Hope

2 Corinthians 1:10-12 - He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.


1 Timothy 4:10 - That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Philippians 1:18-19 - But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

2 Corinthians 2:17 - Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

Application:

· God is the Savior of all in that He offers salvation to all and saves all who come to Him
· I am saved to eternal life by God no matter what my circumstances on this earth
· Am I willing to persevere Christ-like suffering?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Hope

Zechariah 9:9-10,12-15 - Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.…Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you. I will bend Judah as I bend my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and make you like a warrior’s sword. Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south, and the LORD Almighty will shield them. They will destroy and overcome with slingstones. They will drink and roar as with wine; they will be full like a bowl used for sprinkling the corners of the altar.


Zechariah 14:20 - On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar.

Application:

· Do I conform to the divine standard of morality and ethics?
· The Lord’s rule will be universal
· Am I consecrated to the Lord’s service? (Holy to the Lord!!!)

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

One Hope

Ephesians 4:4-6 - There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Romans 12:4-5 - For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Ephesians 1:7-10 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Conclusions:

· Am I part of the body? Do I belong to other parts of the body?
· Does the Holy Spirit indwell me and does my life overflow with the fruit of the Spirit?
· Do I look forward to the time when everything will be brought into meaningful relationship under the headship of Christ?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Christ Jesus Our Hope

1 Timothy 1:1-2 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:1-2 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Titus 1:1-4 - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior, To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Titus 2:12-14 - It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Conclusions:

• An apostle is one specially commissioned by Christ
• Timothy was evidently with Paul when 1 Corinthians was written, but not necessarily a co-author
• Our brother means our fellow believer, our brother in Christ
• The church of God is a community of believers, the local representatives of the universal church
• Saints are another term for God’s people; it means those who have been set apart as holy to the Lord
• Achaia is Greece, as distinct from Macedonia in the north
• Though 1 Corinthians deals particularly with the situation in Corinth, it was also intended for Christians elsewhere in Greece
• Presumably copies would be made of 1 Corinthians in Corinth and circulated to Grecian Christians
• Crucial events in God’s program occur at His designated times in history
• His word is the authoritative message that centers in Christ
• Three times in Titus God the Father is called Savior, and three times Jesus is called Savior
• “The blessed hope—the glorious appearing” is the second coming
• It is possible to translate “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” as “the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ,” but the NIV rendering better represents the Greek construction
• Our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ is an explicit testimony to the deity of Christ

Application:

• Are you in the community of the church of God?
• Has God brought His Word to light to you?
• Are you waiting for the blessed hope?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Even If You Should Suffer

1 Peter 3:10-16 - For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Titus 2:12-14 - It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Colossians 4:6 - Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Hebrews 3:6 - But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

Conclusions:

• Salvation involves the double work of redeeming us from guilt and judgment and of producing moral purity and helpful service to others
• “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven” is a present reality as well as a future hope
• Set apart Christ as Lord is an exhortation to the readers to make an inner commitment to Christ
• If an inner commitment is made to Christ, then they need not be speechless when called on to defend their faith
• If an inner commitment is made to Christ, there will be a readiness to answer
• The Christian is always to be a gentleman or gentle woman, even when opposed by unbelievers
• Our answer is always to be given with love, never in degrading terms
• Salt is a preservative and is tasty
• The Christian’s conversation is to be wholesome
• The house is made up of God’s people, His household
• Failure to persevere reveals that a person is actually not a child of God, whereas perseverance is the hallmark of His children

Application:

• Are you eager to do what is good?
• Are you persecuted because of righteousness?
• Are you a gentle person when opposed by unbelievers?
• Is you conversation wholesome?
• Do you hold on to your courage and the hope?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3-5,23 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time…For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Ephesians 1:3 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Titus 3:4-7 - But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Hebrews 3:6 - But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

1 Peter 2:21 - To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 Peter 3:15-16 - But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Conclusions:

• God’s comfort flows to all believers when they suffer for Jesus’ sake, and it equips them to comfort others who are in trouble
• Paul perceives that in the exaltation of Christ and in the Christian’s union with the exalted Christ ultimate issues are involved—issues that pertain to the divine realm and that in the final analysis are worked out in and from that realm
• Salvation is not achieved by human effort or merit, but comes through God’s mercy alone
• The imperishable seed is doubtless the word of God, which is imperishable, living and enduring
• Failure to persevere reveals that a person is actually not a child of God, whereas perseverance is the hallmark of His children
• The patient endurance of injustice is part of God’s plan for the Christian
• The Christian is always to be a gentleman or gentle woman, even when opposed by unbelievers

Application:

• Do you suffer for Jesus sake?
• Are you spiritually united with Christ?
• Your salvation is from God's mercy alone.
• Have you repented and believed in Christ?
• Are you persevering?
• Are you patiently enduring?
• Are you a gentleman or gentle woman?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Who Have No Hope

1 Thessalonians 4:11-13 - Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

Mark 4:11-12 - He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, " 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!' "

Romans 11:25 - I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

1 Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:21,23-24 - For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain…I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Conclusions:

• Christians in need because of their idleness are not obedient Christians
• The secret is proclaimed to all, but only those who have faith understand
• The secret seems to be that the kingdom of God had drawn near in the coming of Christ
• The so-called mystery religions of Paul’s day used the Greek word in the sense of something that was to be revealed only to the initiated
• Paul himself used mystery to refer to something formerly hidden or obscure but now revealed by God for all to know and understand
• Mystery is used of (1) the incarnation, (2) the death of Christ, (3) God’s purpose to sum up all things in Christ and especially to include both Jews and Gentiles in the New Testament church, (4) the change that will take place at the resurrection, and (5) the plan of God by which both Jew and Gentile, after a period of disobedience by both, will by His mercy be included in the kingdom
• God’s merciful plan to include the Gentiles in His great salvation plan should humble them, not fill them with arrogance
• Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ is victory over condemnation for sin that the law brought over death and the grave, through the death and resurrection of Christ
• Christ was the source and secret of Paul’s continual joy, for Paul’s life found all it’s meaning in Christ
• The gain brought by death is “being with Christ,” so that here Paul is saying that his ultimate concern and most precious possession, both now and forever, is Christ and his relationship to Him
• Being with Christ after death must involve some kind of conscious presence and fellowship

Application:

• When you are in need, is it because of idleness?
• Do you understand the secret?
• Does God's merciful plans to the Gentiles humble you?
• Do you have victory over the condemnation for sin?
• Is your ultimate concern Christ and your relationship to Him?
• Do you desire to depart and be with Christ?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible