Hope and Transformation Through Faith in Christ

 

Summary

In a world filled with uncertainty and challenges, the story of Professor Joe from Peking University serves as a powerful reminder of the hope and transformation that faith in Jesus Christ can bring. During a state dinner in Beijing, I had the opportunity to meet Professor Joe, a man facing the grim reality of a terminal brain tumor. Despite his accomplishments and status, he was gripped by fear and hopelessness, having no belief in an afterlife or divine grace. In contrast, I shared with him the peace and hope my father had in his final days, rooted in his relationship with God.

This encounter highlighted the profound difference that faith can make in facing life's ultimate challenges. Professor Joe, after hearing about the hope and assurance that comes from knowing Jesus, expressed a desire for that same hope. He prayed to receive Christ, and his life was transformed, even experiencing a remission of his cancer for a decade. This story illustrates the promise of purpose, power, and a place beyond this life that God offers to those who believe.

The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our hope, affirming that death is not the end. Jesus, who conquered death, offers eternal life to all who trust in Him. This hope is not based on our efforts or merits but is a gift of grace. It is a hope that cannot be lost, unlike worldly possessions or relationships. As believers, we are called to live with an eternal perspective, knowing that our ultimate home is in heaven, a place beyond our imagination.

In times of loss and grief, this hope sustains us, offering comfort and assurance that we will be reunited with our loved ones who have gone before us. The promise of heaven becomes more real and attractive as we journey through life, knowing that our true citizenship is in a place prepared by God. This hope empowers us to face life's trials with confidence, knowing that the story does not end here.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Hope in Christ: True hope is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ, who offers peace and assurance even in the face of death. This hope is not earned but is a gift of grace, transforming fear into faith. [02:33]

2. The Promise of Eternal Life: Jesus' resurrection assures us that death is not the end. Believing in Him grants us eternal life, a hope that transcends the temporary nature of this world. [08:17]

3. Living with an Eternal Perspective: In times of pain and loss, shifting our focus to eternity helps us endure. Our present troubles are temporary compared to the eternal joy that awaits us. [18:26]

4. The Assurance of Salvation: Once we place our trust in Jesus, our salvation is secure. God's mighty power keeps us saved, offering a hope that is beyond the reach of change and decay. [14:07]

5. The Attractiveness of Heaven: As we grow older and more of our loved ones are in heaven, the promise of eternal life becomes increasingly appealing. Heaven is a place of unimaginable beauty and joy, prepared for those who love God. [15:58]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Honored in Beijing
- [00:23] - Visit to Peking University
- [01:04] - Dinner with Professor Joe
- [01:31] - Facing Hopelessness
- [02:20] - The Hope of Faith
- [03:15] - A Ticket to Heaven
- [04:27] - A Life Transformed
- [05:09] - Public Declaration of Faith
- [06:10] - The Promise of Purpose and Power
- [07:29] - The Assurance of Eternal Life
- [09:00] - The Source of True Hope
- [12:08] - Living with Expectation
- [14:21] - The Security of Salvation
- [18:12] - Shifting Perspective to Eternity

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Peter 1:3-5 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."
2. John 11:25-26 - "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'"

#### Observation Questions
1. What was Professor Joe's initial perspective on life and death before his encounter with the pastor? [01:31]
2. How did the pastor describe his father's attitude towards death, and what was the source of his father's hope? [02:05]
3. What transformation did Professor Joe experience after praying to receive Christ, and how did it impact his life? [06:25]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus' resurrection for believers? [08:17]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Professor Joe illustrate the power of hope in Christ, especially in the face of terminal illness? [01:31]
2. In what ways does the promise of eternal life through Jesus' resurrection provide comfort and assurance to believers? [08:17]
3. How can living with an eternal perspective help believers endure times of pain and loss? [18:26]
4. What does the assurance of salvation mean for believers, and how does it affect their daily lives? [14:07]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a seemingly hopeless situation. How might the hope found in Christ have changed your perspective during that time? [01:31]
2. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus to experience the peace and assurance that comes from knowing Him? [02:33]
3. In what ways can you shift your focus to an eternal perspective when dealing with current challenges or losses? [18:26]
4. How does the promise of heaven influence your daily decisions and interactions with others? [15:58]
5. Identify one area of your life where you struggle to trust in God's power and purpose. What steps can you take to surrender that area to Him? [06:40]
6. How can you share the hope of eternal life with someone who is experiencing fear or hopelessness? [05:37]
7. Consider the assurance of salvation as described in the sermon. How does this assurance impact your confidence in facing life's uncertainties? [14:07]

Devotional

Day 1: The Transformative Power of Hope in Christ
In a world where fear and uncertainty often dominate, the hope found in a relationship with Jesus Christ offers a profound peace that transcends circumstances. This hope is not something we earn through our own efforts but is a gift of grace that transforms fear into faith. The story of Professor Joe, who faced a terminal diagnosis with fear and hopelessness, illustrates this transformation. After hearing about the peace and assurance that comes from knowing Jesus, he chose to embrace this hope, leading to a remarkable change in his life, including a decade-long remission of his cancer. This hope in Christ is a powerful force that can change our perspective on life and death, offering a peace that surpasses understanding. [02:33]

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where fear has taken hold. How can you invite the hope of Christ into this area today, trusting in His transformative power?


Day 2: The Assurance of Eternal Life Through Jesus' Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christian hope, affirming that death is not the end. This assurance of eternal life is a promise that transcends the temporary nature of this world. Believing in Jesus grants us a hope that is not based on our merits but is a gift of grace. This hope is secure and cannot be lost, unlike worldly possessions or relationships. It offers a perspective that looks beyond the present troubles to the eternal joy that awaits us. The promise of eternal life is a source of comfort and strength, empowering believers to face life's challenges with confidence. [08:17]

John 11:25-26 (ESV): "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'"

Reflection: Consider how the assurance of eternal life through Jesus' resurrection impacts your daily life. How can this promise shape the way you approach challenges and uncertainties today?


Day 3: Embracing an Eternal Perspective in Times of Pain
In moments of pain and loss, shifting our focus to eternity helps us endure. Our present troubles, though difficult, are temporary compared to the eternal joy that awaits us. This eternal perspective offers comfort and assurance, reminding us that our true citizenship is in heaven, a place prepared by God. As we journey through life, the promise of heaven becomes more real and attractive, especially as we experience loss and grief. This hope empowers us to face life's trials with confidence, knowing that the story does not end here. [18:26]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent experience of pain or loss. How can you shift your focus to an eternal perspective, finding comfort in the promise of heaven?


Day 4: The Security of Salvation in Christ
Once we place our trust in Jesus, our salvation is secure. This assurance is not based on our own efforts but on God's mighty power, which keeps us saved. This hope is beyond the reach of change and decay, offering a security that the world cannot provide. As believers, we can rest in the knowledge that our salvation is secure, allowing us to live with confidence and peace. This assurance of salvation is a source of strength, enabling us to face life's uncertainties with a steadfast faith. [14:07]

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV): "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Reflection: Think about an area of your life where you struggle with insecurity. How can the assurance of your salvation in Christ bring peace and confidence to this area today?


Day 5: The Growing Attractiveness of Heaven
As we grow older and more of our loved ones are in heaven, the promise of eternal life becomes increasingly appealing. Heaven is a place of unimaginable beauty and joy, prepared for those who love God. This hope of heaven offers comfort and assurance, especially in times of loss and grief. It reminds us that our true home is not in this world but in a place beyond our imagination. This growing attractiveness of heaven encourages us to live with an eternal perspective, focusing on the joy and beauty that await us in God's presence. [15:58]

Revelation 21:4-5 (ESV): "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'"

Reflection: As you think about the promise of heaven, consider how this hope influences your priorities and decisions. How can you live today with an eternal perspective, focusing on the joy and beauty that await you in God's presence?

Quotes


He was hopeless and as he began to share that with me I looked at him and said you know Professor Joe my father's dying because at that time my dad was dying of cancer same time I said but you know my dad's lived the full life but more important than that he knows God he's been a friend of gods for many many years he knows Jesus Christ my dad is not afraid to die he's made his peace with God and he's not he's not afraid to God to die and he knows where he's going when he dies he has hope. [00:01:50]

I explained to him that that kind of hope that you get and the kind of power that you get to go through those kind of situations only comes from a relationship with God you don't earn it you don't work for it you don't buy it you don't deserve it God's power in your life is simply a gift of his grace because God is good and God loves you and he made you. [00:02:29]

The only way you get this ticket to Heaven salvation is by being a friend of the Father's son his name is Jesus Christ and I looked up and this gentle man about in his 80s had tears coming down both sides of his cheek and he looked up and he said to me in a simple I'll never forget this moment I still get goo Goosebumps from it he looked at me and said in simple English, Rick I would like one of those tickets. [00:03:08]

He said Rick I I would like one of those tickets so there with a table of Chinese officials we held hands together and I led him in a simple prayer to open his life to receive all that Jesus Christ did for him by dying on the cross and Rising again it's a prayer similar to the one I'm going to invite you to pray with me in just a second and when he finished praying that prayer he looked up and tear were coming down his cheeks again but this time he's smiling. [00:04:34]

We learn that from the resurrection of Jesus we learn that there is more to life than here and now we learn that death is not the end one day your heart is going to stop that's going to be the end of your body but that's not going to be the end of you oh no no no you were made to last forever and God says I have proven that there's life after death by raising my own son. [00:07:29]

Jesus spent 40 days in Jerusalem after he didn't just say bye to your friends and go back to heaven after he raised himself he walked around eight meals talk to people one time trained 500 people many many white eyewitness accounts over 40 days and he says I am the one anyone who believes in me even though he dies shall live again and he gives he has given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish. [00:08:43]

You're never going to find Ultimate hope in any thing you can lose if you want to have a hope that gets you through the toughest times of life you must put your hope and put your trust in something that cannot be taken from you if you put your hope in your bank account you can lose your bank account if you put your hope in your spouse you can lose your spouse if you put your hope in your health you can lose your health you can lose your mind you can you must never put your hope in something that you could lose. [00:09:24]

Once you have been saved he will keep you Sav that's the hope you have a lot of people think I don't want to give my life to God because what happens if I start on it and then I kind of mess up and screw up and fail and then I'll feel really stupid and then I lose my salvation no you won't that's not what the Bible says it is safe secure it's paid for it's done it's beyond the reach of change and Decay God in his mighty power will keep you saved. [00:13:41]

I have been at the funeral of people when nobody in the family knows God nobody in the family has the hope of the Resurrection nobody in the family knows the hope of heaven and for them they're losing this person they're never going to see him again and it's over that's it it's over and the terror in their eyes is something you don't want to see I've seen it over and over and over and I compare that to people who know the Lord that when they use lose a loved one who knows the Lord they grieve but they're not grieving for them because they know where they're going they're grieving for themselves because they're going to miss them and it's a whole different kind of grief it's a grieving with hope. [00:14:47]

The older I get uh and the more of my family that's in heaven and the more of my friends that are in heaven some great great Saints who've been in this church for over 30 years they're going on the more of my friends and family on the other side the more Heaven becomes attractive to me I have to be honest with you when I was a young man Heaven didn't seem very attractive to me in the first place no picture of it on Earth is correct I mean the picture of Heaven on Earth right now that you hear there's Heaven it's all white there's no color in heaven there's fog up to your feet you walk around everybody's in a white robe with wings playing a harp that would be hell if that's Heaven no thanks. [00:15:48]

The way you live with hope in the middle of pain is to enlarge your perspective to change your Viewpoint to get your eyes off of what's happening right here and now shift your perspective change your focus and begin to live in light of Eternity here's what the Bible says look on this screen so we don't focus on the troubles we see right now instead we look forward to what we don't see yet for the troubles that we see now are temporary but the joys that will come to last that will last will last forever. [00:18:00]

No eye has ever seen no ear has ever heard no mind has ever imagined the wonderful things that God has prepared for those who love him he has a purpose for your life right now he he has a power to help you solve the problems tomorrow and he has a place for you after you die the reason why you can't explain Heaven is because your brain power isn't big enough to handle it it would be like an ant trying to understand the internet we live in a 3D world but there are dimensions that we don't even know about and if God built this world and it's all broken now from sin how much cooler is heaven going to be. [00:20:10]

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Transcript
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