The Bible
The Holy Spirit of God inspired the writing of the Holy Scriptures that we commonly call the Bible (2Timothy 3:14-17, 2Peter 1:19-21, 2Peter 3:14-16). As such, the Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God in its original writings (Psalm 19:7-8, 1Thessalonian 2:13). The Word of God is true (Titus 1:1-3) and will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8, Psalm 119:89, Matthew 5:17-18). The written Word of God is the absolute and final authority pertaining to all matters of faith and life.
Creation
God created all things (Genesis 1:1-25), and then created Adam and Eve in His image and placed them in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:26-2:25).
The Fall of Man
Sin and Death Enter the World
With the intervention of the serpent, or Satan, Adam and Eve willfully disobeyed God and ate the fruit that God commanded them not to eat (Genesis 3:1-7). As a result, sin and God’s judgment of death, entered the world and spread to all mankind, because all have sinned (Romans 5:12-20, Romans 3:23, Psalm 14:2-3). In addition, their sin of disobedience broke the fellowship they had with God in the Garden of Eden, and caused a separation between God and mankind (Isaiah 59:1-3). Thus they were cast out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-24). Ultimately, the penalty for mankind’s sin is to spend eternity in the lake of fire apart from God (Mark 9:43-48).
Mankind without Hope Apart from God’s Intervention
Man is totally incapable of rectifying these conditions on his own and stands in utter depravity before a just, righteous and holy God. Much of the rest of Scripture is the story of God’s plan to redeem mankind from the penalty of sin and bring mankind back into proper fellowship with God (1Corinthians 1:9, 1John 1:3).
God’s Plan of Redemption Through Jesus Christ
Covenants and The Law
Over time, God made a series of covenants with mankind. One of those covenants was with Abraham in which God promised that He would make Abraham the father of many nations and that all the world would be blessed through Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3, 22:18). This blessing is a reference to Jesus Christ as the Redeemer and Savior (Galatians 3:16). Through Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, God formed the nation of Israel and gave them the covenant of the Law through Moses (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). This Law established God’s perfect standard for mankind. One of the purposes of the Law is to clearly reveal mankind’s sinful nature and our total inability to live up to God’s perfect, standards (Romans 7:7-25, James 2:8-11). Even those who do not have the Law have a conscience that will bear witness to right and wrong (Rom 2:12-16). This should cause us to conclude that we need a Savior and lead us to Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:19-25).
Jesus is Born
God has always existed in the persons of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17). In the fullness of time, the Father fulfilled His promise and sent His Son, Jesus Christ (Gal 4:4-5, Mark 1:14-15, Matthew 3:16-17, Romans 1:1-4, John 1:14, Luke 4:16-21, Luke 2:8-12), conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:34-35), and born of a virgin, Mary (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23), to redeem and save all mankind (Isaiah 49:6-7). He did not set aside His deity (John 10:33-38, Philippians 2:5-8) while being born into this world as a man.
He lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:14-15, Acts 3:14) that pleased the Father, which qualified Him to die on the cross as the sacrifice and payment for the sin of all mankind (1Peter 2:21-25, Colossians 2:13-14, 2Corinthians 5:20-21, Romans 5:18-19, Galatians 1:3-5, 1Corinthians 6:19-20). Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures (1Corinthians 15:1-4, John 11:25, Mark 8:31).
Jesus later ascended into Heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:1-4, Mark 16:19) where He makes intercession for those who believe in Him (Hebrews 7:25).
Mankind has a Choice
Eternal Life or Eternal Death
Those who have received Jesus Christ have redemption from sin, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life (Ephesians 1:7-10, Galatians 3:13-14, John 1:29, Luke 1:68-79, 1Corinthians 15:22, 1John 5:11-13, Titus 3:3-7). In addition, those who have received Jesus Christ have been adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters (Gal 4:4-7, Ephesians 1:3-6), to be heirs of the Kingdom of God (James 2:5, 2Peter 1:1-11, Colossians 1:9-14).
To choose eternal life in Jesus Christ you must believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin. You must believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. Then in your own words you can acknowledge and confess your sin and your need for Jesus Christ, and call out to Him to save you (Romans 6:23, 10:8-13, Joel 2:32, Ephesians 2:8-9).
Confessing the Lord Jesus means living a life in subjection to His will and commands. It means repenting from our sins, turning to God, and doing works that reflect our repentance and new life (Acts 26:15-20, 1Corinthians 6:20).
God’s Design for Those Who Have Received Eternal Life in Jesus Christ
When a person calls out to Jesus Christ to be saved from eternal death and given eternal life, that person is regenerated by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-7), indwelled by the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-18, 1Corinthians 3:16), and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ (1Corinthians 12:13) also known as the church (Colossians 1:24). Jesus Christ is the Head of the church (Ephesians 1:22).
This marks the most significant milestone in a person’s life, for at this moment he has been delivered from the power of darkness and brought into the kingdom of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:13), and has become a new creature on the inside (2Corinthians 5:17). Having been set free from sin (Romans 6:12-18), God’s design is repentance, which is turning away from sin and walking in newness of life (Romans 6:1-7). This new life is to be characterized by, but not limited to, the following elements that should be evident in His followers until Jesus Christ returns (Matthew 24:45-51). Jesus Christ gives His followers the Holy Spirit to empower them and help them live the new life that God desires them to (John 14:15-18, Romans 8:12-14, Acts 1:8).
Reading the Bible
A follower of Christ should desire to read the Bible (1Peter 2:1-3), with the intent to understand God’s will and purpose for his new life, allowing God’s Word to dwell in him richly (Colossians 3:16).
Keeping God’s Commandments
Keeping God’s commandments is evidence that a person has truly received Him (1John 2:3-6). God’s greatest commandment is to love one another (John 14:34-35), so that all will know that those who have received Him are His disciples. He has also commanded His followers to spread God’s plan of redemption to the world (Matthew 28:18-20, 2Corinthians 5:18-19).
Abiding in Christ and Bearing Fruit
Those have received Him are to abide or remain in Christ, and in so doing bear lasting fruit (John 15:1-16).
Being Dead to Sin but Alive to God (Sanctification)
His followers are to give no place to sin (Romans 8:9-14, Ephesians 5:27), putting off the old sin nature and putting on the new nature (8:9-14, Colossians 3:5-14, 1Thessalonians 4:1-8).
Seeking God’s Kingdom First Over the Things of This World
Those who have received Christ are to seek God’s kingdom first (Matthew 6:33) and not love the world or the things in the world (1John 2:15-17).
Praying
His followers are to pray for one another in a variety of ways, including to understand God’s will, to be strengthened, to comprehend God’s love, for wisdom, and that God’s plan of redemption (the Gospel) would go forth (Ephesians 1:15-21, 3:14-19, 6:18-20, Colossians 1:9-12, Phillippians 1:9-11, 1Thessalonians 5:17).
Renewing the Mind
Those who have received Jesus Christ are to renew their minds (Romans 12:1-2), set their minds on the things above (Colossians 3:1-2), and think on whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, and of good report (Pillippians 4:8).
Demonstrating the Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Since the Holy Spirit dwells within those who have received Jesus Christ, they should demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22-23, 1Corinthians 13).
Using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Since the Holy Spirit gives at least one spiritual gift to each one who has received Jesus Christ (1Corinthians 12:1-14:33), each follower of Christ is to use the gift or gifts (Romans 12:3-8, 1Peter 1:10-11) for the building up of the church.
Being Diligent to Grow in Faith
Each follower of Christ is to be diligent to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2Peter 1:1-11, 3:17-18).
Fellowshipping with One Another
Since each one who has received Jesus Christ has been given at least one gift of the Holy Spirit, the church or the Body of Christ will function best when all of its members are working together in unity (Romans 12:4-5, Hebrews 10:14-25).
Resisting the Demonic Realm
As Satan and his demons tried to hinder the work of Jesus Christ on earth, so the demonic realm will attempt to hinder the work of God through His followers. Those who have received Jesus Christ are to resist Satan and his forces (Ephesians 6:10-17, James 4:7, 1Peter 5:8-9).
The Signs of the End Times Leading to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
Jesus and the apostles instructed those who follow Christ to watch, wait, and be ready for His second coming (Matthew 24:42-44, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10), to pray and not be consumed with the cares of this life (Mark 13:32-37, 1Peter 4:7, Luke 21:34-36), and to look up for our redemption draws near (Luke 21:28).
This entire website is devoted to this subject. As stated in the above Scriptures, Jesus said that no one knows the day or hour that He will come again, but He also said that we would know the generation based on the signs that He gave (Matthew 24:34, Mark 13:30). Based on the evidence presented in this website, I believe that this generation is witnessing those signs, therefore, I believe that Jesus Christ is coming very soon.