June 14, 2020
Morning Service

1Co 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

            In our study of these three essential elements of our walk with the Lord, we have covered love and faith and now we turn our attention to hope.  Hope defined is a confident expectation; awaiting something that has not yet been seen.  Faith and hope walk hand in hand; faith is believing without seeing and hope is that anticipation of what you believe will come to pass.  Hope is patiently waiting through tough times knowing that there is something better ahead; a light at the end of the tunnel.  The Roman letter tells us this about hope:

 

Romans 8:18-25 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  (19)  For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.  (20)  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; (21) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  (22)  For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.  (23)  Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.  (24)  For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?  (25)  But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

            The OT scriptures are full of prophecies that pointed forward to the coming of the Messiah.  The Jewish people had faith in God, but it was the promise of the coming Messiah that gave them hope.  They endured great tribulation and persecution, but always held tightly to the hope that their salvation was on the way; a better time was ahead.  When Jesus arrived their faith and hope became reality.  The Messiah they had longingly hoped for was now walking among them and there was no need for that hope any longer.  They could then rely on their eyes, ears and hands to see, hear and touch Him that they had hoped for.  This brings to mind the story of Simeon who was told by God that He would not die until he saw the Messiah.  He was at the temple and his hope became reality when Mary and Joseph brought in the baby Jesus.

 

Luke 2:29-32 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; (30) For my eyes have seen Your salvation (31) Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, (32) A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."

            Simeon’s hope had become reality as he gazed upon the promised Messiah peace and contentment filled his heart and soul.  Hope fulfilled is true joy.  The Jewish nation as a whole did not all understand what had just happened.  They were blinded by God to Jesus’ true identity.  They continue to hope for a Messiah that has already came which places a stumbling block in their path creating a false hope.

            As NT Christians today our hope still lies in the Messiah, by faith we believe He lived a perfect sinless life, died upon the cross to pay for our sin and has been resurrected from that grave and is now “sitting at the right hand of God ever making intercession for them who come to Him.”  (Col. 3:1/Heb. 7:25) Jesus Christ is our hope. Paul makes it crystal clear for us in the beginning of his letter to Timothy:

 

1Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

            In Jesus lies all of our hope; a hope of salvation and forgiveness of sin.  A hope of promises fulfilled.  A hope of a second coming.  A hope of eternal life.  These many hopes all roll together as one and it is that hope that unites us together as believers.

 

Eph 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism; (6) one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

            United together in this single calling of hope, let’s build our faith that our hope is in Jesus alone to be assured that our hope is not a false one.

 

Act 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

 

Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

            Our hope of salvation, the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with our Heavenly Father, is built solely upon Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  These two scriptures paint a very clear picture that it is in Jesus alone that salvation is achieved.  Many teach that there are many ways to be reconciled with God, but this tells us the truth that there is only One.  It is only through Jesus that salvation and reconciliation are given to those who believe upon His Name.  Jesus is our hope.  It is Jesus that we walk with in this life; it is with Him we share a personal relationship.  It is He that we love because He first loved us offering His life for our salvation.  It is He that we build our faith upon believing and trusting that He is our Lord and Savior.  It is He that all our hope lies in knowing that He is “the way the truth and the life.”  It is in Him that we are able to live each day standing on the foundation of love and faith, but it is our hope that pushes us forward knowing that there is a better day coming.  Paul describes this journey of hope in Romans 5.

 

Rom 5:1-8 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  (3)  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; (4) and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  (5)  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  (6)  For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  (7)  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  (8)  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

            Our lives are a journey to a place that God has prepared for us.  Heaven is the ultimate goal, our hope we cling to, but also in this life God is pushing us to a greater hope in Him as we experience the troubles and trials that life brings with it.  The journey shapes us into who He wants us to become.  Tribulations come against us but when we allow our hope to push us forward, God uses those troublesome times to build our perseverance (patience).  When we begin to build patience it then builds our character (who we are/the why we do what we do); hopefully that becomes being defined simply as a Jesus follower.  Our character then fuels our hope and hope does not disappoint.  We see Jesus working in our lives and learn to trust Him more each day and that allows our faith to grow and in turn our hope to grow as well.  We love Him and have faith in Him and we also have hope in Him.  He has something for us each and every day as His “mercies are fresh each morning.”  Hold tightly to your hope because a better day is coming.  Place your hope in Jesus alone; He is worthy and will never let you down.

 

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the hope we have in Your Son Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.