How Can Our Waiting for the Coming of Jesus Be Sure? 1 Corinthians 1:4–9, Part 5

>> This is our fifth session on 1 >> This is our fifth session on 1 Corinthians 1:4-9. Corinthians 1:4-9. Corinthians 1:4-9. I give thanks to my God always for you I give thanks to my God always for you I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was because of the grace of God that was because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus. given you in Christ Jesus. given you in Christ Jesus. That in every way you were enriched in That in every way you were enriched in That in every way you were enriched in him him him in all speech and all knowledge, even as in all speech and all knowledge, even as in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ the testimony of Christ the testimony of Christ was confirmed, the testimony of Christ was confirmed, the testimony of Christ was confirmed, the testimony of Christ was confirmed among you. In other words, the the truth of the In other words, the the truth of the gospel gospel gospel was shown to be firm, real, reliable. was shown to be firm, real, reliable. was shown to be firm, real, reliable. And that And that And that testimony would include things like testimony would include things like testimony would include things like you are rich rich in every way. in every way. in every way. So, when the gospel holds out the So, when the gospel holds out the So, when the gospel holds out the infinite, unsearchable riches of Christ, infinite, unsearchable riches of Christ, infinite, unsearchable riches of Christ, you may be absolutely sure you are rich you may be absolutely sure you are rich you may be absolutely sure you are rich like that.

like that. like that. So that So that So that you are not lacking in any gift, and you are not lacking in any gift, and you are not lacking in any gift, and that's as far as we've gotten before. that's as far as we've gotten before. that's as far as we've gotten before. Now, Now, Now, this is a participle. this is a participle. this is a participle. Just straight up participle, waiting. Just straight up participle, waiting. Just straight up participle, waiting. That's a very literal translation. That's a very literal translation. That's a very literal translation. Waiting, usually translated as you wait, Waiting, usually translated as you wait, Waiting, usually translated as you wait, and that's fine. and that's fine. and that's fine. But I I put it as the participle just so But I I put it as the participle just so But I I put it as the participle just so that you could realize the question we that you could realize the question we that you could realize the question we all face is all face is all face is logically, relationally, logically, relationally, logically, relationally, how does it relate to what goes before? The testimony of Christ was confirmed The testimony of Christ was confirmed among you among you among you so that you are enriched and you know it so that you are enriched and you know it so that you are enriched and you know it in every way so that you're lacking in in every way so that you're lacking in in every way so that you're lacking in any gift waiting. Let's read the rest of it. Let's read the rest of it. Waiting eagerly, and I'm going to Waiting eagerly, and I'm going to Waiting eagerly, and I'm going to explain why I inserted confidently here. explain why I inserted confidently here. explain why I inserted confidently here. Waiting eagerly and confidently for the Waiting eagerly and confidently for the Waiting eagerly and confidently for the revealing, the second coming, the revealing, the second coming, the revealing, the second coming, the revelation, the appearing of our Lord revelation, the appearing of our Lord revelation, the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will confirm you to Jesus Christ, who will confirm you to Jesus Christ, who will confirm you to the end the end the end guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful by whom you were Christ. God is faithful by whom you were Christ. God is faithful by whom you were called into the fellowship of his son called into the fellowship of his son called into the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord. Father, as we try Jesus Christ our Lord. Father, as we try Jesus Christ our Lord. Father, as we try to understand to understand to understand the waiting life the waiting life the waiting life of the Christian church, show us how to of the Christian church, show us how to of the Christian church, show us how to think about this, how to experience think about this, how to experience think about this, how to experience this, make us a waiting people in the

this, make us a waiting people in the this, make us a waiting people in the biblical way. I pray in Jesus' name. biblical way. I pray in Jesus' name. biblical way. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. First of all, let's let's see that this First of all, let's let's see that this idea of waiting for the Lord idea of waiting for the Lord idea of waiting for the Lord is a normal way for Paul to talk about, is a normal way for Paul to talk about, is a normal way for Paul to talk about, indeed for the whole New Testament to indeed for the whole New Testament to indeed for the whole New Testament to talk about, the Christian life. The talk about, the Christian life. The talk about, the Christian life. The Christian life does not put the second Christian life does not put the second Christian life does not put the second coming on hold and say, "Well, there's coming on hold and say, "Well, there's coming on hold and say, "Well, there's no point in eagerly waiting for it. It's no point in eagerly waiting for it. It's no point in eagerly waiting for it. It's just too far away." just too far away." just too far away." That's not the way the New Testament That's not the way the New Testament That's not the way the New Testament thinks. Here's Philippians 3. thinks. Here's Philippians 3. thinks. Here's Philippians 3. Our citizenship is in heaven and from it Our citizenship is in heaven and from it Our citizenship is in heaven and from it we eagerly we eagerly we eagerly wait wait wait for a savior. Same word. for a savior. Same word. for a savior. Same word. The Lord Jesus Christ, who will The Lord Jesus Christ, who will The Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his transform our lowly body to be like his transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body by the power that enables glorious body by the power that enables glorious body by the power that enables him to even to subject all things to him to even to subject all things to him to even to subject all things to himself. So, this is the the second himself. So, this is the the second himself. So, this is the the second coming when we get new bodies and we coming when we get new bodies and we coming when we get new bodies and we eagerly wait for a savior. That's what eagerly wait for a savior. That's what eagerly wait for a savior. That's what citizenship in heaven implies as we live citizenship in heaven implies as we live citizenship in heaven implies as we live in this world. We're waiting for the in this world. We're waiting for the in this world. We're waiting for the king of that other world to show because king of that other world to show because king of that other world to show because that's where our citizenship is.

that's where our citizenship is. that's where our citizenship is. Hebrews 9, Christ having been offered Hebrews 9, Christ having been offered Hebrews 9, Christ having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will once to bear the sins of many, will once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time. appear a second time. appear a second time. Not to deal with sin, but to save those Not to deal with sin, but to save those Not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Same who are eagerly waiting for him. Same who are eagerly waiting for him. Same word. Eagerly waiting. He's coming back word. Eagerly waiting. He's coming back word. Eagerly waiting. He's coming back a second time. He's coming to save. a second time. He's coming to save. a second time. He's coming to save. We eagerly wait for him. Romans 8, We eagerly wait for him. Romans 8, We eagerly wait for him. Romans 8, the creation waits. Same word. With the creation waits. Same word. With the creation waits. Same word. With eager longing for the revealing of the eager longing for the revealing of the eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God and then he applies what the sons of God and then he applies what the sons of God and then he applies what the creation does to what creation does to what creation does to what we do. we do. we do. And not only the creation, but we And not only the creation, but we And not only the creation, but we ourselves who have the first fruits of ourselves who have the first fruits of ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait eagerly. Same word. For the adoption of sons of the For the adoption of sons of the redemption of our bodies. So our adopt redemption of our bodies. So our adopt redemption of our bodies. So our adopt our adoption which is real now is our adoption which is real now is our adoption which is real now is completed at the second coming when our completed at the second coming when our completed at the second coming when our bodies participate fully in that bodies participate fully in that bodies participate fully in that adoption.

adoption. adoption. First Thessalonians 1:9, they themselves First Thessalonians 1:9, they themselves First Thessalonians 1:9, they themselves report concerning us the kind of report concerning us the kind of report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you reception we had among you reception we had among you and how you turned to God from idols and and how you turned to God from idols and and how you turned to God from idols and serve the live to serve the living God. serve the live to serve the living God. serve the live to serve the living God. The living and true God and to wait The living and true God and to wait The living and true God and to wait for his son from heaven whom he raised for his son from heaven whom he raised for his son from heaven whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. That's what we from the wrath to come. That's what we from the wrath to come. That's what we do. do. do. We are awaiting people. We are awaiting people. We are awaiting people. Titus 2, Titus 2, Titus 2, for the grace for the grace for the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation of God has appeared bringing salvation of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce for all people, training us to renounce for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to ungodliness and worldly passions and to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly live self-controlled, upright and godly live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age waiting lives in the present age waiting lives in the present age waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of for our blessed hope, the appearing of for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior the glory of our great God and Savior the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. So, not only does the book of 1 Corinthians begin in the the book of 1 Corinthians begin in the seventh [snorts] verse of the book seventh [snorts] verse of the book seventh [snorts] verse of the book with a description of the Christian life with a description of the Christian life with a description of the Christian life as waiting eagerly for the revealing of as waiting eagerly for the revealing of as waiting eagerly for the revealing of the Lord Jesus, that's normal for all the Lord Jesus, that's normal for all the Lord Jesus, that's normal for all early Christian writings, and it is early Christian writings, and it is early Christian writings, and it is climaxed at the end of this book with climaxed at the end of this book with climaxed at the end of this book with this.

this. this. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let If anyone has no love for the Lord, let If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. him be accursed. him be accursed. Our Lord, come. Our Lord, come. Our Lord, come. So, it ends by saying we're waiting So, it ends by saying we're waiting So, it ends by saying we're waiting I mean, it begins by saying we're I mean, it begins by saying we're I mean, it begins by saying we're waiting, and it ends by saying waiting, and it ends by saying waiting, and it ends by saying Oh God, Oh God, Oh God, hasten the day. Come, Lord Jesus. hasten the day. Come, Lord Jesus. hasten the day. Come, Lord Jesus. Now, Now, Now, my question is, my question is, my question is, why did that get mentioned here? get mentioned here? I mean, he could have put a lot of I mean, he could have put a lot of I mean, he could have put a lot of things here. things here. things here. And what are we to understand here And what are we to understand here And what are we to understand here as the logical connector? as the logical connector? as the logical connector? Since there's none here, it's just a Since there's none here, it's just a Since there's none here, it's just a participle. I think the answer can be found by I think the answer can be found by explaining why I put this. explaining why I put this. explaining why I put this. I think this is really implied in the I think this is really implied in the I think this is really implied in the word uh the Greek word here.

Waiting eagerly. I think that eagerness Waiting eagerly. I think that eagerness is not with your fingers crossed. is not with your fingers crossed. is not with your fingers crossed. Well, I don't know if he's really Well, I don't know if he's really Well, I don't know if he's really coming, coming, coming, but I hope he does. but I hope he does. but I hope he does. I think waiting eagerly implies he's I think waiting eagerly implies he's I think waiting eagerly implies he's coming, and I'm confident. But I made it coming, and I'm confident. But I made it coming, and I'm confident. But I made it explicit here because of verse eight. explicit here because of verse eight. explicit here because of verse eight. Who Who Who So, what he chooses to say So, what he chooses to say So, what he chooses to say about the waiting for the Lord Jesus is about the waiting for the Lord Jesus is about the waiting for the Lord Jesus is that the Lord Jesus that the Lord Jesus that the Lord Jesus will confirm you will confirm you will confirm you to the end. to the end. to the end. In other words, your waiting will In other words, your waiting will In other words, your waiting will absolutely not be in vain. absolutely not be in vain. absolutely not be in vain. That's what confirm to the end means. That's what confirm to the end means. That's what confirm to the end means. You will be confirmed in such a way as You will be confirmed in such a way as You will be confirmed in such a way as to be guiltless because he will keep you to be guiltless because he will keep you to be guiltless because he will keep you in the faith which unites you to Christ in the faith which unites you to Christ in the faith which unites you to Christ and united to Christ you stand accepted and united to Christ you stand accepted and united to Christ you stand accepted before God. He will confirm your faith before God. He will confirm your faith before God. He will confirm your faith all the way to the end and you will be all the way to the end and you will be all the way to the end and you will be found guiltless in the day of the Lord found guiltless in the day of the Lord found guiltless in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. That is intended by Paul to be a strong That is intended by Paul to be a strong That is intended by Paul to be a strong confidence builder, right? Would you confidence builder, right? Would you confidence builder, right? Would you agree with that? Wait agree with that? Wait agree with that? Wait because because because he's going to confirm you to the end. he's going to confirm you to the end. he's going to confirm you to the end. You will be found guiltless. Don't You will be found guiltless. Don't You will be found guiltless. Don't worry. This waiting is not in vain and worry. This waiting is not in vain and worry. This waiting is not in vain and hence putting confidently here, I think, hence putting confidently here, I think, hence putting confidently here, I think, strikes the essential note. strikes the essential note. strikes the essential note. So, what he's really saying in verse So, what he's really saying in verse So, what he's really saying in verse seven seven seven B, starting right here. B, starting right here. B, starting right here. Waiting is that our wait here is an Waiting is that our wait here is an Waiting is that our wait here is an eager, expectant, and confident waiting eager, expectant, and confident waiting eager, expectant, and confident waiting and that's why he put and that's why he put and that's why he put he's going to confirm you. he's going to confirm you. he's going to confirm you. So, I'm going to put so so that that that Let me get rid of all this so you can Let me get rid of all this so you can Let me get rid of all this so you can read it. read it. read it. Put right here. So, that Put right here. So, that Put right here. So, that you you you are are are waiting eagerly.

waiting eagerly. waiting eagerly. The so that The so that The so that comes from the prior comes from the prior comes from the prior confirmation confirmation confirmation that the testimony of Christ is true, that the testimony of Christ is true, that the testimony of Christ is true, you are enriched in him in every way for you are enriched in him in every way for you are enriched in him in every way for eternity, so that your waiting is eternity, so that your waiting is eternity, so that your waiting is confident. confident. confident. If it were just waiting, the so that If it were just waiting, the so that If it were just waiting, the so that wouldn't make sense. wouldn't make sense. wouldn't make sense. The testimony of Christ is absolutely The testimony of Christ is absolutely The testimony of Christ is absolutely confirmed and sure, you will be enriched confirmed and sure, you will be enriched confirmed and sure, you will be enriched in every way forever and ever in every way forever and ever in every way forever and ever so that you wait. so that you wait. so that you wait. No, it's so that you wait confidently. No, it's so that you wait confidently. No, it's so that you wait confidently. This confirmation here is a grounding of this confidence, just is a grounding of this confidence, just like this confirmation like this confirmation like this confirmation is a grounding. is a grounding. is a grounding. In fact, I don't think it's an accident In fact, I don't think it's an accident In fact, I don't think it's an accident that these two words are identical in that these two words are identical in that these two words are identical in Greek. That's why I made sure they are Greek. That's why I made sure they are Greek. That's why I made sure they are in English, because the ESV translates in English, because the ESV translates in English, because the ESV translates this sustain you, and you can't see that this sustain you, and you can't see that this sustain you, and you can't see that sustain and confirm are the same word.

sustain and confirm are the same word. sustain and confirm are the same word. And it's a rare word. Paul doesn't use And it's a rare word. Paul doesn't use And it's a rare word. Paul doesn't use it elsewhere in this book. And so what I it elsewhere in this book. And so what I it elsewhere in this book. And so what I think he's saying here is think he's saying here is think he's saying here is you have reason you have reason you have reason already, and you will have reason in the already, and you will have reason in the already, and you will have reason in the future to wait future to wait future to wait confidentially confidentially confidentially for the Lord. The reason you already for the Lord. The reason you already for the Lord. The reason you already have is that the truth of the gospel, have is that the truth of the gospel, have is that the truth of the gospel, the testimony of Christ, including your the testimony of Christ, including your the testimony of Christ, including your eternal enrichment in every way, has eternal enrichment in every way, has eternal enrichment in every way, has been shown to be true. been shown to be true. been shown to be true. And the confirmation here, or the And the confirmation here, or the And the confirmation here, or the support here for confidence is support here for confidence is support here for confidence is he's going to work in you he's going to work in you he's going to work in you to make sure you get to the end. The to make sure you get to the end. The to make sure you get to the end. The logic is very much like 1 Peter. logic is very much like 1 Peter. logic is very much like 1 Peter. I'll close with this. I'll close with this. I'll close with this. Blessed be the God and Father of our Blessed be the God and Father of our Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to his great mercy, he caused According to his great mercy, he caused us to be born again to a living hope us to be born again to a living hope us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ through the resurrection of Jesus Christ through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

from the dead. from the dead. Living hope to an inheritance Living hope to an inheritance Living hope to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, that is imperishable, undefiled, that is imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept in heaven for you. So, unfading, kept in heaven for you. So, unfading, kept in heaven for you. So, stop right there. And the confidence stop right there. And the confidence stop right there. And the confidence that the church can have that it's going that the church can have that it's going that the church can have that it's going to make it is that they have a living to make it is that they have a living to make it is that they have a living hope and an inheritance waiting for hope and an inheritance waiting for hope and an inheritance waiting for them, kept for them in heaven. Born again to a living hope through the Born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is dead to an inheritance that is dead to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept, imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept, imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept, guarded in heaven for you. guarded in heaven for you. guarded in heaven for you. It will be there. No doubt about it. It will be there. No doubt about it. It will be there. No doubt about it. But here's another reason for But here's another reason for But here's another reason for confidence. confidence. confidence. Who? You, by God's power, are being Who? You, by God's power, are being Who? You, by God's power, are being kept, being guarded. So, the inheritance kept, being guarded. So, the inheritance kept, being guarded. So, the inheritance is being kept for you, you're being kept is being kept for you, you're being kept is being kept for you, you're being kept for the inheritance by being guarded for the inheritance by being guarded for the inheritance by being guarded through faith. I think that's the same through faith. I think that's the same through faith. I think that's the same basic logic here. You are confidently basic logic here. You are confidently basic logic here. You are confidently waiting waiting waiting for the coming of Jesus, and that for the coming of Jesus, and that for the coming of Jesus, and that confidence is that the enrichment that confidence is that the enrichment that confidence is that the enrichment that you have in every way has been totally you have in every way has been totally you have in every way has been totally confirmed and is true, and you will walk confirmed and is true, and you will walk confirmed and is true, and you will walk into an everlasting unsearchable riches.

into an everlasting unsearchable riches. into an everlasting unsearchable riches. That's true, and That's true, and That's true, and you are being kept. You are being kept you are being kept. You are being kept you are being kept. You are being kept by Christ as he confirms you to the end by Christ as he confirms you to the end by Christ as he confirms you to the end guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus. guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus. guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus. So, the logic, I think, is So, the logic, I think, is So, the logic, I think, is focusing on the confidence of our focusing on the confidence of our focusing on the confidence of our waiting waiting waiting so that so that so that you are enriched, the testimony is sure, you are enriched, the testimony is sure, you are enriched, the testimony is sure, you're lacking in no gift, so that your you're lacking in no gift, so that your you're lacking in no gift, so that your waiting waiting waiting is absolutely confident and sure.