TNG 3 Facts About the Coming of Christ

Best-selling author, speaker and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarland, best-selling author and apologist Dylan Burroughs together bringing you truths for a new generation.

This is TMG radio what is God's will for my life as a believer. What is the plan of God for my life. Welcome to TMG radio on today's edition of the shows was closer and closer to Christmas want to talk about two things. Number one. What does it mean about the coming of Christ kingdom into the world and what is the personal Takeaway for each and every believer. What is this mean to me you look at a verse from Matthew 24 in just a moment but will welcome you and we wish you a very very Merry Christmas we hope you're getting ready to commemorate the incarnation of our Lord Christ coming into this world is certainly the most important thing that ever happened in world history, the coming of God into time and space history to grow and live a sinless life take out all of our sins to the cross pay for our sins rise from the dead, the birth of Christ really is the most beautiful part of the salvation story, really, I think. And that's certainly why it's become such a beloved thing to millions of people around the world and throughout history that in the manger was born Jesus to be our Savior and I Dylan Burroughs is with me.

So glad to have Dylan and up. Let me ask this. What does the Burroughs family do for Christmas.

So what are some of you all special traditions and memories while we have severable one of our favorites as we returned back to my in-laws house in Indiana and they have what is called a piano Christmas party. It started off in my wife was a child and her siblings would get together each Christmas time for their family would do all of their piano recital music for the Christmas time and as they've grown up is now become their children and so we now have three generations of family who do Christmas music for all of the extended family and some of the neighbors just a couple of days before Christmas has become a special thing over 30 years running and so it's not a big event in terms of the world's culture, but it is and our family. So it's a big part of what we do each Christmas know that would be really special.

Now do you play the piano.

Dylan I do not. My wife does. I play a little guitar and sing.

But it's all my children have played piano to 1° or another's.

It's fun to see them and be part of their growth musically will that that would be really special and focused listening on TMG radio were going to do. Not only this week but next week some info about Christmas and I do want to remind people got an article upon Todd Starnes and Fox News. This week I wrote an article about some of the brouhaha related to Rudolph the red nose reindeer and there were people saying that Rudolph promotes bullying and body shaming and things like that you know Dylan will be just the bullet down a lot of what is all about Christmas its Christ is in it. It's the idea that there is a God and that we are accountable to God but that he loves us and that he sent his son into the world and really Christmas is a line in the sand.

I mean, if Jesus really was born if Jesus really is the son of God, fulfilling prophecy, born to be our Savior and born among the nation of Israel in the holy land that belongs to the Jewish people and if if all of these realities are true, it it really is kind of a black-and-white true or false, right or wrong. It's a line in the sand about Christ kingdom coming to conform this fallen world into God's will and God's purposes.

It's much the dividing line of history and the dividing line of every human heart and life is it really as we see that more in our culture. I know Franklin Graham just as we talked about that these Christmas wars that we see now are not just an attack on Christmas but are an attack on Jesus Christ. It's interesting to me that it resounds very closely with what we see in John 1520 where Jesus said if they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. In verse 21 says they will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me, so we should not be surprised that we face this kind of discrimination or war against Christmas in our culture, but is one of the things we face more and more as we live in a post modern society post truth society. According to many and we see things band like candy canes or at Nativity scenes and simple mementos of the season that can no longer be tolerated by people who don't cherish the faith that we share what you know I would give a Scripture from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament in order to give some facts about the coming of Christ kingdom and what it means for each of us personally in Isaiah 9 verse two.

This is the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light and those living in the land of the shadow of death on them. A light has dawned light in a dark place is is a wonderful blessing. It really is in Matthew 2414. Jesus said this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world is testimony and then the end will come. Okay, we often talk about the gospel, the good news and that the gospel means good news. I love the slogan of the Billy Graham ministry. Their slogan is always good news because they're always preaching the gospel and that that is always really great news to us searching a hungry heart but notice in Matthew 2414 it says this gospel of the kingdom, and I want to relate this to a family that I've been counseling this week.

It's a family that some a married couple that is come to Christ you know little bit later in life than some people do, but kind of learning the ropes of what it means to grow as a Christian and there's the question of what is God's will for my life. Now a lot of people in the gospel see the wonderful love of Jesus Christ and they see you have the responsibility to grow and to be a disciple and to be part of the local church and to serve as as we all are to do. Some people though in a kind of fear that this is the case for a little bit of this particular family they see not responsibility and not privilege and obligation, but they see opportunity in a maybe I'll write a book and I'll become a speaker and I'll even become a healer or prophet and you know I want to caution people that when you come to Christ. It's not an opportunity to try to aggrandize your own name or aggrandized your plans and build some big platform for yourself the gospel of the kingdom is all about the king and his kingdom and his purposes, and Dylan. When people ask you what is God's plan for my life number one.

The plan for each and every Christian is to be conformed to the image of the son of God, the Bible says it is enough for the disciple to be like his master. So this Christmas as we again revisit the manger and we think about Jesus is coming into the world and all that we have all of the precious realities in the good news of salvation understand that job one for the believer is to be conformed to the image of Christ. Like Paul said that not the flesh or the old nature being in control, but the new nature and the spirit of God ever growing like Jesus, so that we can live in obedience to Christ point the world to Jesus as we take a break, let me tell you about 310 three books that will answer questions that come your way from others or even yourself about the Christian faith book number 110 answers for skeptics today. Skeptics are looking for authenticity, integrity, and straightforward faith in this book you will learn how to answer intimidating questions. Identify the roof issues behind those questions and dismantled the spiritual bombshell dropped by nonbelievers. Those usually end up just being a puff of smoke, number 210 answers for atheists were Alex looks at the philosophical assumptions at the root of atheism and agnosticism exposing logical historical and conceptual fallacy. Alex shares clear explanations of beliefs and biblical answers to those questions that often leave you stumped, but no more in number three. The 10 most common objections to Christianity and how to answer the know many Christians hear these objections and have a crisis of faith, but Alex and Dylan have been around.

They visited many places and talked with many people through the years and could offer straight answers that will give you confidence and understanding about your beliefs, so the 310s once again 10 answers for skeptics 10 answers for atheists and the 10 most common objections to Christianity and how to answer find them wherever Christian books are sold for Alex McFarland.com wing not afraid to ask hard questions we care about a lot of things. We are engage magazine.net online group of millennial's, brought together by a common goal to share truth apply Scripture and to get involved in are lost and hurting engage magazine.net host discussions that help you apply biblical worldview to your daily life engage magazine.net and deliver his back Alex McFarland entry for new generation radio and we're talking about the coming of Christ were celebrating Christmas.

And as we discussed today.

We have three facts about the coming of Christ kingdom and what it means for my personal walk with God. My salvation and Alex's talk about this in the last segment and Allison wants to continue our discussion.

What is that mean we talk about the coming of the kingdom and what it means to us today will you know we don't often hear this. Talked about but the coming of Jesus really is a monumental worldwide phenomenon, not just to save sinners from hell. Although that's definitely part of it that Jesus came to give his life to be our Savior, but ultimately this is about the coming of God's kingdom into this fallen world. I love in the book of Revelation where it talks about the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom singular, the kingdom of our God and of his Christ and he will reign forever and ever a point number one we want to bring out here is that the coming of the kingdom is worldwide. There's no part of this world, it will not one day be brought under the Lordship and that the sovereign rule of the Lord Jesus Christ and you are one of the common issues that we deal with in apologetics is the problem of pain-and-suffering and people asked the question. If God is real and if God is powerful and of God is good. If God is our alumni benevolent wise the world like it is in there there's sin and suffering and violence and crime and we are in a period of history where God offers salvation.

He doesn't force it.

But God most certainly is in control. Maybe here at this Christmas season.

You're under some burdens are your carrying some things that are pretty heavy and sad in your life or the life of your family but be assured. Christmas is proof positive that God is in control and just as the babe came into the manger right on schedule. The kingdom of Christ is coming in and will fully be realized right on schedule. Now this does speak to what is our own role in all this and what is God's will for our lives, but let me say this. Dylan, Gary, have a mass that is a good friend and we had him on the program even recently I learned a lot when I was in graduate school for three years in his classes. He talks so much about the kingdom of Christ and the two things that signal the inflow of God's kingdom unavoidably your revocably the kingdom of God coming into this world, the incarnation and the resurrection. The birth of Christ and the resurrection, and in Christ's miraculous entry into this world.

Christ equally miraculous exit from this world. It all signals the coming of the King and the coming of the kingdom. Amen. And it's exciting that we get to be part of this. If you are not familiar with the great commission the end of Matthew 28 Jesus talks about how he is called us to go and make disciples of all nations. That is our responsibility and our privilege as believers today to be part of expanding this kingdom of God in our world. So it's not something that's just that godly.

Someday in the future, something we have a role into and it makes it a personal thing that we get to be involved with.

That's our second point we want to talk about this idea of the coming of the kingdom being personal.

We are excited we see what God is doing around the world, but to be honest, many of us are thinking what is this mean for me. How does this matter in my life today and Alex speak for a moment. If you would to this issue of how the coming of God's kingdom is personal for each of our lives today.

Well I am glad yes that because I mean, obviously the number one thing is that you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and maybe you've been to church maybe you were confirmed at a young age. Are you joinder or whatever, but the real question is, and this comes out of verses like Matthew 721 through 24.

Do you have a personal relationship with Christ and I want to ask everyone listening if you can recall a time in a place where you you consciously said, Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Lord I do believe Jesus died on the cross for me and I accept that as as the payment for my sins. Most everybody I think on they grasp that Jesus gave his life for the world but but friends we want you to know. Jesus gave his life for you and he really did. He loves you so much and had you been the only person that it ever live Jesus would've given his life to see you saved. The Bible says God is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance measures were the personal involvement gets in God offers salvation to all but it says that all would come to repentance. And what you've got to do in terms of repentance is you've got to admit you're a sinner and you've got a turn from sin to Christ and how do you do that. Will you put your faith or your trust, your belief in Jesus and in I want to ask everyone listening and there's no better time to think about this thing here at Christmas. And right now, and please do not procrastinate, but have you accepted who Christ is and what Christ did. Who is he he is the son of God, not just the babe in the manger, but the second member of the Trinity, God incarnate, and what did he do. He died on the cross as our substitute. He was willing and he was able there. There may have been people that were self-styled messiahs who thought they could've done something to change humanity but Christ was not only willing he actually was able, in fact, the only person in all of history able to do it and so the personal coming of God's kingdom is that you have a relationship with this Savior and I want to challenge each of you to believe. Believe not only that God loves you, but believe that God has great things for you. In Luke 1232 Jesus said to the disciples and I love this wording, fear not, little flock, it is the father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Dylan does ever just kind of amaze you that God in his love would want to set up his kingdom in this world at great personal pain and expense, and then after bringing heaven into earth give it to anyone that's willing to participate, merely by believing in Christ, fear not, little flock, it is the father's good pleasure. Little is God says hey I'm happy to do this and if you believe in. My son the riches of heaven. The joy of eternity and the kingdom of God in this world is yours, no matter who you are, no matter your background, God is calling you today to have a personal relationship with him. You can be the person God wants you to be when you rely on his strength when you come to him on his terms and you follow Jesus. Faith when we come back we'll talk more about this.

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I heard her saying that I will. I consider this my declaration is all read in the smiles back to TNG radio Alex Burrows here and it's getting your Christmas and love Christmas and we are so glad you listing the program. We appreciate your time and I want to resume the conversation about the facts regarding the coming of Christ kingdom into the world.

I do want to remind everyone listening about the exciting things God is doing through truth for a new generation. We had several major conferences this year and were working on five major citywide events for 2019 and no doubt, I mean there will be dozens of speaking opportunities in ministry going on but Salt Lake City, Utah and Richmond, Virginia and Columbus Ohio Fayetteville North Carolina were going to be doing something in May in Fayetteville for military families, and then also a big debate in Louisville Kentucky with John Lennox very very famous Christian leader John Lennox and several other pretty pretty huge things that were pulling together for that and so we we praise God for all that's been done. What a joy to be working with incredible leaders like Josh McDowell and different people that have come alongside this ministry. The American family Association family research Council Tony Perkins liberty University.

We're so grateful for liberty University and I do want to remind everybody that as you begin the new year and you might want to think about starting a degree or finishing a college degree. Liberty University.

I am a twice graduated alum of liberty University and I know Dylan. You've been an adjunct faculty for them and so via their website. Liberty University is liberty.edu and I would encourage you to check out the website and thank them for supporting our truth for new generation tour, but let me ask you as well. Friends would you please help us do what God is called us to do in terms of preaching the gospel to America specifically reaching young people were working with the national Day of prayer and Soma interfacing networking with so many organizations and we need your help and your gift large or small, will enable us to do what we've been doing reaching thousands of people, several thousand a year that make a salvation decision, so please would you make a year and give the best most significant investment you could in this ministry and you can write to us at truth for new generation. You can write on a check just TNG as entry for new generation send it to PO Box 10231, Greensboro, NC 27404 and it is tax-deductible, it will be faithfully handled, gratefully received and we appreciate you being a partner in the harvest of winning people to Christ. Now Dylan for the break we were talking about the kingdom of God being personal and and let me say this, one of the questions we get quite a bit is what is God's will for my life was a book several years ago by men and Gary Friesen. I think it's a really good book and it's called decision-making and the will of God and people asked the question. You know should I pick up and move to California or should I do this or that and understand the number one fundamental will step one for every believer is to be conformed to the image of Christ and God doesn't get things out of order number one is your walk with Christ. Number two is your spouse and your family. Number three. You are to be a part of a local church that's Hebrews 1025 and serving in some capacity and being of the preaching of the word discipleship the mutual encouragement of believers.

The local church and then there is your euro in ministry your gifts and abilities and things that you might do for the gospel and then there is your vocation way down the list are things like in-laws and and other things. Now Dylan. I've found people that get frustrated and maybe they wonder why is God's blessing and the peace and the favor and all the things that we hear about in the gospel where they not operative in my life. And sometimes, and I want you to evaluate this friends. It might be because you've got the hierarchy of God's plans out of order again being conformed to the image your walk, your spouse, your family, your local church. Your spiritual gifts being used for the great commission. Your vocation then in-laws, friends, hobbies went on down the list and and men within your home and in your marriage. You are to be the priest of the family year to be the spiritual leader and and oftentimes families get a little bit sideways because of one or more of the participants is not fulfilling the role that God ordained them to do so. Let me challenge you as we wrap up this year and as we embark on a new year to put your life in order. In terms of of God's Word and God's plan and God structure and watch the blessing and favor of God come along as you did, and that such a good word.

And as we start the new year. Couple of ways you can do this is by focusing on God's word. Many people do the Bible any year program where you read three chapters a day for a whole year to finish the Bible.

You can even do just the New Testament with five minutes a day reading the New Testament any year. You can also listen to it online or on an app or through CD as well. Find a way that works for you to focus on God's word on a regular basis so that it can transform you as Romans 12 one talks about you by the renewing of your mind and you can live for God is he's called us to do our final moments together. Though Alex wants to talk a little bit about this last point, the mentions idea that the coming of the kingdom is inevitable.

What is it mean that the kingdom is inevitable. Will you and I think about Matthew chapter 11, where Jesus said them, the kingdom has suffered violence and the violent take it by force.

Now we we talked about that passage a lot in no way is it a call to be abrasive or aggressive or violent in the sense of you know, physical altercation with anybody but it does mean that God's kingdom has been opposed by the forces of darkness.

Matthew 1618 talks about that but the gates of hell would not prevail against it.

The kingdom of God is coming in. Inevitably, Galatians 44 says that in the fullness of time, God sent forth his son, born of a woman to redeem those that were under the law. At just the right time Jesus was born into this world, ushering in God's kingdom and and I will encourage everybody this Christmas season and always let the world see in your words, your actions the way you act the way you react. Let the world see that your life in your heart and your soul. Everything about you has been annexed into the realm of King Jesus. Somebody wrote this. What is the Christmas spirit in the home. It is kindness in the business. It is honesty in society.

It is courtesy and work it is fairness toward the unfortunate. It is mercy in Jesus in the spirit of God can help us show the world that we have got the Christmas spirit. Why because we got Christ the Savior truth for a new generation in association with Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries exists to equip Christians with a local worldview through conferences and camps for information about upcoming events visit for a new generation.com or give us a call at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God, and the number one TMG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries PO Box 10231, Borough, NC 27404. That's PO Box 10231, North Carolina 27404.

Give online@alexmcfarland.com or truth for a new generation.com. Thanks for listening and join us again next day as we bring you more true for a new generation on TMG radio