38. The Christian Hope : By Grace

As Christians, our Hope concerning The Lord Jesus Christ seems to differ depending on which group we talk to. If the Light of Life is flowing into us, why do we accept different, and sometimes contradictory understanding of what the Word of God is telling us? Does this have anything to do with the self imposed limit to our understanding? Have we become satisfied with what we were taught many years ago, and now simply repeat it without giving further consideration to The Truth? Have we, in our mature years come to recognise that we ourselves can receive the benefits of the flow of Truth directly from God Himself, not being bound by other Christian’s immature thoughts ?
Have we given time to meditate upon the Word of God directly, not seeking help from any other, except Christ Himself? The Apostle Paul tells the Christians at Philippi: 'by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God'. If we are really concerned to know what Christ has prepared for us, then should we not ask Him directly, in our quiet time, to tell us? His Word says that He does not want us to remain ignorant or in doubt.
There follows a number of examples of the 'Hope in Christ' expressed by Christians with different beliefs, only one of which can be true to God’s relationship with a Christian, according to the way that He is Administering those that love Him to-day:
We can divide these different beliefs under four headings:
1. The basic Hope.
We believe that after dying, we go to live in Heaven with God and/or The Lord Jesus Christ or any other deified being that we have chosen to be our God.
2. The Religious Hope.
We are working to establish a suitable condition in which The Kingdom of God can be initiated, thereby allowing The Lord Jesus Christ to return and assume His Kingship,
3. The Evangelical Hope based upon membership through faith, of The Kingdom of God.
We are living in Christ's preparatory Kingdom and believe that we belong to the church established during the time of the Apostles. We therefore patiently await the return of The Lord Jesus Christ to become King in His initiated Kingdom, following earthly devastation. We expect to be gathered from the earth before the devastation and to return with Christ at the time of His 'Second Coming'. Those who die before, expect to be resurrected and changed at that time. This event is described in 1Thessalonians ch.4 vv. 13 to 18. Many believe these events to be imminent
4. The Hope of those who recognise that at present there is no Kingdom condition, only a Godly Administration of His Grace alone.
We believe that at this present time, we belong to the one church named and positioned out of The Lord Jesus Christ. The time in which we live is Administered by God's Grace alone. We believe that this new relationship with God was revealed and initiated by the Apostle Paul when the Apostles' work described in The Acts Period, ended. We therefore accept the Hope at the end of this Administration: When Christ, who is our Life is manifested, we will be manifested with Him in Glory. [Colossians ch.3 v.4 and Ephesians ch.5 v.14] We recognise that this event re-establishes the preparatory work of the apostles prior to the introduction of the Kingdom in Israel.
Considering these various beliefs, it is clear that not all of them can be true for Christians living to-day.
As with the second example, some believe that by their own efforts they can fulfil their Hope, whereas the Scripture says by God's unmerited favour we are saved, through faith, and this not of ourselves, it is God's gift, not of works, lest anyone might boast. [Eph 2:8-9].
Some believe that when we die we go to another place to live with God. How is Christ be the Light of our Life if we do not accept what He has said? He will have His throne on earth, ruling the nations and we are to be where He is for ever. [Rev 21:1-3]
Some believe in what they call 'The Rapture'. This word is not found in the Bible but has been introduced to give meaning to the statement: 'to be caught up to meet The Lord in the air, to be for ever with The Lord'. The Pauline letters describing this Hope, are to be fulfilled when Christ Himself returns to Earth to reign at the end of the 70 week period prophesied by Daniel.[see chap 9:24] This hope is not imminent, as some Christians are led to believe, because many Old and New Testament prophetic statements remain to be fulfilled. The remaining 63 weeks of Daniel’s 70weeks is an example. This hope is not for those Christians of this present Administration which ends with the enlightenment of Christ before the Kingdom begins.
The Last Days prophecies of the Israelites was postponed in 62ad after only 65 years and will not recommence until God begins to act again in his relationship with the Jews. In the mean time, we who are experiencing this present period of The Silence of God, have a Hope which is appropriate to it. This Hope is based upon the statement of Christ to Thomas: 'Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed'.
During this present Administration of God, there are no traceable acts of God, He is silent, contrary to the erroneous beliefs of the Pentecostal Movement. His personal relationship with the Christian is by His Spirit enlightening His Word. His Spirit's work is secret and untraceable. This period is revealed only by those Scripture documents related to it. It is therefore in those documents that we find our Hope described so:
When Christ, who is our Life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in Glory.
No statement of Resurrection because we are identified with Christ in His resurrection [Eph.2:6].
Our Life is hid with Christ in God,
that is the Eternal Life of Christ is now, awaiting the appearance of Christ.
This appearance [phanerOsis...Col 3:4] of The Christ, which will enlighten the minds of all men then living, will be the foundation upon which God will establish His Kingdom in Israel, and afterwards when He becomes personally present [parousia], in the world. His appearance occurs when His present silence is ended and He again directly affects the affairs of mankind, ruling from His throne in heaven.
Christ, having enlightened mankind, will rule over Israel by His servant, King David, .whilst we who have accepted His atoning Salvation, will live henceforth, having the life and esteem of Christ as a witness to the presently untraceable works of His Grace. [Hosea 1:11. Ezekiel 34:23. Isaiah 66:1]
As a wise man said: We are to be the trophies of His Grace.