The Grace Message with Dr. Andrew Farley

How can a Christian know they are saved? I find myself in lots of debates about God and wonder what is the best way to evangelize? I've been selected to serve as an elder in my church and I wonder if you have any advice for me?

Does the man of lawlessness show up before the great tribulation and the return of Christ? What does it mean to "obey the gospel"? My husband has cheated on me multiple times and has been involved in drugs. Now, he's gone all the time, and I don't know where he is. What are my options? How can we best understand the thousand-year reign and the seven-year tribulation? Doesn't Matthew 24 say some will be taken and some will be left behind? What is persecution in the Bible? How does that fit with Christians who hurt other believers?

Some say Jesus is coming back twice—once quietly for the church, then later with full fanfare for the world. Sounds cinematic… but where exactly is that first "secret" return in the Bible?

In this message, "The Grand Finale: Christ's One and Only Coming," we're putting the return of Jesus into the spotlight. As we'll see, He describes a highly visible return that can't be missed. No hush-hush event with vanishing Christians and confused unbelievers wondering, "Where did everybody go?"

We'll unpack the real story, straight from the New Testament, and show why the timeline so many people cling to just doesn't hold up. And best of all? No fear for believers—just relief.

Watch now and get ready to be challenged in the best way possible. And no matter what you decide, we can all celebrate that Jesus is coming back for us, and we can eagerly await Him!

1. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17. Paul describes one dramatic, public return of Christ with a shout, trumpet, and the resurrection of believers. Why do you think Paul emphasizes these visible signs instead of describing a secret return?
2. Read John 5:28–29. Jesus says both "those who did good" and "those who did evil" will come out of the tombs at the same hour. How does this challenge the idea of two separate resurrections or two separate comings of Christ?
3. Read 2 Thessalonians 1:6–10. Why does Paul connect Christ's return with both judgment on the wicked and relief for the suffering church? How does this strengthen our hope in times of hardship?
4. Read Matthew 24:27–31. Why do you think Jesus compares His return to lightning flashing across the sky? What does this tell us about how obvious and undeniable His coming will be?
5. For nearly 1,800 years, Christians believed in one visible return of Christ and one final judgment. Only in the 1800s did the idea of a "secret rapture" appear. Is it helpful to you to know that particular history? Why or why not?
6. Read Hebrews 9:28. The writer says Christ will appear a second time "to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him." Why is Christ's return essential to completing God's plan of salvation?
7. If Christ is returning once, visibly, and finally to judge and renew all things, how might this shape the way we think? What perspectives might change if we live in the hope of His coming?

What is water baptism all about? Should we sprinkle or immerse? How do you overcome lust? What are the "spiritual blessings" that we get at salvation? Does God have to give us a new heart before we can be saved? Does that leave some with no opportunity to hear and believe?

What is the thousand-year reign? What will we do? My friend says she's a believer, but she consults mediums, and now her young grandson is getting involved. What can I do? My daughter is upset that we didn't sell her our house. We are afraid of losing her. How can we respond?

Should I marry a guy who doesn't share my beliefs? Is water baptism necessary for salvation? Why does Paul say, "It's better to marry than to burn"? How do you know if you're burning with passion?

How do I handle my niece getting married when I don't agree with her choice? Do you do interviews on other programs? Do you really believe in "once saved, always saved"? What about people who backslide? Has the King James Version ever had errors? It seems like we're hearing a lot of "if-then" teaching today!

What is water baptism all about? Should we sprinkle or immerse? How do you overcome lust? What are the "spiritual blessings" that we get at salvation? Does God have to give us a new heart before we can be saved? Does that leave some with no opportunity to hear and believe?

Am I allowed to play poker? What do you think of the Jewish roots movement? I've heard that we are grafted into Israel by keeping the Torah. What do you think of the "tulip" of Calvinism? What about Arminianism? My dad is an atheist, and keeps asking me about God, Satan, and the problem of evil in this world. What can I do? Will Jesus return once or twice? I'm taking a new job where they value diversity. What should I do?

Here's a wild thought: You're already there. Not almost, not someday, not after a spiritual boot camp. The rest you're chasing? It's not a destination. It's not some "next-level" blessing. It's Jesus. You've been in God's rest since the moment you believed.

Entering God's rest? Hebrews 3 and 4 isn't about pushing believers harder—it's evangelistic to those still lost in the wilderness of "try harder, be better."

Rest isn't a trophy for the spiritual elite. It's a gift for every one of God's children. And that means that being "in God's rest" isn't a mirage on the horizon but your current reality.

So, you can stop chasing a higher tier. You're already in the Promised Land—Jesus Himself.

Click here to watch and finally celebrate what you've already got!

1. Read Hebrews 3:18–19. Why does the author connect entering God's rest with belief versus unbelief? How does that help us understand what "rest" really means?
2. Read Hebrews 4:3. The passage says, "For we who have believed enter that rest." How does this verse correct the idea that rest is some future spiritual level to reach?
3. Read Hebrews 4:10. What does it mean that the one who has entered God's rest "has rested from his works, as God did from His"? What "works" are we resting from?
4. Many Christians feel like rest in Christ is always "just out there somewhere"—like the "oasis illusion" described in the message. Why do you think so many believers chase after "more" instead of enjoying what they already have?
5. The message compared salvation to an "airplane ride" or an "inherited house"—already ours, not something to keep chasing. How do these illustrations reshape how we think about growth, discipleship, or spiritual experiences?
6. Some traditions teach a "second blessing" or higher tier of Christianity. How would you gently explain from Hebrews 3–4 that all believers already have full access to God's rest in Christ?