The Foundation of Hope
I.The Foundation
of Our Hope---Jesus Christ
The foundation of any real and lasting hope is Jesus Christ,our Lord. According
to (Ephesians 2:20),Jesus is the "chief corner stone"
on which the church and our faith is built. And in (1 Corinthians 3:11) Paul writes,"for other foundation can no
man lay than that is laid,which is Jesus Christ". Jesus is the foundation
of our hope for at least three reasons.
A. Jesus Our Savior--His Sacrifice
We have hope because Jesus shed his blood on the cross as a sacrifice and
payment for our sin.As (Hebrews 9:26) states Jesus
has "appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself". And as Paul
writes in (1 Corinthians 15:20) ,we can hope because
of Jesus' resurrection from the dead,"But now is Christ risen from the
dead,and become the first fruits of them that slept".
B.Jesus Our Lord--His Sanctification
We not only have a foundation of hope because of Jesus' sacrifice,but also
because of Jesus' sanctification of us. Sanctify which may be defined as
"to set apart" generally refers to Jesus' setting believers apart to fellowship with,
glorify, and serve Him. By His power in the indwelling presence
of the Holy Spirit, we are able to submit to the lordship of Christ ,submitting
to the Father's will as He conforms us, moment by moment, to the likeness of
His son,Jesus Christ.
C.Jesus Our Word--His Truth
Further our hope is founded upon the Word which according to (John 1:14), "was made flesh, and dwelt among us,(and we beheld his
glory,the glory as the only begotten of the Father),full of grace and truth".
God's holy word,as illuminated by His Holy Spirit, provides a foundation
for our hope.According to (Romans 15:4)," For whatsoever
things were written aforetime were witten for our learning that we through
patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope". And (Psalms 119:114,116) states," Thou art my hiding place and
my shield,I hope in thy word....Uphold me according unto thy word,that
I may live,and let me not be ashamed of my hope".
II.The Focus of Our Hope
Specifically our hope may be focused on several important and comforting
truths from God's word.
A.His Gospel and Gift of Eternal Life
Our hope must initially be focused upon the truth of and our acceptance
of (in genuine,saving faith)the death,burial,and resurrection of
our Lord Jesus Christ,as well as the gift of eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
(Romans 6:23),"For the wages of sin is death,but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord".
(Colossians 1:23)," If ye continue in the faith grounded
and settled,and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel,which ye
have heard,and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven,whereof
I Paul am made a minister".
B.His Grace,Mercy,and Forgiveness
Our hope is strengthened as we focus on the attributes of God, such as
His grace,mercy,and forgiveness.
(Psalms 33:22), " Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
according as we hope in thee".
(Psalms 38:15),"For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt
hear, O Lord my God".
(1John 1:9), " If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".
C.His Intercession on Our Behalf
We have hope in focusing on realizing and remembering that Jesus is at
the right hand of God the Father continually making intercession for us.
(Romans 8:34), " Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ
that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us".
(Hebrews 7: 24-27), "But this man, because he continueth
ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save
them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth
to make intercession for them.For such an high priest became us, who is
holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than
the heavens, Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer
up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this
he did once, when he offered up himself".
D.His Resurrection and Removal from the Wrath to Come
We have hope through Jesus' resurrection of the dead and through His removing
the church from the wrath to come.
(1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18)," But I would not have you
to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow
not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with him.
15 For this we say
unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto
the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort
one another with these words".
(I Thessalonians 5:8-11), "But let us, who are of
the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for
an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not
appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us,
that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort
yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do".
E.His Return and Reign in Power and Glory
We have hope in our Lord Jesus Christ by focusing on His second coming
and His reign as king of kings and lord of lords.
(Philippians 2: 9-11),"9 Wherefore God also hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth;
11 And that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father".
(Revelation 19: 11-16),"11 And I saw heaven
opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful
and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as
a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written,
that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed
with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies
which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen,
white and clean.
15 And out of his
mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and
he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of
the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on
his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF
LORDS".
F.His Heavenly Home
Lastly, our hope grows when we focus on our home in heaven where we will
ever be with our precious Lord Jesus Christ.
(John 14:3),"3 And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,
there ye may be also".
III.The Fruit of Our Hope
Lastly, our hope which is both founded and focused on our Lord Jesus Christ
should express itself in our attitudes and actions.
A.Hope anchors our soul to the firm foundation(Jesus Christ).
(Hebrews 6: 17-20),"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".
B.Hope produces precious praise and prayers.
(Proverbs 10: 28),"28 The hope of the righteous shall
be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish".
(Romans 12: 12),"12 Rejoicing in hope; patient
in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer".
C.Hope serves steadfastly.
(Hebrews 6:11-12), "11 And we desire that every
one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto
the end:
12 That ye be not
slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit
the promises".
D.Hope purifies from sin
(1 John 3: 2-3),"2 Beloved, now are we the sons
of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that,
when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he
is.
3 And every man that
hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure".
E.Hope furthers itself in its actions and answers to others.
(1 Peter 3:15),"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".
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