Anticipating The Blessed Hope

Titus 2:11-15

This world wants to know: “Is there any hope?”

The Blessed Hope of Titus 2:13

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:11-13, emphasis added).

Hope is certainty that is based on the Word of God. More, it means certainty with anticipation. By hoping in the Second Coming of Jesus, we know that we will see King Jesus’ return with our eyes one day.

This Blessed Hope is Purifying

Hoping in the Second Coming of Jesus purifies us. (See 1 John 3:3.) It teaches us that, “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12).

If you knew that in five hours you would face Christ, what would you do? You would be cleaning up your life. We do not know when Jesus is coming. “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28).

Is biblical prophecy simply meant to settle our curiosity? No. This is a motivating hope: a challenge to bring people to Jesus Christ. (See 1 Thessalonians 2:19.)

This Blessed Hope is Unifying

“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).

Paul links the Second Coming of Christ with holiness and love between the saints. If we know the return of Christ is drawing closer, we ought to be drawing closer to one another, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

The closer we get to the Second Coming of Christ, the more we ought to be in the house of God. Some say, “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.” But if you love Jesus, you will love what Jesus loves, and He loves the Church—not the building, but the gathered people. 

This Blessed Hope is Comforting

“For by Him [Christ] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16, word in brackets added). 

This means that absolutely nothing is out of control. God has a leash on Satan. Christ is the power behind creation, and the preserver of creation. People say, “What is the world coming to?” It is coming to Jesus.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, emphasis added). 

What do you say to somebody who has just lost a loved one? To the person who has just been given a bad prognosis?

“This is not final. Our King is on His way.”