Luke 17:28
The sermon emphasizes the certainty of the second coming of Christ and the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God, as exemplified by the conditions of Sodom.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the certainty of Jesus' second coming, highlighting that it is a promise found throughout both the Old and New Testaments. He draws parallels between the conditions of Sodom and today's society, noting the excessive focus on materialism, gluttony, and sexual immorality. Smith warns that just as Sodom was marked by spiritual lethargy, so too is the current age, urging believers to remain vigilant and prepared for Christ's return. He reminds the congregation of Christ's promise, 'This same Jesus shall come again in like manner,' and encourages them to live in anticipation of His coming.
Text
"JESUS IS COMING AGAIN"
I. ONE THING MORE CERTAIN THAN EVEN DEATH.
A. Second coming of Christ.
1. We shall not all sleep.
B. Old Testament full of the promise.
C. New Testament full of the promise.
D. Christ promised "And if I go, I will come again"
E. Last message to Church spoken and written from Christ.
"This same Jesus shall come again in like manner" "Behold I come quickly."
II. FIVE CONDITIONS OF SODOM.
A. They were eating, they were drinking.
1. Eating and drinking necessary.
2. Implication they lived for their eating and drinking.
a. Age of appetite.
b. Age of gluttony.
c. Age of drunkenness.
3. Parallel today.
a. Enough food wasted to feed world.
b. Drunkenness increasing.
B. They bought, they sold.
1. Age of commercialism.
a. Market places filled.
b. Emphasis in material possessions.
C. They planted "fullness of bread."
1. Great agricultural developments.
a. Government form subsidies purchased, 76,000,000 lbs. dried eggs for
98 million to keep them stored cost $2,148,000 per year. 50,000,000
bushels of potatoes 500 million enough wheat for 12 loaves enough
corn for 5 years, corn starch syrup and oil. Enough cotton for
every woman 54 dresses.
D. They builded.
1. A day of construction, building.
E. Sexual licentiousness.
1. Sin of Sodomy.
2. Nothing sinful about sex neither moral or im-moral - it is a moral.
a. The morality or immorality is determined by use or abuse by
individual.
b. Sodom was immoral sexual abuse.
1. Emphasis placed on sex.
F. Day of Spiritual lethargy "Day that Noah entered ark" (because iniquity on earth.
Sermon Outline
- The Second Coming of Christ
- The Five Conditions of Sodom
- Eating and Drinking
- Buying and Selling
- Planting and Harvesting
- Building and Construction
- Sexual Licentiousness
- Spiritual Lethargy
Key Quotes
“We shall not all sleep.” — Chuck Smith
“This same Jesus shall come again in like manner” — Chuck Smith
“Behold I come quickly.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We should live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God, and not be caught off guard when Jesus returns.
- We should be mindful of the similarities between our modern age and the age of Sodom, and strive to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
- We should prioritize our spiritual lives and not become spiritually lethargic.