Week 6 - Dan Arant - We Have Hope

Dan shared a passage of scripture that has given him hope on his darkest days. He stated that the passage is not a "checklist" or a "TED talk" but rather about what God has done.

Dan noted that a given in this life is that everyone "will screw up in some way, shape, or form". This reality is discussed in the context of creation in the image of God (imago dei). While God created humanity as "very good," this good creation later rebelled against God, which the speaker refers to as sin. Sin separates people from the presence of God.

Dan emphasized that there is no human effort—no checklist, TED talk, technique, or counseling session—that can bridge the divide created by sin. He then introduced the book of Romans, encouraging listeners to read it. The Apostle Paul, the author of Romans, was a former persecutor of the early church who was converted to Christianity and began to teach the truth of God. Paul's legal argument in Romans addresses the claims of Jesus Christ.

The core of the message is found in Romans chapter 5, which discusses salvation through faith in Jesus Christ's work. The speaker read verses 5 through 8:

• "And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us"

• "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly"

• "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"

Dan stressed that God did not look for people who were doing good things but demonstrated his love for "us" while we were still sinners. This means God died for his enemies, which is unique in human history. When humanity rebelled, God did not wait for them to return to him; instead, He "put on flesh in the man Jesus Christ and he came to us" to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. The speaker concluded that this act of Christ making a way for people to be greater, even in the midst of their sin, is the greatest measure of hope.