Brian Manning

As the night before Jesus' crucifixion intensifies the disciples will see the power of God at work and we will learn through Jesus the power of trust, the power of prayer and the power of the cross.

After everything that Jesus has taught about what to expect before His coming what do we need to learn? How should we live in expectation of His coming again?

As the world moves towards its end, getting increasingly rebellious to God we can give in to fear or we can stand and fight evil in the power of God.

So much about Christ’s return can confuse us, trouble us or stir anxiety. No-one wants to endure persecution, none of us want to see false teachers direct people away from Christ and the events leading up to Christ’s return are terrifying and even gruesome. So, Jesus leaves us with some words of encouragement and advice to be able to endure. He reminds us to look beyond the events and see God at work in His great purpose and then to set our lives on course to be ready.

Jesus has been describing the characteristics of the world leading up to His return. Now Jesus gives some definitive signs. When these happen Jesus is on His way.

As we think about the doctrine of Eternal Life we have looked at God's side in preserving the saints and now we look at it from our point of view in the perseverance of the saints. That is that all true believers will believe until the end, pursuing Christ to the very end.

God hasn’t left out one detail of your salvation. It began in eternity past, was made possible by Christ’s death and continues until God completes His work. God has given you eternal life and that life is guaranteed for all who truly believe. He will not lose you!

As Jesus addresses signs of the the last days he tells us the first and most consistent sign is the persecution of God's people. He also encourages us not to fear because as we stand up for Jesus He stands up for us.

The second coming of Christ is proceeded by increasing calamities (wars, distress, disaster) so Jesus teaches His people not to be caught off guard by His coming but to prepare for it and not to be afraid of these events.

Salvation through Jesus Christ gives us a new relationship with God and a new relationship with people, especially other believers. What once divided us no longer does. We are the body of Christ.