Hope Amid Our World
1. What did Jesus single out as one of the characteristics of the time of the end? Luke 21:25, 26.
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Luke 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
ANSWER:
Men’s hearts failing them for fear
SOP: What fear?
My attention was then called from the scene. There seemed to be a little time of peace. Once more the inhabitants of the earth were presented before me; and again everything was in the utmost confusion. Strife, war, and bloodshed, with famine and pestilence, raged everywhere. Other nations were engaged in this war and confusion. War caused famine. Want and bloodshed caused pestilence. And then men's hearts failed them for fear, "and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." {Mar 259.3}
There will be calamities by land and by sea, "men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. --Manuscript 40, 1897. {3SM 417.4}
Calamities by land and sea, by fire and flood, by pestilence and famine, by horrible accidents, by earthquakes in divers places, all testify in unmistakable language that the end of all things is at hand, and that great Babylon is coming into remembrance before God. The Lord is even at the door, and men's hearts are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which shall come upon the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. {ST, October 1, 1894 par. 10}
2. Read Luke 21:28.What hope is Jesus offering us amid all the turmoil and fear of the world?
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
ANSWER:
The redemption at the Second Coming of Christ.
3. What type of redemption will Jesus bring at His Second Coming?
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Eph. 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Eph. 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
2Cor. 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2Cor. 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 2Cor. 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 2Cor. 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 2Cor. 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
Rom. 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Rom. 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Rom. 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
OBSERVATION:
Eph. 1:13-14 – Sealed with the Holy Spirit is our down payment for our inheritance until redemption.
2 Cor. 5:1-5 – The down payment is for immortal life (new body).
Rom. 8:22-24 – The hope is to receive immortality with a new body. And we can have this hope in us because the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
ANSWER:
Redemption of our new body that we may live with God forever. This is the greatest hope of all.
Hope – Here and Now
1. What kind of life could we live today if we live in hope?
Psa. 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Psa. 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Psa. 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy
Psa. 39:7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Psa. 39:8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
Psa. 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psa. 78:7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments
Psa. 119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Psa. 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Jer. 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
ANSWER:
Life of gladness
Life of courage and strength
Life of fearing God
Life of deliverance from transgressions
Life of healthy countenance
Life of keeping His commandments
Life of no shame
Life of happiness
Life of being blessed.
Hope Beyond the Grave
1. What is the glorious truth about the reality of death? 1Cor. 15:20–26, 50–55, 1Pet. 1:3.?
1Cor. 15:20-26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Cor. 15:50-55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Pet. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
ANSWER:
Death will die. We can receive a lively hope of immortality because Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
Rev. 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
2. What kind of life do you have if your hope in Christ is only for present life?
1Cor. 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
ANSWER:
Life of misery
3. Who live a miserable life according to the book of Revelation?
Rev. 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; Rev. 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. Rev. 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Rev. 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
ANSWER:
Laodiceans
NOTE: This word “miserable”, in Greek, it is eleeinos, used only twice in the New Testament; 1 Cor. 15:19 and Rev. 3:17
OBSERVATION:
It is very possible that the Laodiceans are lukewarm because they live only for the “goods” in this world even though they understand the hope of eternal life.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
How do we live only for this world?
How can we really live for the hope beyond the grave today?
Eternal Hope
1. When did God make the promise of the hope of eternal life?
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began
ANSWER:
Before the world began
OBSERVATION:
Even before the existence of all human race, the hope of eternal life was alive in the heart of God.
2. Who can be made “heirs according to the hope of eternal life”?
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
ANSWER:
Those who are justified by His grace
EXTRA NOTE: Justification is given to those who by faith fully surrender to God.
Gal. 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
SOP:
Genuine faith will be manifested in good works; for good works are the fruits of faith. As God works in the heart, and man surrenders his will to God, and cooperates with God, he works out in the life what God works in by the Holy Spirit, and there is harmony between the purpose of the heart and the practice of the life. Every sin must be renounced as the hateful thing that crucified the Lord of life and glory, and the believer must have a progressive experience by continually doing the works of Christ. It is by continual surrender of the will, by continual obedience, that the blessing of justification is retained. {1SM 397.1}
The light given me of God places this important subject above any question in my mind. Justification is wholly of grace and not procured by any works that fallen man can do. The matter has been presented before me in clear lines that if the rich man has money and possessions, and he makes an offering of the same to the Lord, false ideas come in to spoil the offering by the thought he has merited the favor of God, that the Lord is under obligation to him to regard him with special favor because of this gift. {FW 20.1}
OBSERVATION:
In order to have the hope of eternal life you must be justified by His grace.
You cannot buy justification by works.
However the true justification by faith experience has good works. Why? Because in order to be justified, you must surrender fully to God’s will. What would be the natural fruit of a life of total surrender to God’s will?
Therefore, the eternal hope can be obtainable when the heart is fully surrendered to God.
Many times we do not surrender to God because we still put our hopes in the things of the world.
Christ Our Hope
1. What is the blessed hope according to Titus 2:13?
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
ANSWER:
The appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
2. Who can truly look for the second coming of Christ as a blessed hope? Observe the previous text.
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world
OBSERVATION:
Those who are learning how to live a godly life in this present world.
If you are living a ungodly life and not care about godly life then the event of the Second Coming of Christ is not be a blessed hope to you.
3. What can teach us to learn how to live a godly life today so that we can look for the blessed hope? Observe the previous text.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men
OBSERVATION:
Grace of God can teach us to live a godly life in this present time.
NOTE:
We will study much more about God’s grace on Lesson #7.
CONCLUSION:
Only by God’s grace we can look beyond the grave and hope for the resurrection and to receive new body at the coming of Christ. This hope can be alive in us day to day as we learn to live a life close to the character of God by His grace!!
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