Donnels Creek Church of the Brethren
Blessed Hope
Do you have hope in your heart today and every day?
What is that hope based upon?
We will look more into where our hope comes from in this bible study.
I will use Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible (copyright - The Lockman Foundation) for our study.
Let’s begin by looking at Titus 2:11-14
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.
Titus 2:12 It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,
Titus 2:13 Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
Titus 2:14 Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds.
This passage of Scripture is so rich. In verse 13 we see the heart of our lesson today. It is our blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
These 4 verses are recorded here in this passage of Scripture, to cheer us on. To encourage and uplift us so we will live in the victory that has been handed to us by the grace of God.
The lives we live are not easy. We face difficulties each day. We are challenged often and find ourselves struggling to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. Sometimes we find it hard to just stand.
I like to remind myself that the Scriptures are actually the Word of God. God inspired them and has preserved them to speak to us today.
Just look at this next passage from Hebrews 1:1-4
Hebrews 1:1 In many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets,
Hebrews 1:2 [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built,
operated, and arranged them in order].
Hebrews 1:3 He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,
Hebrews 1:4 [Taking a place and rank by which] He Himself became as much superior to angels as the glorious Name (title) which He has inherited is different from and more excellent than theirs.
What an awesome passage of Scripture! This is describing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Isn’t HE awesome????
The Word of God is given to us to help us. To strengthen us and to show us how to live and walk as redeemed people in this world. God knows we need to be encouraged. He kept His Word from being destroyed so many times, so we would have the benefit of reading it today.
We find the Truth about Jesus in these pages of Holy Scripture and can take comfort in knowing that God has made it possible for us.. you and me.. to have personal fellowship with Himself.
In these days, God has spoken to us through His Own Son, Jesus Christ. We know Jesus is the incarnate Word of God. Jesus accomplished the cleansing of our sins and riddance of our guilt. That is stated as a fact in the verses we just read together. It is written in the past tense, so we know that this is already completed.
Whoooo Hoooooo!!!!!! Is that Good News?
It certainly is to me!!
But we were talking about our blessed hope weren’t we? We saw that our blessed hope referred to the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
What can we learn about this appearing?
Let’s turn our bibles to 1Corinthians 15:
1Corinthians 15:51 Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed).
Paul speaks of a mystery. This is something that has not been revealed to us before. Not only is it a mystery, but it is something that has been decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God.
I want to say at this time, that I always prefer to take the Word of God at face value unless there is something that directs me to do otherwise.
In this passage of Scripture, there is no direction to take this in any way other than face value. That is what we will do.
Let’s continue:
1Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed).
1Corinthians 15:53 For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us, this nature that is capable of dying] must put on immortality (freedom from death).
Our bodies are not immortal today are they? We often feel pain; we hunger and we grow tired. If we do not take care of our bodies they will die. This is not how we will enter eternity.
1Corinthians 15:54 And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished forever) in and unto victory.
1Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
1Corinthians 15:56 Now sin is the sting of death, and sin exercises its power [upon the soul] through [the abuse of] the Law.
We know the power of sin operating in our lives. This again is not how we will enter eternity.
1Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].
We see that there is going to be something happen. God has set a time when a trumpet will sound and Believers will be changed.
Those who have fallen asleep in death will be raised bodily from their graves. Those who are still alive will be raised with them. Their bodies will be changed into what is immortal and imperishable.
Death will be overcome.
Does that give you hope?
Let’s look again into God’s Word for more about this event.
Please turn your bibles to 1Thessalonians 4:
1Thessalonians 4:13 Now also we would not have you ignorant, brethren, about those who fall asleep [in death], that you may not grieve [for them] as the rest do who have no hope [beyond the grave].
1Thessalonians 4:14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him through Jesus those who have fallen asleep [in death].
The Believers who fall asleep in death will not be left behind. We have sorrow because we feel the loss of them in this life, but we need not grieve as those who have no hope beyond the grave.
1Thessalonians 4:15 For this we declare to you by the Lord's [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death].
1Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first.
1Thessalonians 4:17 Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!
1Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words.
This passage is a companion to the one in 1Corinthians 15.
Here we can see that Jesus will descend from heaven to call Believers up to meet Him in the air. It matters not whether the Believer has fallen asleep in death, or if alive when Jesus comes.
We will meet Jesus in the clouds and will always be with Him. The last verse tells us to comfort and encourage one another with these words.
On that day we will see our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We will be caught up into the air and meet Him together with all Believers from all of time.
Can you imagine this? Every person who has put their trust in Jesus Christ will be there to meet Jesus. The daily struggles will be over. The chronic pain and headaches some suffer will be gone. No hearing aids, no eyeglasses or contacts will be needed. Any addictions will be gone. Loneliness and disappointment will be over. No more feeling like you aren’t accepted. We will have glorified bodies!!
You finish the list. There are so many things that we suffer daily that will be forever gone. **Smiles**
Is that an encouragement to you?
Jesus is coming for you and me. He is coming for all who will believe in Him. To see Him will be totally awesome!!
To be with Him forever in heaven will be way beyond our ability to describe. Joy, Peace and Love forever.
Jesus is coming soon. Let the truth of that statement bring joy into your heart and mind today. Let it shine on your face. Let it be felt in your love. Let it encourage you to serve Him with a glad heart. We indeed have a blessed hope.
Bible study by InAwe
