The Two Advents

God's grace instructs us how to live in this present age, the age of grace in between the two Advents of Christ. Christ appeared in grace to save us and to teach us how to live a new life. In this present age we live for Christ: 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

 "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." Romans 6:4

 "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

"For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living." Romans 14:7-9

"We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body." 2 Corinthians 4:10-11

 "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God." Romans 6:8-10

 "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2

 "Live in order to please God…" 1 Thessalonians 4:1

 "So we make it our goal to please Him…"  2 Corinthians 5:9

Paul's letters are full of what it looks like to live for Christ, to live in step with the Holy Spirit, bearing His fruit, empowered by the life of Christ in us, revealing Christ's life in our attitudes and actions to the world around us.

This is how we are called to live in this present age while we wait for the blessed hope of Christ's return in glory - His Second Advent.

Grace and peace,

Anita Sorenson
Pastor for Spiritual Formation