The First Advent Includes the Second
THE span of Christ's manifestation in the flesh is from the manger to the cross. In weakness he came, and in weakness he ended his work. “He was crucified through weakness.” 2 Cor. 13:4. Nevertheless, “he liveth by the power of God,” and that is how we are to live. Christ is coming again; but his coming in the clouds of heaven, “with power and great glory,” will be only the manifestation of the power that lay in the manger and hung on the cross. The “hiding of his power,” is from his side, where once the spear pierced, but where the stream of glory issues. Hab. 3:4, margin. He is King of glory solely because of his humility. Phil. 2:8, 9. He is coming to save his people; but he will save at his second coming only those whom he has already saved at the cross. That manger in Bethlehem is capacious enough to contain all mankind: it contained divinity. The second coming will be only the complete manifestation of the first. In the manger Christ was the Son of God; but it was the resurrection from the dead with power according to the Spirit of holiness, that demonstrated the fact. When he comes again, it will be for the purpose of showing all men that he really lives.—Selected.