Zac Poonen - Purifying Ourselves to Meet Christ at His Return

Zac PoonenAugust 24, 202017mWatch on YouTube

In this collectionZac Poonen379 messages

Speaker: Zac Poonen Title: Purifying Ourselves to Meet Christ at His Return Date: 08/23/2020 Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

The central message is that Christians must actively purify themselves to be ready to meet Christ at His return. This purification involves more than just intellectual agreement; it requires diligently clearing one's conscience 24/7 by settling relationships, forgiving others, and confessing wrongs. The speaker emphasizes that while grace is powerful, believers must continually confront the 'flesh' which still serves the law of sin, striving to live entirely under the law of God's love.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

Two groups among believers at the return of ChristWhen Christ appears, believers will fall into two groups: those with confident excitement and those who shrink away in shame because they postponed settling matters with God.1 John 2:28

The hope of becoming like Jesus motivates self-purityHaving the true hope of Christ's return means striving to purify ourselves to match His standard of purity, because we will be like Him when we see Him.

Doing our best to maintain a blameless conscienceLike the Apostle Paul before Governor Felix, believers should actively desire to be in the resurrection of the righteous by doing their best to keep a blameless conscience before God and men 24/7.

Overcoming sin and recognizing the wretchedness of the fleshWhile grace helps us overcome conscious habits, Paul reveals in Romans that we still carry a flesh that unconsciously serves the law of sin, requiring constant humility and awareness.

The warning from King Uzziah's pride and fallKing Uzziah prospered as long as he sought the Lord, but when he grew strong, his heart became proud and he overstepped his boundaries into the priesthood, ending his days in leprosy.2 Chronicles 26:5–21

Enduring to the end with humilityBelievers and fellowships must never be satisfied with past progress or how much they think they have become like Christ, but must keep their faces in the dust before God.