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The Blessed Hope Brought By The Only Begotten Son of God |
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Corresponds To The “Day of the Lord” or “That Day”
Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; Joel2:2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. Joel 2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. |
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Blessed Hope Brought by the Only Begotten Son of God
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Because God made the decree in Psalm2:7, we have the Blessed Hope from God’s Only Begotten Son.
The “Blessed Hope and glorious appearing” should be preeminent in our hearts and thoughts daily according to Bible teaching. But have we ever spent time to consider what the Blessed Hope is or the consequences of ignoring the Blessed Hope?
I. The Biblical Meaning of “Hope” is: “Earnest Expectation”
First, however, we must realize that the word “hope” has changed meaning since the KJV was translated. Now this does not mean that we should change God’s Word. We have already seen that lack of proper study of God’s Word has lead people to misunderstand the very meaning of the Passage in Psalm 2:7, and this misunderstanding has caused scholars to make foolish changes to certain versions of the Bible.
A. The way we use the word “hope” today, is something of an unintelligent maybe. An example may be someone saying, “I hope it rains today, we need the moisture.” That person is not expecting rain and this statement is only a “wish”. That person may be more surprised if it did rain today, than if it did not. That is not the way the Bible uses “hope”.
B. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, uses a sentence with 2 synonyms, and with one of them being “Hope”. We can gather from that the Biblical definition of “hope.” that it is an “earnest expectation”
Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Paul was fully expecting Christ to be magnified. Paul expects earnestly to magnify Christ whether he is dead and with Christ, or living on this earth teaching Christ. Paul earnestly expected life with Christ after death.
C. Hope from God’s Word is “sure” and “Steadfast”” and an “anchor of the soul”
Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
I’m sure no one would have “hope as an anchor of the soul” with today’s use of “Hope”
++Hope” along with “Faith” is “Evidence” and has” Substance”
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
D. In writing to the Thessalonians, Paul linked “Hope” with “Patience”, and we see again, “Hope” is connected with Christ’s Resurrection.
I Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
I Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols (work of faith) to serve the living and true God; (labor of love)
I Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, (patience of hope) even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
E. Again and again, we see “Hope” connected with the Resurrection; in fact, God hath begotten us again by the Resurrection of His Only Begotten Son. He also exhorts us to “Hope to the End”
1 Peter 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,
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I Peter 3:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; |
1.) God truly blessed us when He made the decree in Psalm 2:7
2.) We have a “blessed hope” and it is directly connected with Christ’s resurrection.
3.) Our “blessed hope” is a hope of resurrection.
4.) You see we have a blessed hope that is “sure” and “steadfast”: Christ is coming back for His Church as He said in John 14:2-3. You can “anchor your soul on this.
5.) We have “Hope” after this life on earth:
I Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Not only do we have hope in this life, but in the life to come – A Hope of Resurrection
II. The “Blessed Hope” is a Hope of Resurrection
I Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
I Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
I Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
I Corinthians 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
A. Notice that I Corinthians 15:20 likens the resurrection to a “harvest” – 3 parts to a harvest
1. First fruit
2. Main Harvest
3. Gleaning -( What’s left)
B. It Looks like the phrase “Come up hither”, used three times in the Bible, may be the three parts of the First Resurrection –
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
C. There are 3 parts of this resurrection, even though it only looks like two, because Christ is not resurrected alone. Remember, after Christ was crucified, others were resurrected?
Matthew 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Matthew 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (See also Ephesians 4:7-12; Acts 2:22-35; I Peter 3:18; Psalm 16:8-10)
1. Christ was the first resurrected, and the Old Testament Saints led out of captivity by Christ after He died and before His resurrection (Proverbs 25:7; Luke 14)
2. The church meeting Christ in the air at His Coming (Rapture) Revelation 4:1-2 ( John 14:1-3; I Corinthians 15:51-55; I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
3. The Two Witnesses –( Revelation 11:12)
D. Christ destroys all His enemies, and the last to be destroyed is death.
I Corinthians 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
I Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
I Corinthians 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
I Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
III. The “Blessed Hope” is an Adoption - (Begins In This Life)
A. We Have The Holy Spirit If We Are Not In The Flesh
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you…
Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
B. We do not receive the spirit of bondage, but We Have Received the Spirit of Adoption
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
C. This Makes us Heirs of God, and Joint-Heirs with Christ
Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
D. Therefore We Have Hope of Glory In The Resurrection
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
IV. The “Blessed Hope” is a Hope of Redemption – (Completion of Adoption)
Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Romans 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.
A. In this “Redemption of our Bodies” We are “Saved by Hope” – (Patience of Hope)
Romans 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?
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
B. While the spirit and soul may be saved here, the body is not saved until the resurrection, but we are given a down payment until this resurrection:
1. The Father has Chosen and Predestinated us
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
2. We have the earnest of our inheritance
Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Ephesians 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,
Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
C. The Holy Ghost helps us along the way:
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
D. Our High Priest Knows the heart of the Spirit, and Makes Intercession on our behalf:
Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
E. Having the “Patience of Hope” and the entire Godhead working on our behalf, We Have Hope:
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God…
F. What will be our State of Existence, when we are “Fully Begotten”:
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
G. All this made sure, because God Delivered up His Own Son for us All
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
H. It is God – not Man – Who Justifieth:
Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
I. Because of “Patience of Hope” We are “More than Conquerors through Christ”
Romans 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Romans 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
J. This teaching of the Resurrection was a “Mystery” in the Old Testament:
I Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
I Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
I Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
K. This “Rapture” Hope or “Redemption of the body from the dead” gives us the “Victory” through Christ
I Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
I Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
I Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
I Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 15: 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
V. The Blessed Hope Is Consists of Two Main Events – When Do They Happen?
A. Let’s look at the text again:
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
B. While Titus does not explain these two events, II Thessalonians 2 does. The Rapture and the 2nd Coming are explained with the end time actions of the Antichrist in between these two events.
II Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
II Thessalonians 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
II Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
II Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
II Thessalonians 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
II Thessalonians 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
II Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
II Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
So, We can see that the Rapture happens first, then the 7 year Tribulation, then the 2nd Coming of Christ
VIII. How Can We Live soberly, righteously, and godly in this Present World
A. I John Chapter 2 was written so that we might not sin
I John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
I John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
I John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
B. What are His Commandments?
I John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
I John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
C. Because God Loves us, we should love one another
I John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
I John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
I John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
I John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
I John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
D. So, we do not have to be ashamed at Judgment Seat of Christ:
I John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
I John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
I John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
I John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
I John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
E. Remember The Father Has Begotten us as well (James 1:18; I Peter 1:3)
I John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
I John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
I John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
VII. The “Blessed Hope” is Purifying – Even Though We Don’t See It Now
I John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
I John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
I John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
When was the last time you looked into the heavens and wondered if the rapture would be today? Looking for His appearing , is what God wants us to do, and it is purifying.
II Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.