Anticipating Our Blessed Hope: Christ's Glorious Return

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Nature of Christ as God and Savior

The deity of Christ is a foundational truth in the Christian faith, as affirmed in Titus 2:13, where Jesus is recognized as both God and Savior. This understanding is consistent with other New Testament teachings, emphasizing the divine nature of Christ and His role in our salvation. The passage in Titus highlights the close link between the titles "God" and "Savior," underscoring the profound truth of Jesus' divine identity. This recognition of Christ's deity is not only supported by the immediate context in Titus but also by other scriptural affirmations, such as those found in Colossians and the Gospel of John. Understanding Jesus as both God and Savior is crucial for believers, as it shapes our perception of His authority, power, and love in our lives. [02:53]

Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV): "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Reflection: How does recognizing Jesus as both God and Savior influence your daily walk with Him? What specific actions can you take today to honor His divine authority in your life?

Day 2: The Transformative Glory of Eternal Life

The hope of eternal life is deeply connected to the experience of glory, as described in Titus 2:13. This glory is not merely a visual spectacle but a transformative encounter that changes us to be like Christ. As believers, our anticipation of this glory is central to our faith, as it prepares us to share in His glory without the stain of sin. The transformative power of this glory is highlighted in passages like 1 John 3:2 and Romans 8, which emphasize that seeing Christ in His glory will result in our glorification. This transformation enables us to fully enjoy and reflect His presence, making the hope of eternal life a profound and life-changing reality. [07:49]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: In what ways do you see the transformative power of God's glory at work in your life? How can you actively participate in this transformation today?

Day 3: The Joyful Anticipation of the Blessed Hope

The "Blessed Hope" is a source of joy and happiness for believers, even as we are called to renounce ungodliness and embrace godliness. This hope reassures us that the path of faith, though challenging, leads to true happiness and fulfillment. Paul emphasizes the blessedness of this hope to reassure believers who might find the call to live a godly life daunting. The journey of faith, marked by self-control and zeal for good works, is not burdensome but a path to true happiness. This hope is a present reality, a source of joy as we await the fulfillment of God's promises. [09:27]

Titus 2:11-12 (ESV): "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age."

Reflection: What specific ungodly habits or attitudes do you need to renounce to fully embrace the joy of the Blessed Hope? How can you take a step towards this change today?

Day 4: The Defining Trait of Waiting for Christ's Appearing

Waiting for the appearing of Christ is a defining trait of believers. This anticipation reflects our love for Christ and readiness to receive the crown of righteousness. It is a testament to our transformed hearts and commitment to His return. As we await this glorious appearing, we are called to live lives that reflect the hope and joy of our salvation, embracing the transformative power of God's grace. This love for His return is a reflection of our transformed hearts and a testament to our readiness to receive the crown of righteousness. [12:56]

2 Timothy 4:8 (ESV): "Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."

Reflection: How does your daily life reflect your anticipation of Christ's return? What changes can you make to live more fully in light of His promised appearing?

Day 5: Present Joy in the Hope of Glory

Our journey of faith is marked by a present joy in the hope of glory. This joy is rooted in our justification and peace with God, as we stand in His grace and rejoice in the hope of His glory. The hope of glory is not just a future expectation but a present reality that shapes our lives. As believers, we are called to live in the joy of this hope, allowing it to influence our actions, attitudes, and relationships. This present joy is a testament to the transformative power of God's grace in our lives, as we eagerly await the fulfillment of His promises. [11:37]

Romans 5:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of joy in the hope of glory today? How can this joy influence your interactions with others and your approach to daily challenges?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of Titus 2:13, we delve into the profound anticipation of our "Blessed Hope," which is the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. This passage invites us to reflect on the nature of Jesus as both God and Savior, a truth that is consistently affirmed throughout the New Testament. The immediate context in Titus suggests that the titles "God" and "Savior" are closely linked, emphasizing the divine nature of Christ. This understanding is not only supported by the surrounding verses but also by other scriptural affirmations of Christ's deity, such as in Colossians and the Gospel of John.

The concept of hope in Titus is intricately tied to eternal life, which is characterized by the experience of glory. This glory is not merely a visual spectacle but a transformative encounter that changes us to be like Christ. As 1 John 3:2 and Romans 8 highlight, seeing Christ in His glory will result in our glorification, enabling us to fully enjoy and reflect His glory. This transformation is essential, as it prepares us to share in His glory without the stain of sin.

The term "Blessed Hope" underscores the intrinsic happiness and joy that accompany this anticipation. While hope is inherently a positive expectation, Paul emphasizes its blessedness to reassure believers who might find the call to renounce ungodliness and embrace godliness daunting. The journey of faith, marked by self-control and zeal for good works, is not burdensome but a path to true happiness. This hope is a present reality, a source of joy as we await the fulfillment of God's promises.

Finally, the act of waiting for this hope is a defining characteristic of believers. It is a love for Christ's appearing that distinguishes those who are truly His. This love for His return is a reflection of our transformed hearts and a testament to our readiness to receive the crown of righteousness. As we await this glorious appearing, we are called to live lives that reflect the hope and joy of our salvation, embracing the transformative power of God's grace.

Key Takeaways

1. The deity of Christ is affirmed in Titus 2:13, where Jesus is recognized as both God and Savior. This understanding is consistent with other New Testament teachings, emphasizing the divine nature of Christ and His role in our salvation. [02:53]
2. The hope of eternal life is deeply connected to the experience of glory. This glory is transformative, changing us to be like Christ and enabling us to fully enjoy His presence. Our anticipation of this glory is central to our faith. [07:49]
3. The "Blessed Hope" is a source of joy and happiness, even as we are called to renounce ungodliness and embrace godliness. This hope reassures us that the path of faith, though challenging, leads to true happiness and fulfillment. [09:27]
4. Waiting for the appearing of Christ is a defining trait of believers. This anticipation reflects our love for Christ and readiness to receive the crown of righteousness. It is a testament to our transformed hearts and commitment to His return. [12:56]
5. Our journey of faith is marked by a present joy in the hope of glory. This joy is rooted in our justification and peace with God, as we stand in His grace and rejoice in the hope of His glory. This hope is a present reality that shapes our lives. [11:37]
** [11:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:27] - Introduction to Titus 2:13
[01:12] - Understanding Jesus as God and Savior
[02:36] - Scriptural Affirmations of Christ's Deity
[03:09] - Contextual Analysis of Titus
[04:19] - The Glory of God and Savior
[05:26] - The Unified Glory of Father and Son
[06:17] - The Hope of Eternal Life
[07:18] - Experiencing Glory as Eternal Life
[08:10] - Transformation Through Glory
[09:03] - The Blessedness of Hope
[10:09] - Renouncing Ungodliness for Joy
[11:21] - Present Joy in Hope
[12:16] - The Call to Wait for Christ's Appearing
[13:17] - Loving the Appearing of Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Titus 2:13
- Colossians 1:19
- 1 John 3:2

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Observation Questions:

In Titus 2:13, how are the titles "God" and "Savior" used to describe Jesus? What does this imply about His nature? [01:36]
According to Colossians 1:19, what does it mean for all the fullness of God to dwell in Christ? How does this support the understanding of Jesus as both God and Savior? [02:20]
How does 1 John 3:2 describe the transformation that occurs when we see Christ in His glory? What is the significance of this transformation for believers? [08:10]
What is the relationship between the hope of eternal life and the experience of glory as described in the sermon? [07:18]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the understanding of Jesus as both God and Savior impact a believer's view of salvation and their relationship with Christ? [02:53]
In what ways does the anticipation of Christ's glorious appearing serve as a source of joy and motivation for believers to live godly lives? [09:27]
How does the concept of "Blessed Hope" provide reassurance to believers who may find the call to renounce ungodliness challenging? [10:09]
What does it mean to "love the appearing" of Christ, and how does this love reflect a believer's readiness to receive the crown of righteousness? [12:56]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your understanding of Jesus as both God and Savior. How does this understanding influence your daily walk with Him? Are there areas in your life where this truth needs to be more evident? [01:36]
The sermon emphasizes the joy and happiness found in the "Blessed Hope." How can you cultivate a sense of joy and anticipation for Christ's return in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to focus on this hope? [09:27]
Consider the call to renounce ungodliness and embrace godliness. What specific ungodly habits or attitudes do you need to address in your life? How can the hope of Christ's return motivate you to make these changes? [10:09]
The transformation into Christ's likeness is a key aspect of the hope of glory. In what ways do you see this transformation happening in your life? How can you actively participate in this process? [08:10]
How does the anticipation of Christ's appearing influence your priorities and decisions? Are there areas where you need to realign your focus to better reflect this hope? [12:56]
The sermon mentions the joy of standing in God's grace and rejoicing in the hope of His glory. How can you make this joy more central in your life, especially during challenging times? [11:37]
Identify one person in your life who may not understand the hope of Christ's return. How can you share this hope with them in a meaningful way this week? [13:17]

Sermon Clips

The question is, is that the way to read it here? I'm inclined to think that it is, though I just read responsible commentators who say that it's not. Let me just give you a couple of observations. The one that seems powerful to me is that here, the previous verse just before the unit we're looking at, verse 10, says so that in everything they, that is the servants, they adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. [00:02:51]

Now here, that word "sotae Ross" that I have included right here refers to God, so God our Savior. So since that's the immediate context, and I go back and try to read that here, the appearing of the glory of our great God, I'm disinclined to separate the word Savior from God since it's so closely united to God in verse 10. [00:03:25]

The hope here is the hope of eternal life. Here it is again in Titus 3:7, being justified by His grace, we have become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Now, if you go into our text, waiting for our Blessed hope, and instead of saying eternal life, he says our hope is the appearing of glory, namely the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. [00:06:46]

The experience of glory is the essence and the heart of eternal life, and not just the effect it has on our eyes and our heart, but the effect it has on us by transforming us. Right, 1 John 3:2, beloved, we're God's children now. What we will be has not yet appeared, but we know that when he appears, the appearing we should be like. [00:07:38]

The effect of seeing the glory of Christ is going to change us, just like Paul says in Romans 8, the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. If children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may be glorified with him. [00:08:23]

Why is it called a blessed hope, a happy hope? This "macario's" means happy. All hope is happy hope. I mean, there are anticipations of the future that are not happy, but we don't call them a hope. So hope is intrinsically a blessed or happy state of mind and heart. So he underlines it by making it explicit. [00:09:08]

It may be that as a person is coming to Christ and is discovering that so much of his life must go, all the ungodliness must go, all the worldly desires that made him happy must go. New capacities of self-control or sobriety and uprightness and godliness, which may not immediately connote great happiness, a zeal for good works may sound burdensome to a new believer. [00:10:14]

Being done with all the freedom we once had to go our own way instead of submit to Christ, I think he might be putting this blessedness here so that he would say, oh, oh please, don't hear these things, this renunciation of ungodliness, this self-control, this being done with those passions, this law, this being done with lawlessness, this is zo4 gooders. [00:10:48]

Don't hear this as anything other than a happy condition. This is a happy hope. You experience this hope now as a happy hope. Underlined that with Romans 5, therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace. [00:11:09]

Waiting for it, next time we're going to ask how this waiting relates to all the other pieces here, but right here it says that these folks, namely us Christians, training us to renounce ungodliness and who gave himself for us to redeem us from lawlessness and to purify for himself a people zealous for good works. [00:11:55]

The people who love this hope, that's the way he ends second Timothy, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but to all but also to all who have loved his appearing. If you don't love the appearing of the Lord Jesus, if you don't want to see the Lord Jesus, you're probably not on the path to receive this award with Paul. [00:12:29]

The saved, the redeemed, the people of God's own possession are those who love the appearing, love the happy hope, embraced this happiness, experienced this happy hope of the appearing of this great glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, the very heart and essence of eternal life. [00:13:24]

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Anticipating Our Blessed Hope: Christ's Glorious Return

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Nature of Christ as God and Savior

Day 2: The Transformative Glory of Eternal Life

Day 3: The Joyful Anticipation of the Blessed Hope

Day 4: The Defining Trait of Waiting for Christ's Appearing

Day 5: Present Joy in the Hope of Glory

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Anticipating Our Blessed Hope: Christ's Glorious Return

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