Lesson 8 Review: The New Testament Hope

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11, 12, NKJV).

The Christian Hope as seen in the New Testament is a Christ-Centered Hope, the hope that one day this mortal existence will become an immortal one.

How closely related is Christ’s resurrection to the hope of our own resurrection?

Our resurrection is tied to Christ, if Jesus had not risen, then we will not rise, our faith will be futile, and we will still be in our sins. If there is no hope for us beyond this life, Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 15:32, “If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’ ”.

Why can we still believe in Jesus’ return despite the great length of time?

First, Jesus never stated when He will return but He certainly made it clear that He will return, whether it is 20 years from now or more, we do not know for sure yet. 2 Pet. 3:9 says “the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some count slowness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

What three basic concepts did Jesus highlight in regard to eternal life?

‘First, He identified Himself as “ ‘ the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world’ ” ’ (John 6:33, 58, NIV). ‘Second, Jesus explained that everlasting life can be secured in Him: “ ‘he who comes to Me’ ” and “ ‘he who believes in Me’ ” will have this blessing’. Third, Jesus also linked the gift of immortality with the final resurrection, assuring His audience three times, “ ‘and I will raise him up at the last day’ ” (John 6:40, 44, 54, NKJV).

Does it mean that we will not die in view of John 6:47 which says, “…whoever believes has eternal life”?

The gift of eternal life is already a present reality, it does not mean we will not die, but we have been assured eternal life through Christ. When Jesus comes, “…whoever believes” will be raised to eternal life.

What hope did Paul give to the Thessalonians who thought that their loved ones who died without seeing Jesus return were gone?

Paul consoles the Thessalonians that although their loved ones are dead, Christ will raise them up when He comes. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14, NKJV). He further states that the Lord 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.

What does the “mystery” in 1 Corinthians 15:51 refer to?

The mystery Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 15:51 is simply the transformation of the living righteous to join the resurrected righteous at Jesus’ second coming. This is the rapture, the “mystery” Paul talks about those not connote a secret rapture that leaves the living wondering what must have happened to the raptured.

In Conclusion,

We who die in Christ will all be raised on the last day because Jesus has risen, this is the New Testament Hope, and the only hope we have as Christians. I pray that We partake in the first resurrection in Jesus’ name.