The Apostles' Creed: 12-Day Plan Sample

From Whence He Shall Come to Judge the Living and the Dead

Christians in our culture seem to forget or neglect the fact that Jesus not only rose from the dead and ascended to heaven but is also coming back. When kept in our hearts and minds, Jesus’ return will transform our daily lives. He will return. When He returns, everyone will give an account for their lives and for their response to the gospel. Or as the Creed puts it—“He shall come to judge the living and the dead.”

Only a handful of disciples witnessed the Lord ascend to heaven. His birth was even less conspicuous. Even with a sky full of angels singing, only Mary, Joseph, and a few shepherds witnessed Jesus’ coming into the world. However, His second coming will be unlike His first.

Although it hasn’t happened yet, the second coming of Jesus is just as certain as His first coming. The question to ask yourself isn’t whether He will return, because He will. The question to ask yourself isn’t even a matter of when He will return, because we can’t know. The only question you need to ask yourself is whether you’re ready to stand before Him when He returns to judge the living and the dead.

Most of the time we don’t like to think about God’s judgment. Unless we’re seeking comfort in the fact that God will judge blatantly wicked people, we prefer to dwell on the God who “so loved the world, that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). The grace of God through the sacrificial death of Jesus is indeed unique among major religions throughout history, but it’s also because God is holy and good that He judges sin with incredible wrath.

The gospel is good news because without faith in Jesus, we would all rightfully receive the punishment we deserve for our sin. For those who belong to Christ, though, He has taken the punishment of death and God’s wrath on Himself. But for those who haven’t placed their faith in Jesus, refusing to bow their knee
to Him as Lord, they’ll receive the judgment they’re due.