Reformation Eschatology: Living in Light of Christ's Return - Prof. Ligon Duncan

This sermon was preached by Prof. Ligon Duncan during the commemoration of Reformation 500 at the Reformed Millenium Center Indonesia (RMCI), in Jakarta.

I have been asked to speak on the subject of Eschatology, which means the study of the last things. Specifically, I have been asked to speak on Reformation Eschatology: Living in Light of Christ’s Return. This is a very important theme in the Bible, and in the teachings of the great Protestant Reformers.

When I studied in the seminary, I had to take a course called “Eschatology and Ethics.” I wondered why those two subjects in one course. They didn’t sound like they went together. But I came to understand that the Bible teaches that we are to live the Christian life in light of the end.

John Calvin understood this. In his Geneva Catechism (1545), for instance, he wrote this: “How does Jesus resurrection benefit us?” Answer: "Threefold. For by it righteousness was acquired for us; it is also a sure pledge to us of our immortality; and even now by virtue of it we are raised to newness of life, that by living purely and holily we may obey the will of God."

“Does the fact that Jesus is to come again to judge the world bring any consolation to the believer?” Yes! For we are certain that He will appear only for our salvation because the Judge is our Advocate to defend us!”

What does “I believe in the resurrection of the body and everlasting life” teach us? It shows us that our happiness is not situated on earth. This serves two purposes. First, we learn to pass through this world as though it were a foreign country, treating lightly all earthly things and declining to set our hearts on them. Secondly, we are not to lose courage, no matter how much we fail to perceive the fruit of the grace which the LORD has created for us in Christ Jesus, but wait patiently for the time of revelation.”

You see, Calvin understood that the Bible’s teaching on the future, the Bible’s teaching on the end times, is meant to help believers live their lives now.

Let me take you to three passages: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Romans 8:16-25.

In these passages we learn at least three things:

1. Truth is for Life. Biblical Teaching is for Christian living. We are to live in light of the Truth of God’s Word.
2. The truth of God’s Word about the future is meant to help us live the Christian life now.
3. The future glory that believers will experience is meant to help us cope with present suffering.

1. Truth is for Life. Biblical Teaching is for Christian living. We are to live in light of the Truth of God’s Word.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-2, 8-12

Paul proclaimed the Gospel & taught them how to live.

"For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain."

"But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict."
"So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."
"For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God."
"You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers."
"For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory."

"walk in a manner worthy of God

Who calls you

Into His own kingdom and glory."

Ephesians 4:1

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called."

Colossians 1:10

"So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

1 Thessalonians 2:12

"We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory."

Philippians 1:27

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ."

2 Thessalonians 1:5

"This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering."

2 Thessalonians 1:11

"To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power."

When Paul calls them to walk in a manner worthy of God, he means for us to honor God in all that we are and do, in our relationships and activities. Live in a way that is consistent with who God is, with His calling, with His Gospel, with His kingdom.
Truth is for life shows you how to live the Christian lifend that theology is in fact, practical..

Live life in light of truth. The truth of who God is, His calling of you and His Gospel.

2. The truth of God’s Word about the future is meant to help us live the Christian life now.

Now matters, but not yet (future) matters too.
The not yet (future) matters now.
Now matters in the not yet (future).

There are eschatologies that teach that now does not matter. And there are eschatologies that overcorrect by saying that not yet leads to escapism.

But the Bible says, both, right now counts forever, and forever matters right now.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 says,

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

Therefore encourage one another with these words."

 The passage is saying that the truth about what is to come, is meant to help us now.
 We might have heard some bereavement questions like, "what has happened to her? Is he all right? Where is she? Will I recognize him?"

The Scripture has the answer by stating that theology is for comfort (verse 13a), that we must grief with hope (verse 13b) and that we need to encourage each other with the truth (verse 18).

John 16:33 also give the words of encouragement, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
Jesus has died and rose again and so will we. Death's sting is gone forever and He shall raise us from the dust. Jesus our Hope and Trust. One day, Jesus will return and we will always be with the Lord.

3. The future glory that believers will experience is meant to help us cope with present suffering.

Understanding the future glory helps us in present suffering.
Romans 8:16-25 says, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."

The Spirit assures us that we are children and heirs of God, and that our enduring present suffering is preparing us for future glory.

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Note again Paul’s characteristic emphasizes on suffering. Being led by the Spirit does not mean avoiding suffering.

Now here is the application for us:
God the Spirit confirms the witness of our spirit and even testifies to our salvation through suffering.

Henry Spence-Jones wrote, “God has one Son without sin, but none without suffering.”

What do you think about suffering? Are you a Stoic? Enduring it with grit? Are you bitter and cynical? Are you angry with God? Are you just numb?

Well, Paul knows that it is vital for Christians to have right views on suffering, trial and tribulation. He tells us four things:

1. Just because you are filled with the Holy Spirit you are nor thereby guaranteed a life of painless bliss (verse 18a). Life in the Spirit is a life of suffering because we live in a fallen world.

A. Paul clearly asserts again that, though we have a new life in Christ, though we are new creations, though we are sons, we suffer.

B. Son-ship, adoption, our status as heirs, the promises of grace, none of these exempt us from the suffering of the fallen world.

C. Indeed, precisely because we are children of God in a world that hates him, we will suffer, inwardly and outwardly.

D. This vital for us to understand and embrace in light of both health and wealth teaching and popular (but false) teaching on God and suffering. The former says that if you had enough faith you wouldn’t suffer. The latter says suffering is beyond God’s control. One says the suffering Christians could be eliminated by faith. The other says the tension of suffering can be relieved by understanding God’s powerlessness. But see verse 20, neither is true and both are pernicious.

Here is the application for us:
It is a huge mistake to miss the point that the believer will suffer and that God is sovereign in suffering.

Margaret Clarkson in her hymn, "O Father, You Are Sovereign" wrote the lyrics, “the Lord of human pain”.

2. Our trials here are real (sometimes they seem like they are beyond endurance) but the glory then is beyond compare (verse 18). The truth of future glory gives us a perspective on suffering that no one else can have. 

A. But Paul’s main concern here is not to barely assert that our sufferings continue, but to assert that they pale in comparison to glory. He wants to contrast the sufferings of the present with the glory of the future in the most dramatic way and on the grandest scale. And so he speaks of the world’s groanings and our groanings in comparison to the glory, the hope and freedom to come.

B. The sufferings of the present time include the inward battle with sin as well as the outward battles of opposition/persecution.

Quotation: “This verse is an appeal to the great disproportion between the sufferings endured in this life and the weight of glory reserved for the children of God.” (Murray)

C. The glory is the glory of our resurrection and the age to come. And the glory is not simply shown to us, but upon us. That is, Paul is talking about, not only our sight of Christ’s glory but our glorification.

Here is the application for us: 
It would be most unfortunate for us to fail to meditate upon this reality – the very thought of glory stokes hope

3. The whole of creation, the whole of the universe is caught up in the plight of the fall and hope of future glory (verse 19-22). You are not the only ones who must wait patiently the consummation, the whole creation groans.

A. Paul wants us to appreciate two things: (1) we are not alone in our frustration in this life and (2) God has a good purpose.

B. Paul tells us here that even the non-rational and inanimate creation is caught up in the effects of the fall and plan of restoration.

C. The cosmos here entails not the angels, Satan or demons, children of God, or mankind in general – that is, all of the rational creation is excluded. It rather refers to the whole of the material universe and the non-rational creation both animate and inanimate.

D. There are three considerations regarding the creation that supply Christians with a cause for confidence in the midst of suffering:

1. The creation was subjected to vanity (Genesis 3 and Ecclesiastes) – the cosmos itself is experiencing the same frustrations we face.

2. The creation was subjected not of its own will – God is the one who subjected it as a consequence of the Fall.

3. The creation was subjected in hope – God has even in the cosmos’ frustration a design for its ultimate deliverance.

Here is the application for us: 
Believers who find themselves in the belly of the beast need to remember that they are not alone.

4. The Believer lives looking to future glory (verse 23-25)

A. “The groan of 7:24 characterizes Christian experience until final salvation.”

B. Paul makes it clear here that redemption and adoption are both present realities and future bestowments.

C. So, even though we already have within us or indeed precisely because we already have within us the first fruits of the Spirit of adoption, we groan for the fullness.

D. We are saved by faith and in hope (not as if hope is the instrument of justification), but that faith which justifies always hopes.

E. The Christians eyes are never set completely on this life and this age, he always has an eye to the age to come. He lives in hope.

Here is the application for us:
There is always a forwarding-looking Spirit in the Christian.
We live toward the sunrise and look for His coming.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, two men in white robes said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.”   
God wants us to live in Light of Jesus' return.