Christ and Him Crucified -- Nothing Less!

One preacher this evening was preaching about red moons and blackened suns, which usher in upcoming prophecies about the End of the Age.

For those of us who are in Christ, we have nothing to fear about Jesus' Second Coming.

In the Song of Solomon, Solomon as a type of Christ sees the Church, represented by the Shunamite Bride:

"8If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents." (Songs 1: 8)

Despite the woman's frequent pleas for the Lover not to see her, He sees nothing but beauty.

Everyone of us in Christ has been perfected (Hebrews 10: 14), and we are called to grow in grace and knowledge of Him who was sent for us (2 Peter 3: 18; John 6: 29)

Paul writes:

"That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5: 27)

The writer of Hebrews also writes:

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9: 28)

So, we can expect nothing but good things when Jesus comes again, whether we are dead and He raises us from the dead, or we are alive and caught up in the air.

Preachers should spend less time talking about the End Times, and reveal more of Him who has been from the Beginning --  Jesus!:

"1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1: 1)

The Word is God, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh:

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1: 14)

We need to understand that Jesus lives in us today, by the power of the Holy Spirit:

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1: 27)

and

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)

We have received a new identity in Christ, as well:

"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)

The Holy Spirit transforms us to be more like Jesus in our actions and thoughts:

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)

As we see Jesus, the Glory of the Father, we are transformed, brought out of death, the curse, the poverty which afflicts the sons of men, because in Christ we are the sons of God!

In these difficult times, we do not need to know about the End Times, because Jesus is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 1: 8)

All our needs are met in Christ (Philippians 4: 19) and we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us (Philippians 4: 13)

Pastors must stop preaching lessons and tips, but reveal Jesus Christ, who is our life (Colossians 3: 4), for we are seated in Christ (Ephesians 2: 4-8), and we have all things through Him (Colossians 1; 13-18)

And who better to take cues on Preaching than Paul?

"but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles," (1 Corinthians 1: 23)

Then he writes:

"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2: 2)

To the Galatians, Paul could not have been more clear:

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6: 14)

Beyond Paul, we have the example of Christ Himself, and what He taught His disciples following His resurrection:

"25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24: 25-27)

The Scriptures testify chiefly of one Person: Jesus! Not the End Times, not the discord of Jews and Gentiles, not human history, but Christ and Him Crucified:

"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24: 44-47)

Could it not be clearer, people? Don't tell me about the Anti-Christ. Do not tell me about wars and rumors of wars. Tell me about Jesus and what He did for me at the Cross!

Christ and Him Crucified -- Nothing Less!