Hope in the Hour of JudgmentGOOD NEWS for God’s People

Hope in the Hour of Judgment GOOD NEWS for God’s People hope for today

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hope for today

KEY TEXT:Exodus 6:6 “Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.’”

SECTION 1Good News for God’s People

FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 19:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:5

Hope in the Hour of Judgment GOOD NEWS for God’s People

hope for today

CONSIDER:Could the judgment mean good news for God’s people? Jesus takes the side of His people in judgment.

DISCUSS:The first mention of judgment in the Bible is Exodus 6:6. Read and discuss this passage.

Hope in the Hour of Judgment GOOD NEWS for God’s People

SECTION 1Good News for God’s People

SECTION 2Understanding Christ’s Judgment

hope for today

KEY TEXT:Zechariah 3:1-7 “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?’ Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’

Hope in the Hour of Judgment GOOD NEWS for God’s People

SECTION 2Understanding Christ’s Judgment

hope for today

KEY TEXT (continued):And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.’ And I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by. Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying,

Hope in the Hour of Judgment GOOD NEWS for God’s People

SECTION 2Understanding Christ’s Judgment

hope for today

KEY TEXT (continued):‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command, then you shall also judge My house, and likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk among these who stand here.’ ”

FURTHER STUDY: Zechariah 3:1-4; Isaiah 64:6; Revelation 12:9-10

Hope in the Hour of Judgment GOOD NEWS for God’s People

hope for today

CONSIDER:Have you accidently thrown something into a fireplace? If that object was valuable you risked a lot to rescue it. Just so, God snatched Joshua the high priest, and by extension us, from the fire of judgment and condemnation. The Lord our Judge asks Satan, “Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” In Zachariah 3:1-7 God not only ignores Satan’s accusations against His people: He provides the righteousness we need to stand in His presence unafraid and unembarrassed––if we continue to walk in His ways.

Hope in the Hour of Judgment GOOD NEWS for God’s People

SECTION 2Understanding Christ’s Judgment

hope for todayHope in the Hour of Judgment GOOD NEWS for God’s People

SECTION 2Understanding Christ’s Judgment

DISCUSS:Identify three main characters in Zechariah 3:1-4. Who is our accuser in the judgment and of what does he accuse us?

SECTION 3Standing in the Judgment

hope for today

KEY TEXT:John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

Hope in the Hour of Judgment GOOD NEWS for God’s People

SECTION 3Standing in the Judgment

hope for today

KEY TEXT (continued):1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

Hope in the Hour of Judgment GOOD NEWS for God’s People

hope for today

CONSIDER:While most are familiar with John 3:16-17, equal attention should be paid to Jesus’ words in 1 John 2:1-2. He is not only our friend but also our defense attorney. He covers our sins with His robe of righteousness so we can stand in the judgment unafraid.

DISCUSS:Who is on our side in the final judgment?

SECTION 3Standing in the Judgment

Hope in the Hour of Judgment GOOD NEWS for God’s People

INVITATION

hope for today

God is on our side. Don’t you want to be on His side?

Hope in the Hour of Judgment GOOD NEWS for God’s People