Christian Hope and Destiny David Cox Southampton Christadelphians Quotations from English Standard Version

Expressions of hope For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Rom 15:4) … having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, (Eph 1:18)

Expressions of hope … we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, (Col 1:4-5) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. (1Th 4:13)

Expressions of hope Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (Heb 10:23) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1Pe 1:3)

The teaching of the Lord Jesus For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:40)

Where will you go when you die? Heaven Hell Purgatory Paradise ? The afterlife Happy hunting ground Valhalla Nirvana ?

The immortality of the soul Widespread idea Important to feel that there is more to life But what does God promise us? What does the Bible say?

Jesus ascends to heaven … he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. … And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (Acts 1:1-3,9) And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)

Why will Jesus return? Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. (1Cor 15:12-14) The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christian belief.

Why will Jesus return? But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. (1Cor 15:20-23) The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christian hope.

Why will Jesus return? Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1Cor 15:24-26) The Christian hope is that the risen Lord will return to the earth. He will establish God’s kingdom on the earth.

The promised kingdom It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isa 2:2-3) For all nations.

The promised kingdom He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isa 2:4) Brings peace to the whole earth.

The promised kingdom And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. (Isa 11:3-4) A kingdom of justice.

The promised kingdom Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, … according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2Pe 3:11-13) A kingdom of righteousness.

The promised kingdom The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Isa 11:6-9) The natural balance of creation restored.

The promised kingdom The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1Cor 15:26) A kingdom of everlasting life. But why bother with this if heaven is the place of reward?

Immortality “Immortal soul” is not a Bible phrase 500 references to “soul” in AV 6 references to immortal (all in NT) Never connected Same word is translated “life” 150 times

The soul If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; … (Lev 5:15 AV) The soul who sins shall die. (Eze 18:20 AV & ESV) The soul cannot be immortal! If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the LORD, … (Lev 5:15 ESV)

The soul Soul = living body, person, creature … then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature (AV soul). (Gen 2:7) Body + breath of life = living soul “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before … the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (Ecc 12:1-7)

The state of the dead Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before … the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. (Ecc 12:1-7) The soul (life, breath) is a part of God’s life-sustaining power

The state of the dead But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun. (Ecc 9:4-6)

The state of the dead For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? (Ps 6:5) What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?” (Ps 30:9) Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? (Ps 88:11) The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence. (Ps 115:17) For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness. (Isa 38:18 ESV)

The state of the dead Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. … For David did not ascend into the heavens, …(Acts 2:29-36) Heaven is not the place of reward David sleeps in the dust and awaits resurrection

Our destiny The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. (Acts 17:30-31) There is a day appointed by God when Jesus will return to judge the world

Our destiny … I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, … that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.” (Acts 24:14-15) The judgement will distinguish between the just and the unjust

Our destiny Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. … Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:6,14-15) The reward for the just is eternal life The condemnation for the unjust is eternal death (oblivion)

Our destiny Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev 21:1-4) The ultimate reward for the just is eternal citizenship of a newly perfected world

Our destiny – in summary Paul … in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began (Tit 1:2) waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, (Tit 2:13) so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Tit 3:7)

Our destiny – in heaven? … because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel (Col 1:5) Not in heaven but waiting to be revealed from heaven A hope that is guaranteed because of this

Our destiny – what shall we do? And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:38-39) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Rom 15:13)