In this final section of the book of Daniel, we are reminded that the biblical message is oriented towards the future, the people of God will be persecuted, but that persecution will end at God’s appointed time. We also learn that the persecution will result in the spiritual growth of God’s people.
Read Daniel 12:5-13
Because Christians are united to Christ in his death and resurrection they are dead to sin and alive to God. This is the basis for any growth in holiness. This holiness consists of the negative side of not allowing sin to reign and the positive side of offering ourselves to God.
Read Romans 6:11-13
This passage is an OT prophecy of the great tribulation. To comfort God’s people the prophecy speaks of Michael who protects God’s people, the final resurrection and judgment, the glorification of the people of God and the certainty of the prophecy.
Read Daniel 12:1-4
Paul’s goal in this passage is to assure the people of God that they are sons of God. He compares the status of OT believers to young children while believers after the coming of Christ are given the full rights of sons.
Read Galatians 4:1-7
This passage is intended to encourage God’s people as they face opposition and persecution. It does so by first of all giving a biblical perspective on history and secondly by showing that persecution belongs to God’s plan for his people.
Read Daniel 11:2-45
This passage teaches the absolute necessary of repentance for salvation. Repentance is a turning from sin to God. It is has to do with our relationship with God, it is necessary for salvation, it is both a gift of God and something that we do, it is an ongoing reality in the Christian life and it is possible because of Jesus saving work.
Read Luke 13:1-3
Daniel is very discouraged by the difficulties that the returned exiles are having in Jerusalem. He is encouraged by an angel who reflects the glory of God, assures Daniel of God’s favor, shows him that prayer has an impact in the spiritual war, and strengthens him.
Read Daniel 10:1 - 11:1
Salvation is received through faith. Faith is both a gift of God and an activity/attitude that we are called to exercise. It involves an belief in the truth claims of the bible, but also a personal trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. The fact that works do not play a role as the basis for salvation means that it is rooted in the grace of God.
Read Ephesians 2:8-9
This passage teaches that the fulfillment of the promise to bring Israel from captivity back to the promised land would eventually include release from the bondage of sin through the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Read Daniel 9:20-27
This passage is a key passage in the biblical teaching on justification by faith. The concepts discussed in the sermon are “a righteousness from God,” “redemption,” “propitiation,” “the justice of God,” and “by faith apart from the law.”
Read Romans 3:21-31
