How does belief in Jesus' resurrection impact our hope and daily actions? Waiting for His Son from Heaven 1 Thessalonians 1:10: “and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.” Resurrection—The Bedrock of Our Hope • Jesus really did rise; the tomb is still empty. • Because He lives, our future is certain (John 14:19). • His resurrection guarantees ours (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). • Through the new birth we receive “a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3). • Hope is not wishful thinking; it is anchored in an accomplished fact. How Hope Reorders Daily Life • Steadfast Work: “Therefore… be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). • Moral Clarity: Raised with Christ, we “set [our] hearts on things above” (Colossians 3:1-4); sin loses its grip. • Enduring Trials: The same power that raised Jesus lives in us (Romans 8:11), enabling patient endurance. • Joyful Anticipation: We lift our eyes, “fixing [our] hope completely on the grace to be brought” (1 Peter 1:13). • Evangelistic Urgency: Deliverance from coming wrath stirs love for those still in danger (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Deliverance from Coming Wrath • Wrath is real, yet so is rescue. • Confidence in rescue breeds gratitude, not complacency. • The promise frees us from fear and fuels bold witness (Romans 1:16). Putting Resurrection Hope into Practice • Start each day remembering, “He is risen indeed.” • Let eternity shape your schedule—prioritize what outlasts today. • Face hardships with the whispered truth, “The grave has already been defeated.” • Make holiness your normal—living like citizens of the kingdom that’s arriving (Philippians 3:20-21). • Encourage fellow believers with resurrection language; remind each other of the finish line. |
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