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Commentary on "Hope Against Depression"
Day 6: Thursday, February 10, 2011 - Hope Against Distress
Overview
This lesson focused on hope, and how it is essential to living lives with a "reasonable amount of mental health". The author begins the lesson by referring to Micah 7:1-7, stating that the prophet Micah faced oppression, abuse, corruption, etc. He says that the ingredient to surviving crisis, is to have hope.
He continues this thought by saying that hope must be present, even for the unbeliever. He lists examples of this such as: person hopes to find a job, a lost traveler hopes to find their way, and investors hope for better economic times. He says living with hope is a necessity and the worst possible punishment is to deprive someone of hope.
He concludes the lesson by saying that the hope of the Bible goes beyond positive anticipation. Biblical hope is centered on salvation and redemption through Jesus Christ. He says that clinging to the historic "blessed hope" of Seventh-Day Adventists will give us perspective in difficult times so that we can look in confidence toward eternity.
Problems
As already discussed earlier in Sabbath's lesson commentary, we defined that hope was actually centered in Jesus Christ, and the only access to this hope is through the Holy Spirit by becoming born again.
Hope is not only about what will happen in the future, but what has already happened in the life of the believer. SDAs view "the blessed hope" as something that can only be experienced in eternity when Jesus comes. And because the assurance of salvation is not taught within Adventist doctrine, what this really means is that Adventists hope to experience a future hope!
The word "hope" in everyday use is generally used when there is uncertainty. We may say, "I don't know what's going to happen, but I hope it happens." But Biblical hope is not wishful thinking. It's not "I don't know if I'm saved, but I hope I am." That is not what is meant by Christian hope. Christian hope is a confidence that something will come to pass because God has promised it will come to pass. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)
Summary
- Christian hope is in a Person, not just an expectation.
- SDA's "blessed hope" is no hope at all since they don't have the assurance of salvation.
- Christian hope is confidence and assurance in God's promises.
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised January 18, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.
Official Adventist Resources
Standard Edition Study Guide Week 7
Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 7
