Lesson 3 for April 18, 2009 HOPE

HOPE IN THIS WORLD (without God) POLITICS AMUSEMENT MONEY

What lies behind those hopes? Terror War Corruption Hunger

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Luke 21:25-26

Whoever has Jesus has life We relate to Jesus every day HOPE FOR THIS WORLD (with God) Jesus is life Whoever has Jesus has life We relate to Jesus every day We have life every day

WHAT’S HOPE FOR CHRISTIANS?

Hope in the Second Coming “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13

Hope in the Second Coming “One of the most solemn and yet most glorious truths revealed in the Bible is that of Christ’s second coming, to complete the great work of redemption. To God’s pilgrim people, so long left to sojourn in ‘the region and shadow of death,’ a precious, joy-inspiring hope is given in the promise of His appearing, who is ‘the resurrection and the life,’ to ‘bring home again His banished.’ ” Ellen G. White, Maranatha, January 5)

HOPE IN RESURRECTION “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus… For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 16-18

HOPE IN RESURRECTION “Hope and faith strengthen the soul to pass through the dark shadows of the tomb, in full faith of coming forth to immortal life in the morning of the resurrection.” (Ellen G. White, That I may know Him, December 22)

HOPE IN ETERNAL LIFE “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

HOPE IN ETERNAL LIFE “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away… He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son… But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” Revelation 21:4, 7, 22

HOPE IN ETERNAL LIFE “Hope has been set before us, even the hope of eternal life. Nothing short of this blessing for us will satisfy our Redeemer, but it is our part to lay hold upon this hope by faith in Him who has promised. We may expect to suffer, for it is those who are partakers with Him in His sufferings who shall be partakers with Him in His glory. He has purchased forgiveness and immortality for the sinful, perishing souls of men, but it is our part to receive these gifts by faith…

HOPE IN ETERNAL LIFE Ellen G. White, That I may know Him, March 14) “…Believing in Him, we have this hope as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast. We are to understand that we may confidently expect God’s favor not only in this world but in the heavenly world, since He paid such a price for our salvation. Faith in the atonement and intercession of Christ will keep us steadfast and immovable amid the temptations that press upon us in the church militant. Let us contemplate the glorious hope that is set before us, and by faith lay hold upon it.”

JESUS IS HOPE Jesus is hope. He can solve all the problems of mankind: Solution for this world: the New Earth. Solution for death: the resurrection. Solution for men and women: everlasting life.