In contrast to what this life has to offer, we desire to ascertain the things Bible Hope offers.
This life offers in the business world– wealth and position.
In the political world—fame and popularity.
In the social world—entertainment.
But how long will these last? If you started at the tender age of twenty you would be fortunate to continue in these enterprises, at the most, fifty years Then what You would have to give them up It still leaves much to be desired It does not have the feeling of being sound.
The Bible offers a Hope of Joyfulness to righteous people the Promise of-future cadless life and abundance of happiness and peace.
Let us see precisely what Scripture reveals First, is it not reasonable to agree that to understand or embrace a Bible Hope, we must look at matters from God s view point arid not man s viewpoint, particularly if man is to be the recipient of God’s promises? Then does it not follow that to achieve God’s favor, we must follow in God’s was? If we follow in God s ways then we will be doing things that are right, or in other words, we will be striving to follow after righteousness.
Psalm 58 11 states, Verily there is a reward for the righteous.
Psalm 119 74 declares, They that fear (ie. irreverence) thee (God) will be glad when they see me, because I have hoped in thy word.
Proverbs 10 28 says, The hope of the righteous shall be gladness.
What that gladness constitutes we shall soon find out.
Proverbs 14 32 declares The righteous hath hope in his death.
We know there is no hope in the grave among the dead How then, could a righteous man have hope in death?
In Acts chapter 2, Peter is addressing the men of Israel, and explains in verse 22, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God and continues in verse 23, him ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. This is but one of the records of Jesus death And now verse 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death And this is but one of the records of Jesus resurrection from the dead.
The apostle Paul (Acts 23 6) when confronting the council said of the hope of the resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
So far we see that the Bible Hope is through Jesus in a resurrection of the dead What then was the purpose in Jesus death?.
Romans 6 10 states, In that Jesus died, he died unto sin once Heb, 9 28 declares, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many Romans 5 19 says by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Jesus was a righteous man Scripture states God declares (Matt 3 17) This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased So Jesus, a righteous man, was obedient unto death, and suffered death as a sacrifice for sin Why As we just read, so that many through him could be made righteous Again Romans 6 10, In that he died he died unto sin once, but in that he liveth he liveth unto God He liveth unto God always, forever. This is not our interpretation, see verse 9 Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more, death hath no more dominion (i.e power) over him.
We see how Christ hath gained the victory over sin and the grave? This is the Christian hope of the resurrection of the dead II Timothy 2 9 speaks of God’s Purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus And verse 10 says is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
This is the Bible Hope, not a dream, not an illusion but a reality — life forever through Jesus Christ via resurrection of the dead Life for you and me to have forever through Jesus This is confirmed by Peter (I Pet 1 3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which ac cording to his abundant mercy hath be gotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Titus 3:7 informs us: “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 1:2 states: “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised . . .”
The Hope of eternal life will be bestowed on those found striving for righteousness at the appearance of Christ — his second coming – through a resurrection from the dead and a judgment. Do you have this hope? Only those in Christ and believing in His Name have this hope. Isaiah, 38:18 declares “They that go down into the pit (i.e. grave) cannot hope for thy truth.” There are those who have no hope as Ephesians 2:12 indicates: “At that time ye were without Christ, being aliens to the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
To be in Christ we must be baptized as Scripture describes it, “put on Christ”. See Gal. 3:27 which says: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Following this, by faith we need to walk in ways of righteousness. Jesus. said, (John 14:19) ” . . .ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” Revelations 1:18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore.” This is the kind of assurance we want. This surely is a hope of better things to come. Heb. 7:19 records, ” . . .the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did.” “We desire that everyone of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.” Heb. 6:11.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One