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The Hope That Is In You
September 22, 2013
The apostle Peter wrote that the believer must be ready to give an answer of the hope that is within us, should anyone ask. We should be living such a life that people will ask that question. When they do, what will you answer? I have given some insights on thinking about our hope ahead of time -- what it is, how it works, the proof of its validity, and the goal that lies before us. We hope for eternal life with God in heaven.
Bernie Parsons
The Hope
That Is In You
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Load church of Christ on 09-22-2013
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 09-29-2013
I
recently invoked a scripture in another lesson that I wish to revisit for
our lesson today.
1 Peter
3:15 "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear:"
This
scripture caused me to contemplate the hope that is in us.
How does hope function?
Romans 8:23 "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting
for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a
man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for
it."
Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen."
Hope leads us to faith, or trust, that we will receive a future reward.
What is the basis for our hope
1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time."
Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God
is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly."
Our hope resides in the person of Jesus Christ, who
obeyed His Father in all things, and who died to take away our sins. His
blood cleanses us of our sins and restores us to God, the Father.
Hope leads us to love, learn, and live the commandments of God.
Psalms 119:113 "I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I
love.
114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in
thy word.
115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the
commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live:
and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will
have respect unto thy statutes continually."
Titus 3:4 "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward
man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to
the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm
constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to
maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."
David spoke of the hope that he had in God’s word, and because of that hope,
he loved and respected, or obeyed, the law of God. We all do well to
recognize that our hope rests in God.
The reward for our
hope is resurrection from the dead and eternal life with God.
1 Corinthians 15:16 "For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most
miserable.
But Christ has been raised from the dead
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them
that slept."
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead gives us the hope of
resurrection, as well.
We have the promise
of God that our hope is not in vain.
Hebrews 6:17 "Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of
promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie,
we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold
upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and
which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest
for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
Titus 1:1 "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according
to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is
after godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the
world began;
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is
committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;"
God cannot lie, and He has promised us that we have salvation and life
through Jesus Christ.
The hope of eternal
life in heaven with God sets us apart and preserves us. It makes us a
peculiar people, set aside to do the Master’s work.
Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to
all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
Jesus has purified us through His actions and His blood. It is up to us to
maintain a zeal for doing God’s work, which is to serve our fellow man in
love.
The hope that we have
instills in us joy and peace through God’s Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."
Once we understand hope – what it is, why it is, and how it is – we can give
an answer to others who ask us about that hope that drives our lives.
