The Two Advents
A Sermon on Titus 2:11-14
Originally preached Dec. 21, 1958
Scripture
11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our …
Sermon Description
For various and sometimes nefarious reasons, people often isolate the Christmas message of the babe in a manger from the rest of the gospel story. The tendency is to take parts of the whole person and work of Christ and segregate them from the rest. Or perhaps worse, some as children heard the message of gentle and lowly Jesus in a manger and never move beyond; they start at Bethlehem and end with Bethlehem. This is a tragedy that inevitably ends in error, says Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. In this sermon on Titus 2:11–14 titled “The Two Advents,” he states that Christians must follow the apostle Paul’s important principle and take the Lord Jesus Christ’s work as a whole. Paul frames the first appearing of Christ in conjunction with His second advent. Placing these two advents side-by-side in his sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones then contrasts them. While the first coming of Christ was humble, lowly, and hidden, the second coming will be glorious and made for all the world to see. Listen as he provides a unique and passionate Christmas message where the listener comes face-to-face with the entire person and work of Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The two advents of Christ must always be taken together. We must consider Christ's work as a whole.
- There is a great contrast between Christ's first and second advents.
- Christ's advents were utterly different from what people expected. People were wrong about Christ's first coming and will likely be wrong about His second coming.
- Christ's first advent:
- Christ came in a lowly, humble manner. He laid aside His glory.
- Christ came to bring salvation by dying on the cross and rising from the dead.
- Christ came to redeem us from sin and purify us.
- We must look back on Christ's first advent and consider what He has done.
- Christ's second advent:
- Christ will come in power and great glory. His glory will be fully revealed.
- Every eye will see Christ when He comes again.
- Christ will come to judge the world, destroy His enemies, and usher in a new heaven and new earth.
- We must look forward to Christ's second advent with hope.
Other Sermons
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.