Threaded Mode | Linear Mode

***Vic*** · 05-02-2009, 04:55 PM

(05-02-2009 04:21 PM)finney Wrote: Okeedoke. Wasn't tryin' to go off topic. That blessed hope IS our Lord and his appearing ('cause then we'll be like 'im). It's hope like this: It's not "I hope I hit the lottery", it's "I hit the lottery and I hope the check comes today." That's what's meant by a certain hope. It's also a blessed hope 'cause it beats the other one all hollow. Fair enough?
Topics often have a way of spreadin' out, don't they? I'm worse at it than many, I reckon, and when I start to drift too far just yank me back.

That's ok. Yes, it's easy for topics to spread out and we try to start new threads if necessary. And I have had to go off topic on many threads to deal with some things, so we all do it. Reaction

But, ....

I will be happy to yank you back on topic. Icon_runforhills

~~LindaR~~ · 05-10-2009, 03:44 PM

This little piece from Way of Life Encyclopedia expands on the topic of "hope":

WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE?

(1) Eternal life is the Christian's hope.

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2)

(2) Christ's coming is the Christian's hope.

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13)

(3) Resurrection is the Christian's hope.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (Romans 8:23-24)

(4) The glory of God is the Christian's hope. This is a reference to the splendor and wealth of Christ's kingdom and also to the moral perfection which we will share at resurrection.

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)

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: (Colossians 1:27)

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 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. (1 John 3:1-3)

(5) Perfect righteousness is the Christian's hope.

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. (Galatians 5:5)

(6) Rich inheritance is the Christian's hope.

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)

(7) To be like Jesus is the Christian's hope.

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. (1 John 3:2-3)

All of these things are the certain possession of every true Christian. This is our hope. It is not God's will for the believer to be unsure about whether or not he possesses these things; rather it is His express will that we "abound in hope".

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)

Praise God for such a salvation!

Th_prraisethelord

Strefanash · 05-12-2009, 07:24 PM

(04-29-2009 02:46 PM)Vic Wrote: If the 'rapture' or second coming is your blessed hope, do those who have physically died before that event takes place, lose hope or have lost hope?

No, for the dead in Christ shall rise first. Being dead does not exclude one from the rapture, which, BTW I now take to be the first resurrection, happening AT the second coming not before it

sheep wrecked · (This post was last modified: 05-12-2009 07:47 PM by sheep wrecked.)

(05-12-2009 07:24 PM)Strefanash Wrote: No, for the dead in Christ shall rise first. Being dead does not exclude one from the rapture, which, BTW I now take to be the first resurrection, happening AT the second coming not before it

In reference to the discussion, and curious as to your thoughts - what to you is the "blessed hope"?

Sign0092

Strefanash · 05-12-2009, 09:29 PM

(05-12-2009 07:46 PM)sheep wrecked Wrote:
(05-12-2009 07:24 PM)Strefanash Wrote: No, for the dead in Christ shall rise first. Being dead does not exclude one from the rapture, which, BTW I now take to be the first resurrection, happening AT the second coming not before it

In reference to the discussion, and curious as to your thoughts - what to you is the "blessed hope"?

The NIV translation puts it as "while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearance of our great God and Saviour" which reading implies quite directly that the blessed hope IS the appearance of the Lord of Hosts. This is the translation I use, this is the passage as I remember it, but the NIV has its known flaws, so I checked the Greek

The Greek has an "and" where the NIV puts a dash,thus: "expecting the blessed hope and appearance of . . . . ."

Does this imply that the blessed hope and the appearance are different things? On reflection I suggest maybe not, to think so is to read the passage too tightly and so to miss the point of the thing.

So after a little thought I may return to the idea that the blessed hope is in fact the glorious appeartnace of the King of Kings, the Great Sovereigjn etc etc

sheep wrecked · (This post was last modified: 05-12-2009 10:14 PM by sheep wrecked.)

(05-12-2009 09:29 PM)Strefanash Wrote: The NIV translation puts it as "while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearance of our great God and Saviour" which reading implies quite directly that the blessed hope IS the appearance of the Lord of Hosts. This is the translation I use, this is the passage as I remember it, but the NIV has its known flaws, so I checked the Greek

The Greek has an "and" where the NIV puts a dash,thus: "expecting the blessed hope and appearance of . . . . ."

Does this imply that the blessed hope and the appearance are different things? On reflection I suggest maybe not, to think so is to read the passage too tightly and so to miss the point of the thing.

So after a little thought I may return to the idea that the blessed hope is in fact the glorious appeartnace of the King of Kings, the Great Sovereigjn etc etc

Vic had a rather extensive post on the "hope" scriptures and that they point to the person of Jesus Christ, not to an event [page 1 of this thread, post #6]. This is my concern with "the blessed hope" as the rapture. That I will see Jesus some day is only secondary to the fact that He is my Hope and Salvation, now.

Thoughts?

King James Version:
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

Strefanash · 05-12-2009, 10:19 PM

I wasn't separating the two. Of course the Great Sovereign (in Russian "Veliki Gosudar" - which is SO expressive of how I see Him Smile

) Himself is our hope.

And neither was I intendihg to make our faith dependant on the doctrinal platform, ie the rapture.

Yes, quite right. what He is doing for me NOW is in one sense more important to what will come at the end, for without the here and now I am totally unpreparted for events in the end of the age