1. Hope and Change, God’s Way Hope and Change, God’s Way Lesson 1 Romans 15:1-13 Hope From the Old Testament February 28, 2010

3. I.Introduction to Lesson 1 A.Hope and Change – theme of 2008 election B.What they got right – discontent of many with their current situation C.What politics can never produce – the kind of change our world really needs D.Why I chose this topic 1.Hope, a prominent biblical theme 2.Hope is desperately needed E.Hope in the Bible: A couple of observations 1.Hope is both a verb and a noun (like “fear” or “trust” or “milk”). 2.Its use in the Old Testament 3.Its use in the New Testament 4.The limitations of a concordance approach – see Romans 4:18

6. II.A Definition of Hope – crucial elements A.Other meanings of hope B.Biblical hope is uniquely Christian (Ephesians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13) C.Faith/trust (Ps. 33:22; 39:7; 1 Tim. 4:10) D.Future/not seen (Rom. 8:24-25; Heb. 11:1) E.Waiting (Ps. 62:5; Gal. 5:5) F.Confidence/assurance/perseverance (Ps. 71:5; Rom. 15:4; 1 Thes. 1:3; Heb. 6:19) G.Change for the better (Hebrews 7:19) H.Expectation and desire (Proverbs 13:12) I.Often found with faith and love (Rom. 5:1-5; 1 Cor. 13:13; Gal. 5:5-6; Eph. 1:12-18; 1 Thes. 1:3; 5:8; 1 Tim. 1:1-5; 4:10-11; 1 Pet. 1:3-9, 13, 20- 23).

7. Hope is the Christian’s desire for and confident anticipation of the better things God has promised, that are yet future and at present are unseen. Hope is a God-based optimism about the future, based upon His words and works in the past.

8. III.How the Old Testament Inspires Hope for New Testament Christians (Romans 15:1-13, especially verse 4). A.Romans is about Jew/Gentile relationships. 1.1:16—3:20: The law condemns both. 2.3:31—4:25: Faith in Christ saves both. 3.5:1-21: Two explanations 4.6-8: The law and sanctification 5.9-11: Jews and Gentiles in the plan of God 6.12: Spiritual gifts & the practice of love 7.13: The law of the land & law of love 8.14: Accepting one another 9.15:1-13: The obligation of the strong to the weak

9. B.How the Old Testament impacts Jew/Gentile relationships. 1.The issue: a two-fold problem 2.The key: mysteries (Eph. 3:4-10; 5:32) 3.Lifting the veil (2 Cor. 3:12-16) a.The principle (Rom. 15:1-2) b.Jesus, the ultimate example (15:3) c.The role of the Old Testament (15:4) d.The goal: worshipping God in unity, to His glory (15:5-12) e.Benediction (15:13)

10. C.How to find hope in the Old Testament. 1.Remember the mysteries. 2.Look for Jesus. 3.Look for God’s ultimate purposes for His people (Jews and Gentiles). 4.Learn of God, the “God of hope” (15:13). a.God’s wisdom and power (e.g. creation and the exodus). b.God’s character: mercy and grace (Exodus 32-34) c.God’s faithfulness to His promises d.God’s future promises (prophecy – couched in terms which remind us of God’s past works)

11. IV.Conclusion A.Don’t put your hope in men, politics, or this present age. B.Hope is found in the Scriptures (O.T. and New), not in the newspaper or on TV. C.Keep your hope fixed on heaven (Hebrews 11:13-15). D.Keep your hope focused on God, His character, purposes and promises. E.True hope is what this world desperately needs. F.Only the Christian has hope G.Our lives should be characterized by hope, and our witness based on our hope.

12. Copyright © 2010 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. This is the edited PowerPoint presentation of Lesson 1 in the series, Hope and Change, God’s Way, prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh for February 28, 2010. Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit.