The Believer's Blessed Hope Pt 1

The Believer’s Blessed Hope

Titus 2:11-13 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

The Bible says that we should live with self-control and avoid the ungodliness of this wicked world.

How do we accomplish that? By the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

We can be free from sin’s control.

We can live a Godly and Holy life thru the power of the one who came and died for you and me.

It isn’t enough just to renounce sin and the desires of this world, we need to actively and purposely live for God.

When we live for Jesus, we don’t have to be ashamed of His appearing.

We don’t have to worry about Him finding us doing things we shouldn’t be doing.

We don’t have to live in fear wondering if He will find me faithful when He returns.

We need to be aware of our hope in Christ: That as Christians, we have a blessed hope. (Vs 13)

The hope that is placed in Jesus knowing that one day He will return to call His children home.

The Return of Christ is:

1. Exciting

2. Imminent

3. Personal

Hope - A confident expectation that something is going to take place.

Blessed Hope - A joyful and confident expectation that is based on the promise of Christ Himself.

It is a thrilling doctrine.

Hope is blessed because:

I. IT INTIMATELY DEALS WITH THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF

1. We should be careful to allow Christ to be first place in our lives all day, every day as we look forward to His appearing.

2. Many times people become more occupied with:

a. Signs and sounds instead of the Savior

b. Events rather than Emmanuel

c. Programs than the Person

Ill: Lift Him Up

3. We should lift up Christ wherever we go and in whatever we do.

Christ is higher than other men as:

a. The Empire State Building is to a dollhouse

b. Bigger than Mount Everest over an ant hill

c. As big as the ocean compare to a simple drop of water

People think of many ways to go to heaven.

That Jesus was just a good way to heaven.

Not a good way, best way, great way, but the only way to heaven.

4. Jesus shouldn’t be priority in our lives --He should be preeminent!

5. This hope is thrilling because Jesus Christ is Personally coming again.

How do we know? Because:

1. The Savior declared it.

John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

A. If you are a born again child of God, this is exciting. We don’t have to worry about our eternity.

2. The Angels confirm it.

Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

3. The Apostles explain it

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

A. The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven: He won’t be sending the angels.

B. He will come "with a shout": the same voice He used when He said "Lazarus, come forth"

C. Vs 17 says we will be "caught up"

The Greek word is harpazo (to snatch up, to transport, grasp hastily, or to rapture)

The Hope is also blessed because:

II. IT IS PERTINENT TO EVERY BELIEVER

1. Every born again child of God is going to heaven. (Some by the skin of their teeth.)

2. But how are they going to get there? By accepting Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior of your life.

3. The Bible says that those who have died before us are already with Christ in heaven.

Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: