Correspondence Course
If we ever think seriously about life in general - about world problems, and
about what the future holds for us personally - two questions which often arise
are:
1. Is permanent world peace possible?
In this first lesson we want to show how the Bible can help us to answer these
questions.
With regard to the first, many people are not aware that the bible has much to
say about the future of our world. For instance, Psalm 72 describes an earth in
which peace and plenty will abound.
"Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice...
In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound." (Psalm 72:1-2, 7)
Mankind has often dreamed of such a golden age, but there has been constant
failure because of the weakness and selfishness of human nature. In spite of
good intentions, there have always been those who try to dominate their fellows;
those, who through selfish deeds, through greed and ambition, bring to nothing
all plans for human happiness.
The first serious attempt in modern times to deal with this problem was the
formation of the League of nations, over seventy years ago. The League adopted
as its motto some words from the Bible: "Nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2:4). Hopes were high,
but after only a few years, with the rise of totalitarian regimes in Europe and
the outbreak of a terrible second world war, the dream perished. After the war
the need for some kind of world authority to keep the peace led to the creation
of the United Nations, but this also has failed to prevent the many wars which
have broken out during the last fifty years.
Is seems very unlikely that mankind will be able to solve the world's problems
in the foreseeable future. To create peace, either (a) there must be a
miraculous change in human nature, so that people will begin to act with
kindness towards all their fellow men, or (b) we must have a world leader who
will be able to force them to do so.
The first possibility seems most unlikely, so we turn to the second. Here there
will be a need for someone all-powerful and supremely capable. Though powerful,
he (or she!) must also be wise and incorruptible and yet sympathetic towards
human weakness. Where could such a person be found? And if he were to exist, and
were willing to accept such a responsibility, there remains the problem of his
inevitable death. Could the world go on finding suitable replacements?
The Bible assures us that God will without fail provide a solution to the
problem of world peace. There will indeed arise a world leader, who will be
perfectly fitted for the task; a man who has already proved himself worthy
because of his supreme wisdom, and his boundless love and concern for all. That
man is the Lord Jesus Christ. Only he who loves his fellow men is fit to rule
over them, and Jesus Christ certainly did so. The solution to the problem of
world peace is the promise that the Lord Jesus will return.
In the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, the history of the beginning
of Christianity, we read how Jesus went to heaven, some weeks after his
resurrection. After his disciples saw him go angels appeared, who said,
"Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus,
who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you
have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)
Jesus Christ will set up the Kingdom of God upon this earth. All existing
governments will be removed, and he himself will reign as king. He will have
complete power to achieve peace among the nations. As we read in the book of
Daniel:
"The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will
it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to
an end, but it will itself endure for ever." (Daniel 2:44)
Does this seem impossible to you? It would indeed be impossible but for one
historical fact - the fact that after Jesus was cruicfied he came back to life
and after spending some weeks with his disciples was taken to his Father in
heaven. From there, when the times comes, he will return to take away from the
earth all injustice, oppression and violence. Later on in the course we will
provide evidence that the time is near, that the earth is about to witness the
greatest events of its history.
But how will all this affect us as individuals? What part will we play while
these great changes are taking place? So we come to our second question: What
will happen to us in the future, and after our death?
This depends entirely upon decisions which we ourlseves must make, decisions
which no one can make for us. First of all, by our own reading of the Bible we
must become convinced (a) that God exists, and that the Bible is indeed his Word
for us; and (b) that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and that he will return to
this earth. These form a foundation upon which hopes for world peace, and for
our own future, must rest. During this course we shall give you sound resons for
believing these things.
When we come to think about our own personal future, it is the resurrection of
Jesus which is the key to everything. Throughout the New Testament you will find
that the true hope of a Christian is resurrection from the dead. In fact, the
very first thing that Jesus will do when he returns will be to bring many people
back to life. For those who really believe that God did raise His Son from the
dead, who believe all that He has promised, that new life will not be like the
life we now experience. Jesus called it "eternal life". He said,
"For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him
shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)
The main purpose of this course will be to show you, from the Bible, how you can
receive the gift of eternal life, in the Kingdom of God on earth. We read in
John 3:16,
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
But it is not sufficient to say, "I believe in Jesus". We must first understand
why he came, and how his coming is related to promises made by God, many
centuries before. Then we must learn what he wants us to do, for belief in Jesus
counts for nothing unless we try to follow his commandments.
We cannot learn about all these things unles we read the Bible. For
"Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word
of Christ." (Romans 10:17)
The purpose of this course is to explain the message of the Bible, to point the
way to eternal life, and to show that the only hope for the world is the return
of Jesus Christ.
In the Bible is a promise that there will come a time of permanent peace, when
Jesus returns as king. If we believe in Jesus Christ and try to obey his
commandments, we have hope of being saved from death, and being given eternal
life.
Questions
With each lesson there are some questions, which will help your tutor to see
whether you have properly understood the lesson. Please read the lessons
carefully, noting all the Bible quotations, then answer the questions. If you
would like to take this course, all you have to do is to answer the following
questions and either email them to [email protected] or post them to
the addresss below.
A1. Why is it important to understand the Bible?
Christadelphian Bible Mission
Lesson 1
2. What will happen to us in the future, and after our death?
Peace on Earth
The return of Jesus Christ
Our part
Summary
A2. According to the Bible, what is the only basis for permanent peace in the world?
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