The Christian Hope

The Christian Hope is not a wish, a desire or mere wishful thinking. It is an assurance and a guarantee, a confident expectation, a clear conviction, a reality. It is promised in Jesus Christ. God has given us His Son. Our source of hope is God.

Hope's Foundation
This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5 HCSB)
Holy Spirit produces hope.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4 ESV)
The scriptures give us hope.

Hope's Results
And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:3 ESV)
When you have hope, you will live holy life.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13 ESV)
Joy and Peace comes from Hope. Because of the Hope, a man can have joy and peace in the midst of tribulations.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12 ESV)
Rejoice not in the circumstances, but in the hope of Jesus Christ.

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: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (1 Peter 3:15-16 KJV)
Hope gives us an opportunity to witness for Christ in a hopeless world.

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: (2 Corinthians 3:12 KJV)
Since we have such a hope, we are dare to speak frankly and boldly.

Hope - look back at Calvary, look forward to Christ's return, look to the witness of the Holy Spirit within ourselves.

No matter in which direction a Christian looks, he finds reason to obey God. If he looks back, he sees Calvary, where Christ died for him. If he looks within, he sees the Holy Spirit, who lives within and teaches him the truth. If he looks around, he sees his Christian brethren, whom he loves; he also sees a world lost in sin, desperately needing his godly witness. And if he looks ahead, he sees the return of Christ!
Warren W. Wiersbe

The Christian Goal - Be Like Christ

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:29 ESV)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30 ESV)

Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. (1 John 3:2 HCSB)

Hope, Faith And Truth

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)

Hope comes from faith. And when faith is based on truth, our hope will be real.

How Christians Should Live

Ephesians 5:15-21 HCSB

15. Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise
16. making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
17. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
18. And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:
19. speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord,
20. giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21. submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

15 Behaviour
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12 ESV)

16 Time
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12 ESV)

17 Purpose - Do God's will
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. (1 Peter 2:15 ESV)
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:17 ESV)
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-2 NASB)
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1 Peter 4:19 ESV)
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: (1 Thessalonians 4:3 KJV)

18 The only excess allowed - be filled with the Spirit
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (Romans 8:9 ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 ESV)
Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." (John 6:28-29 ESV)

19 Fellowship
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:11 ESV)
If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20 ESV)

20 Attitude
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV)

21 Authority
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17 ESV)
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1 ESV)
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, (Titus 3:1 ESV)
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:13-25 ESV)

God Demonstrated His Love

Romans 5:6-11 KJV

6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Christians are weak(6), ungodly(6), sinners(8) and enemies of God(10), but saved(10) and reconciled(10) to God by the atoning(11) death(8,10) of His Son Jesus.

If you are weak, ungodly, a sinner and an enemy of God, rejoice! For Jesus had died for your sins and you are reconciled with God. All you have to do is believe.

Ultimate Description Of Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a HCSB

4. Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited,
5. does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs.
6. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.
7. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8. Love never ends.

Based on a sermon by Dr Mark Minnick (2003-12-09)

Passive and Active Response of Love
Passive response: patient(4)
Active response: kind(4)

Five self denials of Love
Does not envy(4)
Does not boast, brag or parade itself(4)
Not conceited, puffed up(4)
Does not act improperly or unseemly, not rude(5)
Not self-seeking(5)

Three refusals of Love
Refused to be easily provoked or exasperated(5)
Does not keep a record of wrongs(5)
Finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth(6)

Four universals of Love
Bears all things(7)
Believes all things(7)
Hopes all things(7)
Endures all things(7)

Love is Eternal
Love never ends(8)

The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Bodily Resurrection proves Jesus's authority over His Father's house.
The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body. (John 2:18-21 NASB)

Bodily Resurrection proves He had returned from the grave.
Jesus made five appearances on the first day of His resurrection and proved that He had risen in His same body, and not a ghost (Luke 24:13-43)

Bodily Resurrection proves He is the long promised Messiah.
"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know- this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power. For David says about him,
'I saw the Lord always in front of me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced;
my body also will live in hope,
because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
nor permit your Holy One to experience decay.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of joy with your presence.'
"Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay. This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it. (Acts 2:22-32 NET Bible)

Bodily Resurrection proves that the Gospel is true.
1 Corinthians 15:14-19 KJV

14. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
    
15. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
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.

God and Mammon

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24 KJV)

Mammon is a great competitor to God. We either have faith in mammon or God, but not both. When I had no savings, I feel very insecure. I had to depend on God for my expenses. When I need something and I need to ask God, sometimes I have to question myself if it is the will of God. It is just like my children coming to me for money. They are never sure if I would agree to buy what they want.

When I have savings, I feel very secure. I also feel generous. Not only that, I feel that I can spend accord to my own wishes. I do not have to care about the will of God.

I realize that I actually have more faith in mammon than God.

Benefits of Believing in Jesus

Hope
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 NASB)

For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works. (Titus 2:11-15 HCSB)

Rest
Because Christ is our hope, we can rest. We do not need to struggle.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

Satisfaction
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13-14 KJV)

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35 ESV)

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (Isaiah 58:11 KJV)

Performance beyond your ability
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 ESV)

And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8 NET)

Our Hope

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18:25 ESV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 ESV, NASB)

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13 ESV)

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5 NASB)

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4 ESV)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know
what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.
Ephesians 1:18-19a NASB

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32 KJV)

Gentiles

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. (Acts 15:20 KJV)

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. (Acts 15:29 KJV)

As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. (Acts 21:25 KJV)

Perversions

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 1:7 KJV)

If you already committed these perversions then, this is what God has to say:
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7 KJV)

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)