Expectation, Part II: In Hope of Eternal Life

In Hope of Eternal Life

In our previous lesson (Expectation), we saw God's expectation for the world was to choose eternal life. He set life in array to drive mankind toward eternal life symbolized by the tree of life in the garden of Eden.

Titus 1:1-3
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie , promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

Eternal life was God's everlasting plan for mankind. He promised this before the world began. Sin ruined what could have been.

However, the Christian life is created by faith in Christ that grants unto us eternal life, sealed by the Holy Ghost, and given to us with a firm hope of perpetual presence in all the ages to come. This life is not just to live a full life in this age; it has an assured hope of the future in it.

John 3:14-16
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness , even so must the Son of man be lifted up : That whosoever believeth in him should not perish , but have eternal life . For God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten Son , that whosoever believeth in him should not perish , but have everlasting life.

John 6:53-54
Then Jesus said unto them , Verily , verily , I say unto you , Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man , and drink his blood , ye have no life in you . Whoso eateth my flesh , and drinketh my blood , hath eternal life ; and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 17:2-3

1 John 5:11-13, 20

Ephesians 2:4-9
But God , who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

With this in view, we look forward to the glorious appearing of our Lord when this hope shall crystallize and fully manifest.

Romans 2:5-10
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God ; Who will render to every man according to his deeds : To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality , eternal life : But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth , but obey unrighteousness , indignation and wrath , Tribulation and anguish , upon every soul of man that doeth evil , of the Jew first , and also of the Gentile ; But glory , honour , and peace , to every man that worketh good , to the Jew first , and also to the Gentile:

Colossians 1:26-29
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations , but now is made manifest to his saints : To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles ; which is Christ in you , the hope of glory : Whom we preach , warning every man , and teaching every man in all wisdom ; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus : Whereunto I also labour , striving according to his working , which worketh in me mightily.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-10
Therefore let us not sleep , as do others ; but let us watch and be sober . For they that sleep sleep in the night ; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night . But let us , who are of the day , be sober , putting on the breastplate of faith and love ; and for an helmet , the hope of salvation . For God hath not appointed us to wrath , but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ , Who died for us , that , whether we wake or sleep , we should live together with him .

2 Timothy 2:10-13
Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes , that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory . It is a faithful saying : For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer , we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us : If we believe not , yet he abideth faithful : he cannot deny himself.

Titus 2:11-15
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath 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 (/prosdechomai/to receive to one's self, to receive, to admit, to accept, to expect) that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Titus 3:3-8
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish , disobedient , deceived , serving divers lusts and pleasures , living in malice and envy , hateful , and hating one another . But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared , Not by works of righteousness which we have done , but according to his mercy he saved us , by the washing of regeneration , and renewing of the Holy Ghost ; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour ; That being justified by his grace , we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying , and these things I will that thou affirm constantly , that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works . These things are good and profitable unto men.

1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead , To an inheritance incorruptible , and undefiled , and that fadeth not away , reserved in heaven for you , Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

2 Peter 3:12-14 (/Prosdpkāo/to expect in hope or fear; to look for)
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that he hath promised us , even eternal life.

1 John 3:2-3
Beloved , now are we the sons of God , and it doth not yet appear what we shall be : but we know that , when he shall appear , we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is . And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself , even as he is pure.

In fact, in Apostle Paul's treatise on resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, he emphasized this great Christian expectation, our hope of resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

So, our place in the ages to come is secured because our resurrection compared to other resurrection is glorious.

Daniel 12:2
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

John 5:28-29
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Matthew 25:46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Acts 24:15
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

Resurrection to life come with a new body. We get a body, a celestial one that fits into every succeeding age which as a permanent feature is given to us. 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 51-54

Philippians 1:19-20
For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.