Baptist Catechism

By

Charles H. Spurgeon

 

FORWARD

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. . ." (Hosea 4:6) This is not only true of Israel and Judah but also of religious people as well, even Baptists. Because this is true we felt led to print this Baptist Catechism. The first time I came across the word "catechism" I immediately associated it with the "so called" Catholic Church and their Catechism. Later I looked up in the Webster's dictionary the word "catechism" and found this meaning--a short book giving a brief summary of the basic principles of a religion in question-and-answer form. I then realized this applies to Baptist as well as Catholics. After some time this book crossed our path and we decided to publish it with the prayer that Baptist people will not be destroyed for a lack of knowledge.

-        Publisher

INTRODUCTION

"I am persuaded that the use of a good Catechism in all our families will be a great safeguard against the increasing errors of the times, and therefore I have compiled this little manual from the Westminster Assembly’s and Baptist Catechisms, for the use of my own church and congregation. Those who use it in their families or classes must labor to explain the sense; but the words should be carefully learned by heart, for they will be understood better as years pass. May the Lord bless my dear friends and their families evermore, is the prayer of their loving Pastor."

- Charles Haddon Spurgeon

BAPTIST CATECHISM

1. Q. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God,1 and to enjoy him for ever.2

(11 Corinthians 10:31; 2Psalm 73:25,26)

2. Q. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify him?

A. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments1 is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy him.2

(1Ephesians 2:20, 2 Timothy 3:16; 21 John 1:3)

3. Q. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

(2 Timothy 1:13; Ecclesiastes 12:13)

4. Q. What is God?

A. God is Spirit,1 infinite,2 eternal,3 and unchangeable4 in his being,5 wisdom,6 power,7 holiness,8 justice, goodness, and truth.9

(1John 4:24; 2Job 11:7; 3Psalm 90:2, 1 Timothy 1:17; 4James 1:17; 5Ezekiel 3:14; 61 Timothy 1:17; 7Psalms 147:5; 8Revelation 4:8; 9Ezekiel 34:6,7)

5. Q. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but one only,1 the living and true God.2

(1Deuteronomy 6:4; 2Jeremiah 10:10)

6. Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory.

(1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19)

7. Q. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his own will, whereby for his own glory he has foreordained whatever comes to pass.

(Ephesians 1:11,12)

8. Q. How does God execute his decrees?

A. God executes his decrees in the works of creation1 and providence.2

(1Revelation 4:11; 2Daniel 4:35

9. Q. What is the work of creation?

A. The work of creation is God’s making all things1 of nothing, by the Word of his power,2 in six normal consecutive days,3 and all very good.4

(1Genesis 1:1; 2Hebrews 11:3; 3Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31 4Genesis 1:4,10,12,18,21,25,31)

10. Q. How did God create man?

A. God created man, male and female, after his own image,1 in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness2 with dominion over the creatures.3

(1Genesis 1:27; 2Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24; 3Genesis 1:28)

11. Q. What are God’s works of providence?

A. God’s works of providence are his most holy,1 wise,2 and powerful,3 preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.4

(1Psalm 145:17; 2Isaiah 28:29; 3Hebrews 1:3; 4Psalm 103:19, Matthew 10:29)

12. Q. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the state wherein he was created?

A. When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience;1 forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death.2

(1Galatians 3:12; 2Genesis 2:17)

13. Q. Did our first parents continue in the state wherein they were created?

A. Our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the state wherein they were created, by sinning against God,1 by eating the forbidden fruit.2

(1Ecclesiastes 7:29; 2Genesis 3:6-8)

14. Q. What is sin?

A. Sin is any want of conformity to, or transgression of the law of God.

(1 John 3:4)

15. Q. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.

(1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:12)

16. Q. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

A. The fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery.

(Romans 5:18)

17. Q. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that state whereunto man fell?

A. The sinfulness of that state whereunto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin,1 the want of original righteousness,2 and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin,3 together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.4

(1Romans 5:19; 2Romans 3:10; 3Ephesians 2:1, Psalm 51:5; 4Matthew 15:19)

18. Q. What is the misery of that state whereunto man fell?

A. All mankind, by their fall, lost communion with God,1 are under his wrath and curse,2 and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.3

(1Genesis 3:8,24; 2Ephesians 2:3, Galatians 3:10; 3Romans 6:23, Matthew 25:41)

19. Q. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery?

A. God having, out of his good pleasure from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life,1 did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the state of sin and misery, and to bring them into a state of salvation by a Redeemer.2

(12 Thessalonians 2:13; 2Romans 5:21)

20. Q. Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?

A. The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ,1 who being the eternal Son of God, became man,2 and so was and continues to be God and man, in two distinct natures and one person for ever.3

(11Timothy 2:5; 2John 1:14; 31 Timothy 3:16, Colossians 2:9)

21. Q. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?

A. Christ, the son of God, became man by taking to himself a true body,1 and a reasonable soul,2 being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary, and born of her,3 yet without sin.4

(1Hebrews 2:14; 2Matthew 26:38, Hebrews 4:15; 3Luke 1:31,35; 4Hebrews 7:26)

22. Q. What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer?

A. Christ as our Redeemer executes the offices of a prophet,1 of a priest,2 and of a king,3 both in his state of humiliation and exaltation.

(1Acts 3:22; 2Hebrews 5:6; 3Psalm 2:6)

23. Q. How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?

A. Christ executes the office of a prophet, in revealing to us,1by his Word,2 and Spirit,3 the will of God for our salvation.

(1John 1:18; 2John 20:31; 3John 14:26)

24. Q. How does Christ execute the office of a priest?

A. Christ executes the office of a priest, in his once offering up himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice,1 and to reconcile us to God,2and in making continual intercession for us.3

(1Hebrews 9:28; 2Hebrews 2:17; 3Hebrews 7:25)

25. Q. How does Christ execute the office of a king?

A. Christ executes the office of a king in subduing us to himself,1 in ruling and defending us,2 and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

(1Psalm 110:3; 2Matthew 2:6, 1 Corinthians 15:25)

26. Q. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?

A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition,1 made under the law,2 undergoing the miseries of this life,3 the wrath of God,4 and the cursed death of the cross;5 in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.6

(1Luke 2:7; 2Galatians 4:4; 3Isaiah 53:3; 4Matthew 27:46; 5Philippians 2:8; 6Matthew 12:40)

27. Q. Wherein consists Christ's exaltation?

A. Christ's exaltation consists in His rising again from the dead on the third day,1 in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father,2 and in coming to judge the world at the last day.3

(11 Corinthians 15:4; 2Acts 1:11, Mark 16:19; 3Acts 17:31)

28. Q. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us1 by his Holy Spirit.2

(1John 1:12; 2Titus 3:5,6)

29. Q. How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us,1 and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.2

(Ephesians 2:8; Ephesians 3:17)

30. Q. What is effectual calling?

A. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit,1 whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery,2 enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ,3 and renewing our wills,4 He does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the Gospel.5

(12 Timothy 1:9; 2John 16:8-11; 3Acts 26:18; 4Ezekiel 36:26; 5John 6:44,45)

31. Q. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?

A. They that are effectually called, do in this life partake of justification,1 adoption,2 sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.3

(1Romans 8:30; 2Ephesians 1:5; 31 Corinthians 1:30)

32. Q. What is justification?

A. Justification is an act of God's free grace wherein He pardons all our sins,1 and accepts us as righteous in His sight,2 only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us3 and received by faith alone.4

(1Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; 22 Corinthians 5:21; 3Romans 5:19; 4Philippians 3:9, Galatians 2:16)

33. Q. What is adoption?

A. Adoption is an act of God's free grace1 whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.2

(11 John 3:1; 2John 1:12, Romans 8:16,17)

34. Q. What is sanctification?

A. Sanctification is a work of God's Spirit1 whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,2 and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.3

(12 Thessalonians 2:13; 2Ephesians 4:23,24; 3Romans 6:11)

35. Q. What are the benefits, which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are assurance of God's love, peace of conscience,1 joy in the Holy Spirit,2 increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.3

(1Romans 5:1-5; 2Romans 14:17; 3Proverbs 4:18, 1 Peter 1:5, 1 John 5:13)

36. Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?

A. The souls of believers are at death made perfect in holiness,1 and do immediately pass into glory,2 and their bodies, being still united to Christ,3 do rest in their graves4 till the resurrection.5

(1Hebrews 12:23; 2Philippians 1:23, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Luke 23:43; 31 Thessalonians 4:14; 4Isaiah 57:2; 5Job 19:26)

37. Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the Resurrection?

A. At the resurrection, believers become raised up in glory,1 shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment,2 and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God3 to all eternity.4

(1Philippians 3:20,21, 1 Corinthians 15:42,43; 2Matthew 10:32; 31 John 3:2; 41 Thessalonians 4:17)

38. Q. What shall be done to the wicked at death?

A. The souls of the wicked shall at death, be cast into the torments of hell,1 and their bodies lie in their graves till the resurrection and judgment of the great day.2

(1Luke 16:22-24; 2Psalm 49:14)

39. Q. What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment?

A. At the day of judgment, the bodies of the wicked, being raised out of their graves, shall be sentenced, together with their souls, to unspeakable torments with the devil and his angels forever.

(Daniel 12:2, John 5:28,29, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Matthew 25:41)

40. Q. What did God reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?

A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the moral law, which is summarized in the ten commandments.

(Deuteronomy 10:4, Matthew 19:17)

41. Q. What is the sum of the Ten Commandments?

A. The sum of the Ten Commandments is, to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.

(Matthew 22:37-40)

42. Q. Which is the first commandment?

A. The first commandment is, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

(Exodus 20:3)

43. Q. What is required in the first commandment?

A. The first commandment requires us to know1 and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God,2 and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.3

(11 Chronicles 28:9; 2Deuteronomy 26:17; 3Matthew 4:10)

44. Q. Which is the second commandment?

A. The second commandment is, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments."

(Exodus 20:4-6)

45. Q. What is required in the second commandment?

A. The second commandment requires the receiving, observing,1 and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances, as God has appointed in His Word.2

(1Deuteronomy 32:46, Matthew 28:20; 2Deuteronomy 12:32)

46. Q. What is forbidden in the second commandment?

A. The second commandment forbids the worshipping of God by images,1 or any other way not appointed in His Word.2

(1Deuteronomy 4:15,16; 2Colossians 2:18)

47. Q. Which is the third commandment?

A. The third commandment is, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."

(Exodus 20:7)

48. Q. What is required in the third commandment?

A. The third commandment requires the holy and reverent use of God's names,1 titles, attributes,2 ordinances,3 Word,4 and works.5

(1Psalm 29:2; Revelation 15:3,4; 3Ecclesiastes 5:1; 4Psalm 138:2; 5Job 36:24, Deuteronomy 28:58,59)

49. Q. Which is the fourth commandment?

A. The fourth commandment is, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maid servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."

(Exodus 20:8-11)

50. Q. What is required in the fourth commandment?

A. The fourth commandment requires the keeping holy to God such set times as He has appointed in His Word, expressly one whole day in seven to be a holy Sabbath to Himself.

(Leviticus 19:30, Deuteronomy 5:12)

51. Q. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?

A. The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days,1 and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship,2 except so much as is taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.3

(1Leviticus 23:3; 2Psalm 92:1,2, Isaiah 58:13,14; 3Matthew 12:11,12)

52. Q. Which is the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment is, "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

(Exodus 20:12)

53. Q. What is required in the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment requires preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relationships1 as superiors, inferiors,2 or equals.3

(1Ephesians 5:21,22; 6:1,5; Romans 13:1; 2Ephesians 6:9; 3Romans 12:10)

54. Q. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?

A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity-as far as it shall serve God's glory and their own good-to all such as keep this commandment.

(Ephesians 6:2,3)

55. Q. Which is the sixth commandment?

A. The sixth commandment is, "Thou shalt not kill."

(Exodus 20:13)

56. Q. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?

A. The sixth commandment forbids the taking away of our own life,1 or the life of our neighbor unjustly,2 or whatever tends to it.

(1Acts 16:28; 2Genesis 9:6; 3Proverbs 24:11,12)

57. Q. Which is the seventh commandment?

A. The seventh commandment is, "Thou shalt not commit adultery."

(Exodus 20:14)

58. Q. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?

A. The seventh commandment forbids all unchaste thoughts,1 words,2 and actions.3

(1Matthew 5:28, Colossians 4:6; 2Ephesians 5:4, 2 Timothy 2:22; 3Ephesians 5:3)

59. Q. Which is the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment is, "Thou shalt not steal."

(Exodus 20:15)

60. Q. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment forbids whatever does or may unjustly hinder our own,1 or our neighbor’s wealth, or outward estate.2

(11 Timothy 5:8, Proverbs 21:6, 28:19; 2Ephesians 4:28)

61. Q. Which is the ninth commandment?

A. The ninth commandment is, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

(Exodus 20:16)

62. Q. What is required in the ninth commandment?

A. The ninth commandment requires the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man,1 and of our own,2 and our neighbor’s good name especially in witness-bearing.

(1Zechariah 8:16; 21 Peter 3:16, Acts 25:10; 3Proverbs 14:5,25)

63. Q. What is the tenth commandment?

A. The tenth commandment is, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, or his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s."

(Exodus 20:17)

64. Q. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?

A. The tenth commandment forbids all discontentment with our own estate,1 envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor,2 and all inordinate emotions and affections to anything that is his.3

(11 Corinthians 10:10; 2Galatians 5:26; 3Colossians 3:5)

65. Q. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

A. No mere man, since the fall, is able in his life perfectly to keep the commandments of God,1 but does daily break them in thought,2 word,3 and deed.4

(1Ecclesiastes 7:20; 2Genesis 8:21; 3James 3:8; 4James 3:2)

66. Q. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?

A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of various aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

(John 19:11, 1 John 5:16)

67. Q. What does every sin deserve?

A. Every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to come.

(Ephesians 5:6, Psalm 11:6)

68. Q. How may we escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin?

A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, we must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,1 trusting alone to his blood and righteousness. This faith is attended by repentance for the past2 and leads to holiness in the future.

(1John 3:16; 2Acts 20:21)

69. Q. What is faith in Jesus Christ?

A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace,1 whereby we receive,2 and rest upon him alone for salvation,3 as he is set forth in the gospel.4

(1Hebrews 10:39; 2John 1:12; 3Philippians 3:9; 4Isaiah 33:22)

70. Q. What is repentance to life?

A. Repentance to life is a saving grace,1 whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sins,2 and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ,3 does with grief and hatred of his sin turn from it to God,4 with full purpose to strive after new obedience.5

(1Acts 11:18; 2Acts 2:37; 3Joel 2:13; 4Jeremiah 31:18,19; 5Psalm 119:59)

71. Q. What are the outward means whereby the Holy Spirit communicates to us the benefits of redemption?

A. The outward and ordinary means whereby the Holy Spirit communicates to us the benefits of Christ’s redemption, are the Word, by which souls are begotten to spiritual life; Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, Prayer, and Meditation, by all which believers are further edified in their most holy faith.

(Acts 2:41,42; James 1:18)

72. Q. How is the Word made effectual to salvation?

A. The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convicting and converting sinners,1 and of building them up in holiness and comfort,2 through faith to salvation.3

(1Psalm 19:7; 21 Thessalonians 1:6; 3Romans 1:16)

73. Q. How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to salvation?

A. That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend to it with diligence,1 preparation,2 and prayer,3 receive it with faith,4 and love,5 lay it up into our hearts,6 and practice it in our lives.7

(1Proverbs 8:34; 21 Peter 2:1,2; 3Psalm 119:18; 4Hebrews 4:2; 52 Thessalonians 2:10; 6Psalm 119:11; 7James 1:25)

74. Q. How do Baptism and the Lord’s Supper become spiritually helpful?

A. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper become spiritually helpful, not from any virtue in them, or in him who does administer them,1 but only by the blessing of Christ,2 and the working of the Spirit in those who by faith receive them.3

(11 Corinthians 3:7, 1 Peter 3:21; 21 Corinthians 3:6; 31 Corinthians 12:13)

75. Q. What is Baptism?

A. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, instituted by Jesus Christ,1 to be to the person baptized a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death, and burial, and resurrection,2 of his being engrafted into him,3 of remission of sins,4 and of his giving up himself to God through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.5

(1Matthew 28:19; 2Romans 6:3, Colossians 2:12; 3Galatians 3:27; 4Mark 1:4, Acts 22:16; 5Romans 6:4,5)

76. Q. To whom is Baptism to be administered?

A. Baptism is to be administered to all those who actually profess repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and to none other.

(Acts 2:38, Matthew 3:6, Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12,36,37; 10:47,48)

77. Q. Are the infants of such as are professing to be baptized?

A. The infants of such as are professing believers are not to be baptized, because there is neither command nor example in the Holy Scriptures for their baptism.

(Proverbs 30:6)

78. Q. How is baptism rightly administered?

A. Baptism is rightly administered by immersion, or dipping the whole body of the person in water,1 in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, according to Christ’s institution, and the practice of the apostles,2 and not by sprinkling or pouring of water, or dipping some part of the body, after the tradition of men.3

(1Matthew 3:16, John 3:23; 2Matthew 28:19,20; 3John 4:1,2; Acts 8:38,39)

79. Q. What is the duty of such as are rightly baptized?

A. It is the duty of such as are rightly baptized, to give up themselves to some particular and orderly Church of Jesus Christ,1 that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.2

(1Acts 2:47; 9:26;1 Peter 2:5; 2Luke 1:6)

80. Q. What is the Lord’s Supper?

A. The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of the New Testament, instituted by Jesus Christ; wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to his appointment, his death is shown forth,1 and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporeal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.2

(11 Corinthians 11:23-26; 21 Corinthians 10:16)

81. Q. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper?

A. It is required of them who would worthily partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body,1 of their faith to feed upon him,2 of their repentance,3 love,4 and new obedience,5 lest coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.6

(11 Corinthians 11:28,29; 22 Corinthians 13:5; 31 Corinthians 11:31; 41 Corinthians 11:18-20; 51 Corinthians 5:8; 61 Corinthians 11:27-29)

82. Q. What is meant by the words, "until he come," which are used by the apostle Paul in reference to the Lord’s Supper?

A. They plainly teach us that our Lord Jesus Christ will come a second time; which is the joy and hope of all believers.

(Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)