let’s read about the how.
“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
I Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NIV)
The knowledge of how Jesus will return enables believers to prepare without knowing the when.
| People of the Night | Children of the Light |
| Will be saying, “Peace & safety.” | Put on faith & love as a breastplate & the hope of salvation as a helmet. |
| Destruction will come upon them suddenly. | This day should not surprise them like a thief. |
| Are appointed to suffer wrath. | God did not appoint them to suffer wrath but to receive salvation. |
| Will not escape. | Will live together with Christ. |
| Belong to the night & to the darkness. | Are children of the light & of the day. |
| Are (spiritually) asleep. | Let them be (spiritually) awake & sober. |
| Are (spiritually) drunk. | Let them be (spiritually) sober. |
Paul tells the Thessalonian church to keep encouraging one another and building each other up, and to protect themselves with faith, hope, & love.
In Matthew 24, Jesus told His disciples to “keep watch” and “be ready.” Paul tells the Thessalonians to “be awake” and “be sober.” This lines up! You must be awake to keep watch, and you must be sober to be ready.
“Then He (Jesus) returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Couldn’t you men keep watch with Me for one hour?’ He asked Peter. 41‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.'”
Matthew 26:40-41 (NIV)
May we be those who stay spiritually awake & sober so we may keep watch & be ready for Jesus’ return.
DAY 16/FRI.-SAT. Prayer
Father God,
Thank You for the promise of Jesus’ return!
Please bless us with greater understanding of this promise so we may be encouraged, encourage one another, stay awake, keep watch, live soberly, and be ready.
Thank You that even though we don’t know the day or the hour of Christ’s return, You do, so we have no cause for concern.
Thank You for letting us know that Jesus will return by way of the sky — how exciting will that day be when we “will be caught up together… in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (I Thessalonians 4:17)!
Thank You for the warning that the Lord Jesus will come back “like a thief in the night” (I Thess. 5:2). May we put on faith, hope, & love as we watch & pray in anticipation of that Day.
May we soberly acknowledge that those who do not belong to Christ will suffer destruction & wrath, and they will not escape. May this acknowledgement make us bold witnesses for Christ to the lost & persistent prayer warriors for the spread of the Gospel.
Thank You, Father, that You “did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess. 5:9). Thank You, Jesus, that you died for us so that we may live together with You forever!
We know that although our spirits are willing, our flesh is most definitely weak (Matthew 26:41). When we are tempted to fall asleep on the job, please wake us up in our spirits to the good work You began in us that You will carry on to completion until the Day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
We love You; thank You for first loving us (I John 4:19).
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
DAY 16: Paul prays the Philippians will be pure & blameless for the Day of Christ, which is the Second Coming, the Day of His return.
*To view the original post, When Christ Appears, click here.
