Sabbath: The New Testament Hope
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, John 14:1-3, John 6:26-51, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-55.
Memory Text: “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12, , NKJV).
Though writing in Greek, all the New Testament writers (except Luke) were Jews, and they of course approached the nature of human beings from the Hebrew wholistic perspective, not from the Greek pagan one.
Thus, for Christ and the apostles, the Christian hope was not a new hope but, rather, the unfolding of the ancient hope already nurtured by the patriarchs and prophets. For example, Christ mentioned that Abraham foresaw and rejoiced to see His day (John 8:56). Jude stated that Enoch prophesied about the Second Coming (Jude 14, Jude 15). And the book of Hebrews speaks of the heroes of faith as having expected a heavenly reward that they would not receive until we receive ours (Hebrews 11:39-40). This statement would be meaningless if their souls were already with the Lord in heaven.
By stressing that only those who are in Christ have eternal life (1 John 5:11-12), John disproves the theory of the natural immortality of the soul. Truly, there is no eternal life apart from a saving relationship with Christ. The New Testament hope, then, is a Christ-centered hope, and the only hope that this mortal existence will one day become an immortal one.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 19.
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Everyone can live life, but there is only one statement that gives a distinction to this, that...
The Apostle Paul puts his finger on what is at the heart of the Gospel – ‘if Christ is not risen, then there is no resurrection of the dead, and if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty..’ 1 Cor.15:13-14.
I also notice that we will learn to understand John’s explanation of what constitutes true life – 1 John 5:11-12. I am looking forward to gain insight regarding the view that immortality is perceived by some to be a “natural immortality of the soul”, versus the biblical claim that: “Truly, there is no eternal life apart from a saving relationship with Christ.”
For me, this topic reflects one of the basic Gospel truths. I am looking forward to learning that “The New Testament hope, then, is a Christ-centered hope, and the only hope that this mortal existence will one day become an immortal one.”
Is there value believing in a resurrected Christ without the promise of eternal life? YES! Our conscience is freed from the guilt of sin and we can live this life with true joy and peace.
1 Cor 15:17 (NLT) 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.
John 10:10,11 (AMP) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
11[c]I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd [d]lays down His [own] life for the sheep.
I am not disputing the resurrection or that it is a wonderful prospect. I'm just not sure that the saved have to wait for the 'NT Hope', (or maybe there is more than one hope.) As far as I understand, animals do not get eternal life once dead on earth but the good shepherd still dies for them in hopes that they have life, here and now.
Life on earth w/o Christ is a half lived because He makes us whole. Praise God from whom all blessings flow, now.
2 Cor 6:2 (NIV) For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation." (Isa 49:8)