Eschatology of Hope: Redemption of the Individual

Good morning. This is truth and love. Thank you for joining us this morning. I've got Dan self with me again this morning. Where are we going through a series? Tackling looking at biblical concepts and ideas.

Part of that series is going to be looking at what we call the eschatology of hope. We're gonna we've looked at. What do we look at before repentance. Mm-hmm. We looked at repentance before and we're going to look at other concepts like believe.

Just different concepts ideas That we find in Scripture that are relevant for the Christian life. And part of that series is going to be this eschatology of hope eschatology meaning last things in times and.

And I know that subject it's really popular when when bad things are happening in the world. And we want to talk about it from a biblical standpoint and I want to talk about why that's important here in a second.

But.

With us saying eschatology. I wanted us to you know, explain that eschatologist eschatology just simply means last things. In times. And why do we call it the eschatology of hope? Daniel what what's the reason?

Why is it hopeful? As opposed to the other ideas or the other brands of eschatology.

All all this doll the end time systems. Have an idea. That that's the same in in the final analysis. What we're looking forward to is the return of Jesus. He's gonna come back. He's gonna gather his people to himself.

It's going to take away sin wipe away every tear Heal up every wound. He's going to take those who reject him those who are his enemies and put them away forever In an outer darkness. He's going to take the creation as it is and perfect it take remove all the effects of sin and It's going to be perfect bliss in relationship between us God and creation.

Forever.

The reason why We call this an eschatology of hope is because we believe that because of the redemption of Christ has been purchased on the cross and Then applied by God by Christ as the whole as the the high priest That will begin to see those things Take place in a small introductory form before the second coming.

So we'll start to see Lengthening of life. We'll start to see People follow the law of God more and more as we see Christian there become more and more Christians upon the earth. So what we see is we see the final result of of all things of all redemption Bleeding over into this time before the second coming To a point where we believe that there's a great hope to be had in the world today.

Even though things may look bleak we know that Christ is working To put all of his enemies under his feet and then comes the end When he returns and takes the kingdom and presents it to the Father in heaven.

So it's hopeful because we have a hope that some of that End times bliss of the eternal state as Sin is put away in the here and now will bleed over into into our time period. So we're hopeful not only for the future, but also for the far future for the eternal future, but also for our Relatively near future no before Christ's second coming right.

And that bleakness that you talk about that's that's the key thing. Everybody looks for and that's when eschatology Rears its head in people's minds when when things are looking bleak, but things looking bleak Aren't unique to us.

It's actually a good thing. If you think about sin and the nature of it sin being self-defeating it eats itself. I mean it can produce nothing but death. So when sin Starts to ramp up and we see the the bleak effects on the world.

We know that that sin stores up the wrath of God and at some point that wrath is poured out we know we saw that about the The Amorites in the Old Testament. They said you're not going into the land quite yet Israel.

Because the sin of the Amorites is not yet full. But one day it was full and they went into the land and they took that land. And the same way now as we see Sin looking like it's taking victory sin is just inching closer and closer to its destruction.

So as we when we see sin looking like it's winning Sin is just becoming that much closer to destruction so really that that's the way that things go. I think of the the Cross and the resurrection where did sin look like.

It was getting its biggest victory. It looked like his biggest victory and putting down the Son of God. We don't want to deal with him anymore. So we're going to kill him but in the killing of Christ.

We have the redemption of men. We have the shed blood that was then applied on our behalf and really what sin thought was going to be the biggest victory for it. What the devil thought was going to be his greatest victory ended up being a victory for Christ.

Leading to all those wonderful eschatological hopes that we have in the future. As we see things getting bleak around us. You can have a hope that things are actually Going the way that they should be.

Christ is going to put his enemies down.

The first part of the victory victory. We're seeing oh he had the victory Satan thought he had the victory and that was the Pinnacle then the resurrection happens and so that that begins that eschatology of hope the eschatology and we're gonna.

We're gonna touch on our first part of the series is redemption of the individual. And so that's gonna be our first part of Looking at that victory that was won there on the cross and in the resurrection so Praise the Lord that goes gone.

All right, that was that's hard to work with. So, let me do it another little introduction this is truth and love we get it from Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15. But speaking the truth and love we're to grow up in all aspects into him.

Who is the head even Christ even the hard issues? We want to tackle we want to study. We don't want to shy away from and that's why that's why we like expository. Expositional preaching so we don't miss anything.

We even touch on the the hard subjects and and we just don't stick to topical. We don't want to avoid those hard things. Because we want to know what God says we want to grow up in all aspects Into him who is the head even Christ if we can pray for you.

All you have to do is type me Dan and I will pray for you at the end love to be able to do that if you have any questions. We'll try to take questions live as well. The reason why I think this talk about this issue or other reasons why I think it's important.

It's two reasons. I thought about number one and I kind of touched on it already. We want to know what God says. A lot of times we bring in. And I know I grew up Kind of believing differently in a lot of in this area and a lot of other areas in theology but as I begin to study scripture, and I saw what God said I Changed my theology.

I changed my understanding and it's important that we don't bring in what we've been taught. We don't bring in our traditions and sometimes we're we're going through circumstances in life. We have certain emotions and then we want to go to scripture to try to support a certain behavior a certain reaction that we want to have to those emotions to those circumstances and We don't want to do that with eschatology just because we grew up believing a certain in times theology.

We don't want to bring that to the table and try to read that into Scripture we want to bring out From scripture what God is saying? So that's why it's important to have this conversation the second reason it's important to have this conversation is.

Because.

For clarity. And that's. That's not exactly what I was going to call it. I lost my train of thought but I I think it's so funny. It's so interesting. I've been hearing recently. No, I know what it was people get their theology from other places besides the Bible.

Today, especially they get it from social media. I have been hearing lately you get this. That it's going around on tick-tock. A lot of people are getting their theology from tick-tock because Like we were talking about before the bleakness is is hot and heavy.

They say the bad things going on around so they they're starting to make videos. About in times what to look for. These are the signs and so people are getting their theology from tick-tock or Facebook or YouTube wherever but there must be a video going around on tick-tock that is saying.

That.

Airlines have a policy that a If you can't be a Christian if you're going to be a pilot because of the Rapture. They don't want their pilots to be taken and then Risk killing all the other passengers.

So it's going around I guess on some video somewhere that airlines have a policy that you can't be a Christian and I said well That can be true because I know a pilot and he's a Christian. It's so important that we don't get our theology from tick-tock.

We don't get our theology from Facebook or YouTube. We get it from God's Word and we don't bring into God's Word what we wanted to say. Or find proof takes for what we want to believe but we draw out from God's Word what he says.

What what he has done what he wants us to know. So with that being said The three areas the series that Dan and I are doing is called what is Looking at biblical concepts and ideas. This series is looking at the eschatology of hope.

Which is also known as post-millennialism. Someone has watched too many left behind movies. Absolutely.

Thanks, do you know Becky. Self that's my wife.

Um.

So the we're going to start off this series with a three-part series. What is eschatology? Redemption that of the individual redemption of creation and redemption of culture. And you may ask yourself why those other two?

Because the main focus predominantly Is is the focus on the individual? You don't really hear a lot about the redemption of the creation of redemption of culture and. That's part of what Dan was describing just a few minutes ago.

Why is it eschatology of hope. Because that hope applies to the here and now it applies to our near future? The the other Eschatological points wait for that hope to happen Instantly in the far future.

Well, or or they. They expect it at any moment. But they expect it to happen Immediately or in an instant. We see it we see. The Bible described this eschatology is happening as a as a mustard seed as Leaven as it growing slowly.

The Bible describes it but it's a it's a hope that is Having an effect on our here now our near future. Not just our Eternal state our eternal future. And so let's talk about the regeneration or redemption of The individual and then we'll talk about creation and culture next time.

But before we do that, I want to give us several verses on our theme. The verses that help us to understand that it's that we it's more than just redemption of the individual. While we bring creation while we bring culture into this Redemption idea Jesus came to die not just for the individual but for creation.

But and for culture and we get those. I'm going to look at three different passages. The first one is Colossians chapter 1 16 through 20. And the Bible says for by him all things were created. We're speaking of Christ here.

Both in the heavens and on earth visible and invisible whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things have been created by him and for him and he is before all things and in him all things hold together.

He is also the head of the body the church and He is the beginning the firstborn from the dead so that he himself might come to have first place in everything. For it was the father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in him and through him.

This is our key verse and through him to reconcile all things to himself. Having made peace through the blood of his cross through him. I say whether things on earth or things in heaven and then. Our second passage is 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verses 17 to 17 to 21.

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old things passed away behold new things have come now all things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of Reconciliation namely that God was in Christ reconciling the world To himself not counting their trespasses against them and he was and he has committed to us the the word of reconciliation, therefore we are ambassadors for Christ as Though God were entreating through us.

We beg you on behalf of Christ be reconciled to God. He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in him and then our last passage and The passage that will stay at just for a moment is Ephesians chapter 1 verse 10 with a view to an image administration suitable to the fullness of the times that is the summing up of all things in Christ things in heaven and things upon the earth.

So.

Those are kind of passage where we understand that Redemption has more to do than just the individual.

It.

Encompasses also creation and.

Culture.

Any thoughts on those verses. Oh.

Plenty plenty.

Okay, okay, we'll go ahead and start then we'll stay in Ephesians. Our focus is going to be first the the redemption of the individual and. And we're looking at Ephesians chapter 1 verses 3 through 14, but uh, Daniel, I'll let you read and just Talk about them.

Because I've talked enough already I'll let you share Ephesians chapter 1 with us. All right, let's look at verses 3 through 14.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Now if we back up into the first two verses we realize he's talking to the Saints.

Specifically the ones are at Ephesus. So he's talking to believers here. Just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world is verse 4 That we should be holy and blameless before him in love.

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to himself according to the kind intention of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace Which he freely bestowed on us in the beloved in him.

We have redemption through his blood the forgiveness forgiveness of our sins. According to the riches of his grace, which he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his kind intention Which he purposed in him.

Then we come to verse 10, which a brother Robert read just a second ago. With a view to the administration Suitable to an administration a suitable suitable to the fullness of the times. That is the summing up of all things in Christ.

Things in heaven and things on the earth in him. Also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to his purpose. Works all things after the counsel of his will to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ Would be to the praise of his glory in him you also after listening to the message of the truth the gospel of your salvation.

Having also believed you were sealed in him with the Holy Spirit of promise who was given as a pledge of our inheritance. With a view to the redemption of God's own possession to the praise of his glory.

This.

Entire passage is talking about redemption in its fullness and it's specificness to mankind. It says in verse 10. He's summing up all things into In Christ things in the heavens and in the earth. That's more than just The individual person that is the entirety of creation.

Now.

That that phrase Is kind of encompassing of His main thrust which is individual redemption. So he's talking about individual redemption and Putting it in the context of Christ's work in redeeming all of creation Of the heavens and the earth.

Now, it's kind of important to understand What redemption is not only that but why do we need it? Redemption Happens or needs to happen because sin is entered into the world. Sin entered into the world as a sort of cosmic treason.

Mentioned that phrase before. What that means is that when Adam and Eve sin what they did was as the creation of God.

They.

Being heads of Creation mainly Adam being head of creation Took it upon himself to sin and in sinning brought sin and the effects of sin upon all mankind and into creation. So that way creation itself is is tainted by the sin of Adam.

Adam was put in the garden to tend and care for it. He was also given a charge over the earth itself.

Um.

That sin entered into mankind it entered into the creation around us and that is considered the fall. The fall said in just a Over on the next page in my Bible Ephesians 2 3 says that Indulging in the desires of the flesh and of the mind we were by nature Children of wrath even as the rest.

So what happened is we. We were at one point in Adam and Eve before the fall children of God. That nature changed when we said because God is good and righteous and holy we then became Sinners. Became children of wrath.

Of the inheritance of children of wrath is not the earth. It's not the garden. It's not goodness and it's not relationship with God the things that children of wrath inherit or the wrath of God in judgment death and hell.

So in order for all of creation to be as God created it to be God had to take those who were held captive to their nature of sin and death those children of wrath being us and The creation that we had tainted with our sin.

God needed to purchase back or take back from sin. To change the nature of his creation and that's what we're getting at when we're talking about redemption a redemption is a buying back of a slave or a captive.

So what he's buying back is a people for himself and his creation and in whole. And what were they captive to. What were we captive to. We're captive to sin because it is our is now our nature to sin.

So God is purchasing us from sin. Which means he has to take sin away from us. Which means that our sin has to be paid for it has to be atoned for.

So.

That's what this passage is talking about. He's talking to these saints who have found redemption in Christ. He's telling them that He's blessing God first off in verse 3 says blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ?

Why is it that these people are able to have the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places? Why are they able to have that communion in that? A relationship with God is because they have been blessed with spiritual blessings because of Christ and what Christ has done.

Christ then in verse 4 says he chose us in him before the foundation of the world. So this was a plan of God before you've ever created The world he would redeem the world which that's a whole other can of worms.

We're going to try to stay focused for now on on the redemption aspect. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to himself adoption of sons he's going out and finding children of wrath and Saying I'm going to take you from your father the devil.

And I'm going to adopt you as my own sons. You're going to now be a part of my family. I'm going to take you and make you Different in status and in nature. You're no longer going to be like that father who is a deadbeat and a derelict father.

Who can only lead you to destruction? I'm going to take you make you one of my children. That's what the idea of adoption according to why why did God do it? Why did Jesus know before the foundations of the world look out and find the people for himself and then go and purchase them with?

His blood. It's according to the kind intention of his will the praise of his glorious grace. Which he freely bestowed on us in the beloved or in Christ. And that's when we come into I think the the meat of this passage in in seven through ten.

In him in Christ we have redemption through his blood. So how is it that we as fallen creatures are going to find individual redemption? How is it that that Robert sitting in North Carolina and me sitting in New York and you sitting wherever it is that you're sitting?

How is it that you? Will find redemption that you will will no longer be a child of wrath under sin but will be a child of God having been purchased back from the captivity of sin that leads to death and.

The answer is in the next phrase. We have redemption through his blood. It's kind of fitting that we're we're talking about all this this week. What's today Saturday still tomorrow tomorrow. Learn my days of the week tomorrow.

The church has historically decided to celebrate the resurrection. Celebrate the resurrection because It's all linked up together, let me explain. But it says that we find redemption in his blood. We see that Jesus having lived a perfect life Was then put on the cross in the place of sinners.

He had nails driven through his hands and a spear driven through his side crown of thorns placed on his head. He was punished by those who held the rule of law unjustly. But he was punished nonetheless.

And he was punished in order to die. It was the shedding of his blood. It was his dying in our place.

That.

Was that sacrifice that atonement the thing that it made up for our sin? What our sin destroyed? Christ's righteous sacrifice restored. So when he died on the cross He did so in order that we could have forgiveness because the penalty of our sin where sin was leading us captive was to death.

So what Christ did instead was he? Came under the shackles of our sin so to speak took our sin. To its logical conclusion to its it's going where its destination which was death the grave. He went in there with our sin.

He killed it and in that moment he purchased for redemption. Those who would be saved He bought back from sin. Those who would would have fallen into sin and died because of it eternally died because of it.

So it says that we have redemption through his blood of the forgiveness of our trespasses. According to riches of his grace.

Can I interject something real quick. Some people may have this question and this question comes up sometimes. Starting in the first two words in in my version in in verse 7 in him.

If.

If you're so inclined go back to the video that we did earlier this week where we We had a panel and we discussed questions. One of those questions was talking about who is Jesus. You know, you can stop right there.

And just do a whole study on on who Jesus is. Why he's different than any other religion. Why he's different than any other prophet. Why he's different than any other teacher. Find out who who this in him is.

Find out who this Jesus of the Bible. This Jesus of Nazareth. Find out who Jesus is and why he's different than than all other. Anyone that has ever been born find out who Jesus is this in him that Paul talks about in verse 7.

Find out who he is. And then as. As Dan was wonderfully describing what Christ did for us on the cross Purchasing us with his blood. The question comes up sometimes How can how can that save? so many and How can that cover for an eternity and how can that appease any?

Eternally, holy God and his eternal holy just wrath and When you study that in him when you study who that is when you study and find out who Christ is. You learn that he is The second member of the Trinity that he is fully God himself.

Therefore he is Completely Holy and Perfect is eternally holy and perfect. So it is the quality of the sacrifice that allows God to cover the sins of so many people and Cover them for an eternity is because the quality of the sacrifice and who he was.

Does that make sense? Absolutely. Okay. Sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to answer that question folks.

Yeah, if we're gonna have an eternal consequence for sin, we need an eternal Savior to save us. That's right. That's why no no man could ever pay for sin. Men are finite. We're bound by time. We have 70 80 years maybe.

A little longer nowhere close to be an eternity and even then painted we're sinful. So yeah perfect sense. Let me continue. Absolutely. Yeah. All right verse 8 8. Yeah. He lavished on which he lavished on us it was according to the riches of his grace the redemption they purchased through the blood of Christ Was was according to his riches of his grace, he's his kindness is looking out.

He didn't have to do this for us, but he because it was love for his creation John 3 16 for God so loved the world his creation that he gave his only son. Which he lavished on us he gave it freely. Copiously.

Copiously, let's see a better word for that. Abundantly a lot. Yeah in all wisdom and insight, no, it's this wasn't just something that he he felt it was. But it's more than just feelings. This was in his wisdom and his knowledge.

This was well thought out well felt. This is an entire. Sometimes we have attention in ourselves between knowledge and emotion. Mm-hmm. We want to feel our way into something or we want to think our way into something or our out of something.

That wasn't the case with God. These weren't in conflict with one another his his His emotional state which again another can of worms. But God's passions and things. But we'll stay focused God's emotional state and his mental state.

Completely in concert he was 100 in line with what he was doing. He was full ahead. This is where he's going heart mind. His being because he he gave his son to us in order for us to have redemption, right.

Doing a biblical study on wisdom too is important for us because we may we may question and wonder Why am I having this? Internal struggle. Why am I having this? External struggle with the world because the way God wants me to do things is Contrary and it goes against the grain of what?

Internally, I want to do or or it's contradicting what I see in the world. The wisdom of the world and Scripture teaches us that the wisdom of God is foolishness to the world and so a deeper study of Wisdom from Scripture will help us to understand why that that tension Exists there internally and externally with the world.

Yep. He goes on. Says he made known to us the mystery of his will. According to his kind intention, which he purposed in him. This is talking about God revealing these truths to us. It's Not only did he purchase redemption and then apply it to us.

He made known to us What took place. And he made known to us through the Holy Spirit, which I believe we're going to get into further.

In.

In a little bit, but I want to show how all this connects down together.

Um.

Made known to us the mystery of his will according to his kind intention, which he purposed in him with a view to an administration Suitable to the fullness of times. In other words This redemption was going to be played out for that suitable to the complete redemption of creation the fullness of times.

The entirety of human history Is going to find? Its redemption as Christ purposed and purchased it. That is the summing up of all things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth. The entirety of creation is Serving to glorify God in Christ redemption of that creation.

This happens in two ways. One the children of wrath are put away or to the children of wrath are redeemed and made children of God. That's what we're getting at with with redemption. Redemption is necessary because of our sin and redemption is Glorious not because we receive it but because in our reception of redemption in Christ purchasing of us God is glorified as a good God who would not let his rebellious creation remain in the rebellion.

He's summing up all things his whole creation is glorifying him With a glory that is suitable for the fullness of time. Think of Christ. Think of the all three persons of the Trinity their perfection in eternity past and stretching on into eternity future.

What sort of redemption is worthy of a God like that? It's only a redemption that covers. That read that actually redeems as big as he is. So his redemption is stronger than any sin that we could have stretches longer than any sin that we could Get into it is Deeper and more penetrating than anything that we could ever.

Lost my train of thought but it is I think that is I think that is so profound what you just said and I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I wanted to read I wanted to reiterate that What you just said is so profound and I think it's actually the first time that I've ever heard that.

To my shame I guess. But God's redemption has to be as big as he is. That's why it's so glorious and And that's why this this eschatology is so hopeful.

It's.

It's as big as he is. It's which is unfathomable. And I I can't pronounce these big words correctly, but uh, it's beyond our comprehension. His redemption has to be as big as he is. That's how good that's how good and thorough this redemption is in us.

Creation and a culture. Wow, that's amazing. Yeah.

There's more. Verse 11 says in him also we have obtained an inheritance and inheritance is something that children receive or Someone who's in a will things are willed to you your inheritance is when someone has passed on.

You receive an inheritance or when a certain set of conditions have been met your inheritance is released to you.

We have.

Obtained an inheritance. Having been predestined according to his purpose. Who works all things after the council of his will. What is that inheritance? The inheritance is the benefits of redemption. The benefits of redemption are all those things that Come with being a child of God.

It is God himself. You have relationship with them. You have the goodness of God is now yours. Because you've been changed in your nature to be like God in the fact that he is holy. You don't gain divinity but you are Made holy like God.

Partially now and you're standing and then later Actually, holy with your sins fully taken from you where you cannot do them anymore. Then we have the earth. The earth will be made perfect.

The.

There's a term in in science it's used for other things called entropy. Entropy is a tendency of all things to wear down or break down over time. That will go away. Creation will be perfect and that is where we will live in Relationship with God forever.

That was our purpose in the first place was to live on the earth in relationship with God. And that is what we're working back towards. To redeem his creation as well that will inherit the earth in order to have a place to live while we're.

In.

Perfect relationship with God. So we've gained salvation we gain Christ himself we gain the earth. As our place where we were able to live with God we have Many more blessings that says that Christ died and came and gave us gifts.

We have got a cat. Cat cats, I guess. Can you redeem cats? I don't think so, especially not. Well, we'll put it this way God God created cats what she did. Yeah, his redemption is big enough To redeem anything that he's ever created.

There we go. Even though I don't know how he's gonna do it powerful enough to redeem even cats. Which going back to our Q &A seems to be a theme amongst participants running across Verse 12 to the end.

So he's working all these things after the Council was what we receive an inheritance Having been predestined. I'm gonna go back into verse 11. I skipped some. We have obtained an inheritance Having been predestined according to his purpose who works all things after the Council of Israel.

This is his purpose to the end. So why has God purposed these things professing these things and causing these things to happen and take place? To the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ.

Would be it would be to the praise of his glory so that our redemption would glorify God. I've heard it said before that God saw me so worthy of his salvation or he loved me so much that he came to the earth and.

And it's really getting things backwards. Well, it's true that that God The God does love us that he did have compassion in his eyes and his heart when he came to the earth to redeem us but the overarching purpose of his redemption of us Was the glory of his own name?

Which is it's to be expected an eternal glorious gigantic God as we have. Whose redemption is as big as he is should have a glory to match and so his purposes were to That we being redeemed would glorify.

God.

Verse 13 in him you also After listening to the message of truth the Gospels of your salvation having believed having also believed. You were sealed in him with the Holy Spirit of promise. Was given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of God's own possession to the praise of his glory.

This is important because we've been talking a lot about redemption how Christ has purchased a redemption, but how is that? Redemption applied to us. How do we get it? How do I know that I am redeemed and this this is it here.

There's a message that has been given out called the gospel. The gospel is the telling of the story of how God came from heaven To redeem mankind. How God came from heaven in the person of Christ? How he lived on the earth?