The Birth of Hope The Life Giver

HELP OVERCOMING PERILOUS EXPERIENCES - THE BIRTH OF HOPE THE LIFE GIVER

We learned that Faith is for the Now and Hope for the Future

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) 11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 15:13 (NLT) "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

HOPE IS ROOTED IN THE PROMISES OF GOD, WHICH ARE UNCHANGING AND ETERNAL.

We express our hope in God, by what we do while wait for God

"For the believer there is hope beyond the grave, because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven for us by His death and resurrection." -Billy Graham

• Why did we need this hope from Jesus?

Genesis 3:19 (AMP) 19 "By the sweat of your face You will eat bread Until you return to the ground, For from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."

Jesus: The Life Giver

John 1:4 (AMP) 4 In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men.

John 8:12 (AMP) Jesus Is the Light of the World Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, "I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

John 10:7 (AMP) So Jesus said again, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am the Door for the sheep [leading to life].

John 10:10 (AMP) 10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

Luke 4:18 (AMP) "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME (the Messiah), BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO ANNOUNCE RELEASE (pardon, forgiveness) TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy),

John 11:25 (AMP) Jesus said to her, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies;

John 14:6 (AMP) 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

CONNECTION BETWEEN LIFE AND HOPE

1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV) A Heavenly Inheritance 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

CORRECTING FALSE TEACHING

1 TIMOTHY 1:1 (AMP) 1 Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus by the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed) our Hope [the fulfillment of our salvation],

MATTHEW 12:21 (AMP) 21 "And in His name the Gentiles (all the nations of the world) will hope [with confidence]."

1 CORINTHIANS 15:19 (AMP) 19 If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hoped only in this life [and this is all there is], then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied.

Romans 12:12 (AMP) 12 constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength],

Psalm 71:5 (AMP) 5 For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust and the source of my confidence from my youth.

Hebrews 6:19 (AMP) We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

1 Peter 3:15 (AMP) 15 But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT) 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Adam and Christ: Death and Life

Romans 5:12-19 (AMP) 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to all people [no one being able to stop it or escape its power], because they all sinned. 13 Sin was [committed] in the world before the Law [was given], but sin is not charged [against anyone] when there is no law [against it]. 14 Yet death ruled [over mankind] from Adam to Moses [the Lawgiver], even over those who had not sinned as Adam did. Adam is a type of Him (Christ) who was to come [but in reverse—Adam brought destruction, Christ brought salvation]. 15 But the free gift [of God] is not like the trespass [because the gift of grace overwhelms the fall of man]. For if many died by one man's trespass [Adam's sin], much more [abundantly] did God's grace and the gift [that comes] by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow to [benefit] the many. 16 Nor is the gift [of grace] like that which came through the one who sinned. For on the one hand the judgment [following the sin] resulted from one trespass and brought condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift resulted from many trespasses and brought justification [the release from sin's penalty for those who believe]. 17 For if by the trespass of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one (Adam), much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in [eternal] life through the One, Jesus Christ. 18 So then as through one trespass [Adam's sin] there resulted condemnation for all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For just as through one man's disobedience [his failure to hear, his carelessness] the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one Man the many will be made righteous and acceptable to God and brought into right standing with Him.

Discussion Questions

1. Billy Graham said, "For the believer there is hope beyond the grave, because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven for us by His death and resurrection." How does the resurrection of Jesus provide the foundation for our hope?
2. Genesis 3:19 describes humanity's sentence: "dust you are and to dust you shall return." How does Jesus reverse this curse and offer us eternal life instead of eternal death?
3. Jesus made seven "I AM" statements in the Gospel of John, many relating to life (Light, Door, Resurrection and Life, Way/Truth/Life). Why is Jesus' identity as "the Life Giver" central to our hope?
4. John 10:10 contrasts the thief who "steals, kills, and destroys" with Jesus who gives "abundant life." What does abundant life look like, and how is it different from mere existence?
5. 1 Peter 1:3 speaks of "a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." How is Christian hope different from wishful thinking or optimism? What makes it "living"?
6. Hebrews 6:19 describes hope as "an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." In what ways does hope in Christ anchor us during life's storms?
7. 1 Peter 3:15 says we should always be ready to give a defense for the hope within us. How would you explain the hope you have in Christ to someone who has no hope?
8. 1 Corinthians 15:19 says if we only have hope in this life, we are "most miserable and to be pitied." Why is hope beyond this life essential to Christian faith?
9. Romans 5:12-19 contrasts Adam and Christ—one brought death, the other brought life. How does understanding this "before and after" help us appreciate what Jesus accomplished?
10. Ephesians 2:10 says "we are God's masterpiece...created anew in Christ Jesus." How does knowing you are God's masterpiece, recreated with purpose, give you hope for today and tomorrow?

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