13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
The grace of God promotes godliness by focus on both the future and the past. We look forward to the Rapture (v. 13) and we look behind to the finished work of Christ (v.14).
13 looking for
The Christian is to think about what he anticipates. Believers live in constant expectation of the imminent coming of Christ. Our characteristic attitude is one of meeting our Lord face-to-face. This is an antidote to godlessness and worldly lusts.
the
The “the” governs both hope and appearing.
blessed [prosperous] hope
We will realize our hope in the Rapture. Our earnest yearning for His coming will become a reality at that event.
The hope of Christ’s coming brings a sense of blessedness to the soul. Hope brings bliss. “Blessed” connotes prosperity of soul. There is prosperity in the soul when our soul comes to realize the certainty of the Rapture.
The idea of “hope” is certainty. We realize bliss in the certainty of Christ’s coming. “Hope” is not a wish of ambiguity but conveys the idea of certainty.
Our blessed hope at the Rapture is the culmination of our redemption. At that time God will perfect our salvation; He will save us from the very presence of sin. He will totally remove sin from us in every sense.
and glorious appearing [unveiling]
“Appearing” is epiphany, an appearing or arrival. The appearing of the glory is the Lord Jesus Himself. He appeared on earth in a human body. He left this earth by resurrection but He will appear again in the Rapture. Jesus personified as grace penetrated spiritual darkness by “appearing.” We look to the manifestation of the glory of Christ. This is the purpose of creation.
We saw the glory of Christ in His first coming (Jn 1:14) where he revealed His glory by miracles. He veiled His full glory in the incarnation. One day His glory will lift and we shall see Him as He is (1 Jn 3:2). It will be an epiphany. God will ultimately manifest His glory to the fullest when Christ comes.
The imminent coming of Christ is in view here. Nothing must happen before His return to catch his saints away. Paul did not say anything about the Tribulation. He gave no indication of any event that needed to take place before the Rapture.
of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
There is one definite article, “the,” before “God” and “Savior,” showing that the Savior is God. The Lord Jesus Christ is “our great God.” As such, He manifests the glory of God.
We use “great” for everything—great game, great hamburger, great movie. When the Bible speaks of something as great, it is truly great. We have a great God. He is immense, immutable, infinite, everywhere present, all knowing, all powerful, sovereign.
PRINCIPLE:
The grace of God promotes godliness by focus on the future.
APPLICATION:
The Christian lives on the tiptoe of expectancy waiting for the Rapture. Jesus might come today. We expect Him to come momentarily. The Rapture is a signless, timeless event. His coming is imminent; there is no sign that needs fulfillment before He comes. He might not come for years, but there is nothing preventing His coming.
Php 3: 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Th 1: 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
2 Ti 4: 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
