Day Three Hundred Forty and Three

What do I want for Christmas?

I want all races of people to be one in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior;  there is truly only one race; the human race, and all of our blood flows red.

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:26-28 (NKJV)

Through the Bible in a Year – 092213

For Those Who Love His Appearing
2 Timothy 4:8

purpose: If a Christian truly believes in the return of Christ, then the life of that Christian will be vastly different from those around him/her who are out for what the world offers; will live a life in accordance with the Spirit of God within.

1.  First, Let Us See Why Paul says there was a Crown of Righteousness for himself.

a.  Verse 7 says, “I fought a good fight, …kep the faith”.
b.  We know of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9; and he “finished the race”.
c.  Though works do not save us they are evidence of the work of grace in us.

2.  Second, Let us see where this crown, and the other crowns in Scripture, will be given out.

a.  2 Corinthians 5:10 speaks of the “Judgment Seat of Christ”; this is where Christians will be judged for their part in the race.
b.  One most likely place these awards will be handed out;  There are other crowns; 1) Crown of life (James 1:12);  (2) Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4);  (3) Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thes. 2:19);  (4) Incorruptible Crown (1 Cor. 9:24-27).
c.  At the Judgment Seat of Christ there will be no judgment for sin; only for how we have done in the “race”.

3.  Thirdly, When that Judgment will be done.

a.  When the “race” is finished, and all the saints are gathered at the judgment seat.
b.  At this judgment there will be none of the condemned.
c.  When Jesus comes in clouds to take His chosen people to glory (1 Thes. 4:13-18).

4.  Fourthly,  For whom this Crown of Righteousness is reserved.

a.  The one’s who love the appearing/the second coming of Jesus in glory.
b.  These are ones whose lives are marked by strange living according to the world.

  • 1)  We do not practice immoral, debaucherous, licentious, drunken, godless living.
  • 2)  We do practice the commandments of the Lord, with repentance (1 John 1:9).

-Tim A. Blankenship