Sunday 7 November 2010

God’s offer to man: eternal life on a peaceful earth

A summary of the Bible Hour presentation at the Christadelphian Hall, Blackpool Street, Burton-upon-Trent on Sunday 7th November 2010.

God’s promise of salvation

Genesis chapter 12. God made promises to Abraham, the first Jew – that he would have descendants (the Jews), a land (Israel), that because of him not just they but the whole world would be blessed.

Much later, in Galatians 3 verse 16, we learn that these promises also refer to Jesus Christ: “To Abraham and his seed were the promises made,” and that seed (descendant) is Jesus.

The Bible’s message of good news is centred on Jesus Christ, and revolves around the fulfilment of promises God has made to his people through the ages.

Everlasting life

Daniel chapter 12 verse 1, John chapter 6 verse 40 – there will be a time when dead people are raised to life, and judged, and some will be given everlasting life.

What will this everlasting life be like?

Daniel chapter 2 – God will set up a kingdom on earth that will take the place of all other kingdoms.

Isaiah chapter 35 – the earth will be restored and beautiful, there will be ‘everlasting joy’.

Psalm 72 – there will be justice, peace and plenty.

Isaiah chapter 2 – Jerusalem will be the capital of the world.

How do we accept God’s offer of everlasting life in his kingdom?

God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants that they were to be his people. The sign of this covenant was that every male Jew had to be circumcised.

Colossians chapter 2 verse 10 – Christian baptism is in a way the equivalent of circumcision. It is the sign that a person belongs to God. It is the beginning of a new life of service and obedience to God.

Galatians chapter 3 verses 27-29 – those who are baptised are ‘heirs of the promises made to Abraham’.

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