I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      Do you know what time it is?

                                                             1.      All of us can read a clock and know the time of day, but have we read the word of God to know what time it is in spiritual terms?

                                                             2.      The answer to this question is vital, for it will show us what we should be doing and what we should not be doing at this time.

B.      From the Scriptures, let us consider what time it is in our lives and in history and whether we are prepared for such a time as this.

II.      WHAT TIME IS IT?

A.      It is time for salvation.

                                                             1.      Notice 2Corinthians 6:2 – "…for He says, ‘At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.’  Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation’” (2Cor. 6:2)

a.       In this verse, Paul quoted from Isaiah 49:8 and declared the prophecy’s fulfillment.  The "acceptable time” and the "day of salvation” are no longer in the future, but they are now and today.

b.       Paul said this to explain what he meant in verse 1 – "We also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.”

i.         People receive the grace of God by the instructions of God’s word.  Notice Titus 2:11-13 – "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”

ii.        People who receive the word of God’s grace but do not act upon its instructions have received the grace of God in vain (uselessly).

c.        Time is a factor is our reception of God’s grace, and to delay obedience to God’s word is to receive His grace in vain.

d.       The time to accept God’s grace is now.  Today is the day of salvation, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

                                                             2.      Today, our salvation can be secured by faithful obedience to the gospel of Christ, and the time for realizing our eternal salvation is closer now than it has ever been.

a.       When we obey the gospel, we are saved in the sense that our sins are forgiven and we have the assurance of an eternal inheritance reserved in heaven (1Pet. 1:4).  However, we have not received that inheritance yet, so in this sense our salvation is still in the future.

b.       Nevertheless, our eternal salvation is getting nearer to us every day.

i.         Notice Romans 13:11 – "Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.”

ii.        Paul wrote this to encourage us to love our neighbors.  The point is that if we felt urgency to do good to others "when we believed” (first obeyed the gospel), then we should feel even more urgency now because our eternal salvation is even nearer.

B.      It is time to repent.

                                                             1.      All of us have given too much time to sin, and it is time to cease forever.

a.       Repentance is the message of 1Peter 4:1-3 – "Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.  For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.”

b.       It is time to make sin a thing of the past.  Sin is a part of our old way of life, and it is now time to walk in newness of life and the likeness of Christ’ resurrection (Rom. 6:1-14).

                                                             2.      Repentance was the first message of the gospel, and it is still first today.

a.       When John the baptist came to "make ready the way of the Lord,” he preached this message: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2-3).

b.       When Jesus began His ministry, He also preached this same message: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17).

c.        When the full gospel was first preached after Christ’s ascension to heaven, Peter preached, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

d.       The urgency of this message is unmistakable.  We need to repent right now.

C.      It is time to get busy for the Lord.

                                                             1.      The light of Christ’s gospel has illumined us to know what to do, so it is now time to get to work.

a.       Notice Ephesians 5:13-17 – "But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.  For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’  Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

b.       Understanding the Lord’s will replace our foolishness with wisdom and enable us to make good use of our time.  Our time on earth is best redeemed by doing God’s will so that we may enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 7:21-23).

                                                             2.      The time will come when our opportunity will end.

a.       The Lord told His apostles, "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4).

b.       The "night is coming” for all of us, for time and opportunity will end when life on this earth is over.

D.      It is time to get ready for the Lord.

                                                             1.      "The day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night,” which means that it will come unexpectedly or unpredictably.

a.       This is the message of 1Thessalonians 5:1-3 and 2Peter 3:10.  These passages pertain to the second coming of Christ, the resurrection and judgment of the dead, and the destruction of the earth.

b.       Compare this message with Christ’s words in Matthew 24:36-44 and Mark 13:32-37.

                                                             2.      Although we cannot know the day of Christ’s coming, we can prepare so that we will always be ready for Him.

a.       This is the message of 1Thessalonians 5:4-11 and 2Peter 3:11-14.  Because we know that the Lord is coming, we ought to be ready, alert, and watching.

b.       The only way to be prepared for the Lord’s coming is to be faithful to Him.

III.   CONCLUSION

A.      At the appointed times of day, you do what you know you must do.

                                                             1.      You wake up at the appointed time, you go to work at the appointed time, you eat meals at the appointed times, you go to sleep at the appointed time, etc.

                                                             2.      Your whole life is structured according to time, and if you don’t abide by your appointed schedule, then your life becomes difficult.

B.      You also know the appointed times for your eternal soul, but are you also doing what you know you must do to receive eternal life?

                                                             1.      It is time to be saved, time to repent, time to work, and time to get ready for the Lord.

                                                             2.      For all of us, time is running out.  There is coming a time when we must die, and after this is the judgment (Heb. 9:27).  Are you ready for that time?