Beth-El Baptist Church
05/20/2007
Greg Tomlinson
What is the reason that
Christians can have hope?
There is a teaching within the Christian realm that says that Christians cannot know for sure whether they will spend eternity in heaven nor can they even have any hope of ever knowing. The scriptures however teach that not only is entrance a ‘know so’ reality but that we can and are expected to live out lives with that hope ever before us. In order to ‘know’ that heaven is your reality, the hope that rests behind that reality needs to be understood (1 Peter 3:15).
1. What is hope?
Proverbs 13:12 Job 14:7-9; 27:8-10
Luke 6:34-35 Romans 4:18-19; 8:24-25; 15:4
Colossians 1:4-6 Hebrews 11:1
Hope is an expectation of a future benefit that is long desired to see and which you are willing to patiently await its fulfillment.
2. What does a Christian hope in or for?
Psalm 33:22; 42:5; 71:5; 78:5-7; 119:81; 130:7; 147:11
Jeremiah 17:7, 13 Lamentations 3:21-26
Joel 3:16 Acts 2:25-28; 24:14-15; 26:6
1 Corinthians 9:9-10; 15:14-22 Galatians 5:5
Ephesians 2:11-17 Colossians 1:23-28
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20; 4:13-15; 5:8 1 Timothy 1:1
Titus 1:1-2; 2:13; 3:7 1 John 3:1-3
The Christian hopes in God an in Christ. This is the essence and the core of our hope. With Jesus Christ as our hope, other hopes are a part of that package. We hope for righteousness, the resurrection, for eternal life, for salvation itself, for the fulfillment of being a true Son of God.
3. How does the Christian come by this hope?
1 Peter 1:3-5
Romans 5:1-11 – parsed for understanding
Background: Romans 1:16-32 Gentiles are guilty by nature
Romans 2:1-3:8 Jews are guilty by transgression
Romans 3:9-20 Summarize the guilt of all people
Romans 3:21-31 God’s provision of righteousness by faith
Romans 4:1-25 Abraham’s example of justification by faith
Our justification: vv1-5
Already justified (past): 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12
Peace: John 14:27 cmp John 16:33
Stand: Hebrews 4:16; 13:5
Hope of glory: Ephesians 1:17-20; Colossians 1:26-28; Romans 6:4-6; 1 Corinthians 15:43-44
His great love: vv6-8
Willing sacrifice: John 10:17-18; 15:13; 1 Peter 3:18 cmp Proverb 29:27
Scarcely: Acts 14:18; 27:7-8
Righteous: Romans 2:13; 1:17
Peradventure: Philemon 1:15
Dare: Matthew 22:46; Mark 12:34; 15:43; John 21:12; Acts 5:11-14; 7:32; Romans 15:18; 1 Corinthians 6:1; Philippians 1:14; Jude 1:9
Good: Romans 7:12-19
No one in their right mind would even consider sacrificing for the benefit of someone or something that is qualitatively worthless or even for a negative value, but that is just what Jesus Christ did. He died for utter worthless sinners.
His blood: vv9-10
Justifies us: 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 9:22; Romans 3:25 cmp Romans 3:15
Wrath: John 3:36; 2 Chronicles 34:21-25; Psalm 79:6; Ezekiel 22:30-31
Enemies yet reconciled: John 15:13; Matthew 5:43-46; Colossians 1:21; Genesis 49:10-12; Ezekiel 16:8-14; Revelation 1:4-6; 7:14
Our atonement: v11
2
Corinthians 5:18-19
The reason that the Christian is able to have hope, even in this world with so much violence and perversity, is because the Christian can look beyond the troubles of this world and see the coming fulfillment of God’s promises. The Christian has hope, not in this world, but in eternity. Our justification is already past and it can never be taken away. The greatness of God’s love is that his love for us proceeded ours and actually resulted in our. We are able to love God and have hope in him because he sacrificed himself for us. God will never do anything that is worthless. The death of Jesus Christ had a purpose, that purpose is us. He was willing to sacrifice on behalf of those who by all proper measurements were worthless and justly to be destroyed, but he saw a value in us and had compassion so that we might live.
4. Based on how the Christian is able to have hope, how can the Christian be sure of their salvation?
John 20:31 1 John 5:13
Romans 8:15-17; 8:32 Galatians 4:6-7
Titus 1:1-3
The Christian can be sure of the state of their salvation by the presence of the Holy Spirit which confesses to their heart and conscience the reality of His presence and the reliability of His word. Since God promised eternal life, salvation, a heavenly presence, by sending Jesus Christ as the payment for our sins and His resurrection for our righteous clothing, we can be sure that for those who truly trust in Jesus and Jesus alone that God will keep his promise and grant eternal life.
The Christian is able to rightly have hope because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He gave himself on behalf of people who absolutely hated and despised him but he did it because he loved them so very much. As a result of God’s great love and compassion, the child of God knows that he is protected and will live for all eternity.