Our Hope In Life & Death

Romans 14:7–9 ESV

For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

What is our hope in life and death?

Our hope in life and death is that we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

How is it that we are the Lords?

how do people know that you are your father's and mothers?

We are the Lord’s for He bought us with a high price and adopted us into His family as sons and daughters

the high price was the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ

If I am the Lord’s, then what does that mean for me?

We no longer follow a law unto self, but now submit to the rule and law of the one who paid it all for for us

Romans 14:8 “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”

We live unto the Lord

You follow a law and rule no matter what (Romans 6: 16-19)

Romans 6:16–19 ESV

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

either to self (sin)

or to the Lord (righteousness)

How does this tie into hope?

What is hope?

Hope is the confidence and assurance that what has been said will happen

Our hope is in the Lord over life and death (Romans 14:9 “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”)

He conquered death for He is both the just and justifier (Romans 3:26 “It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”)

Our confidence is not in how strong we can hold on, but rather in the one who holds onto us

Tell them about mom teaching me how to jump off a diving board and swimming

My confidence was not in my ability but in the ability of mom, and I had this confidence for she had shown herself to be able and true

How much more can I have confidence in the Lord who created all things, who sustains all things, that bought me and made me a son unto Him

Jesus gave all of Himself for us, so in return we give Him all of us!

Questions:

Understanding the Text

Why is it significant that Paul connects our hope to Christ’s death and resurrection (v. 9)?

Clarifying Hope

Before tonight, how would you have defined “hope”? How did the message challenge or deepen that?

What’s the difference between “hoping” in everyday life and biblical hope?

Where do people usually place their hope in life today?

Personal Reflection

In what areas of your life do you find it hardest to believe you truly “belong to the Lord”?

Do you tend to think more about belonging to Christ in life, or belonging to Him in death? Why?

How does knowing you belong to Christ change the way you think about death?

Application

How should belonging to Christ affect your decisions about time, relationships, or priorities?

Gospel Connection

Why is Christ’s death and resurrection the only foundation strong enough for hope in life and death?

How does Romans 3:26 (God as “just and justifier”) deepen your understanding of your security in Christ?

Discussion / Heart Level

What fears about life or death does this passage confront directly?

What would it look like for a Christian to have visible “hope” in everyday life?