December 1999 New Horizons

The Coming of Christ

by James W. Scott

One of the highlights of the Christmas season is the performance of Handel's majestic oratorio Messiah . It traces Christ's life and ministry, from his humble birth to his return in glory, using texts of Scripture. And as the year 2000 approaches, many Christians are wondering whether his return is near. As our attention is drawn to the birth of Jesus, we may wish that we could have been there to see him in person. We know that he has gone away to heaven, and that he will return someday. But while we wait, we "desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man" (Luke 17:22). ("Son of Man" is a term that Jesus used to refer to himself.) As we wait, we may wonder why he has not returned after so many centuries. Aren't there Bible passages in which Jesus promised to return quickly, during the apostolic generation? Let's see what the Bible does say about the coming of Christ. The First Coming of Christ The terms first coming and second coming do not occur anywhere in the Bible. However, the verb ... Read more

Christmas Ironies

by Carolyn Poundstone

There was quite a commotion the other day over in the public square. Beside the shadows of some angry people was a makeshift stall with a baby in a manger. "That doesn't belong on public property!" shouted someone. "We have a right to put this on display right here where everybody can see it," retorted another. "No, this is an offense to the Jews, Muslims, and atheists in our community. Take it away!" "It stays! We have a permit to put it here. This represents the real meaning of Christmas." The Irony of It All Overhearing this heated discussion, I couldn't help but be struck by the irony of it all. A group of men had sat down together and decided that it was necessary for the God of the universe—the maker of heaven and earth, the creator and sustainer of all things, the giver of life, and the judge of all men—to have a permit for a ten-foot square of "public" property! But then, space on earth was never a concern to him. He came, after all, to a stable, and later told his ... Read more

How Do I Know If I Am Elect?

by Stephen D. Doe

When people first begin to learn about the biblical doctrine of election, one question that often occurs to them is, "Am I elect?" And the more they think about whether or not they are elect, the more uncertain they become. So, if you believe in the doctrine of election, how do you know if you are elect? The answer is really quite simple: You continue believing in Christ . "But," you reply, "you didn't answer my question. I want to know if I am elect." So I will ask: Do you believe that you have offended the all-holy Creator (Rom. 3:10-18; Ps. 51:1-4)? Do you believe that your sins cry out to heaven itself for justice, and that you deserve to perish under the wrath of the God you have offended by your sins (Isa. 59:2-3; Ezek. 18:4)? Do you believe that you are, in fact, dead in your sins and unable to make yourself alive (Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 8:5-8)? Do you believe that nothing you could ever do—no good deeds, no mighty acts of faith, no church attendance, no niceness of character—will ... Read more