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Posted on 02/13/2003 8:35:04 AM PST by w_over_w
Of the many wonderful things that should be put on in our walk, certainly one of great importance is the hope.
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
God’s Word beautifully declares that the Christian has much good to look forward to when the lord returns to gather together those that have believed upon him. I Peter 1:3 and 4 provides one example of what God makes known in many places regarding our hope.
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, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.
We are begotten again, or born again, unto a lively or living hope, to an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, that fades not away, reserved in heaven for us. Now that is a great deal of good to look forward to. The living hope, the inheritance reserved in heaven is a future reality because God says it is. It is our joyous responsibility to put this hope on in our walk.
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.
We, who are of the day, are to put on the hope of salvation, it is our helmet. The helmet was an important part of the Roman soldier’s armor. It was dangerous to participate in battle without a helmet ( or play Alabama in football). If we are to participate victoriously in the spiritual battle, we must put on our helmet, the hope of salvation. Putting on the hope of salvation is absolutely required if we are to live victoriously.
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer . . .
Romans 12:9 and following speak of conduct that is befitting of Christians. As Romans 12:12 makes known, one attribute that should be present in the conduct of a Christian is - - (may I have a drum roll please) rejoicing in the hope! We are not simply to be knowledgeable of the hope, we are to rejoice in it. Rejoicing is deeper than knowing, it is to feel great delight. A Christian is to rejoice in the hope.
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 . . .
Christians are not to be moved away from the hope of the gospel. It must be possible to be moved away from the hope of the gospel, and it must be possible to not be moved away from the hope of the gospel. God’s directive is to not be. You can begin to appreciate the importance of putting on the hope when you see the instruction god gives to rejoice in it, and to not be moved away from it.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
What a revelation! Every man that has the hope within him purifies himself. Purity of life in the walk of the sons of God is directly related to the hope living within. Now that certainly testifies to the grand significance of putting on the hope.
The living hope, the inheritance reserved in heaven for all born-again ones is a certainty beyond dispute because God says so. It is our joyous responsibility to put on this hope of salvation, it is our helmet. We are to rejoice in the hope; we are to feel great delight concerning the hope. We are not to be moved away from the hope of the gospel. And how revealing to see that purity of life is directly linked with the hope living within. God has lovingly informed us of our hope and He has lovingly instructed us to put it on. Put on the hope of salvation – rejoice in the hope – be not moved away from the hope of the gospel. For “every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.”
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God bless your hearts . . .
During these uncertain times, thanks for the reminder of His constancy.
Instead of relying on trillions of mere coincidences to explain our existence, I prefer to believe that which I know to be true - that the only explanation for what has happened is that God created this universe, and because He loved us, He sent His only Son to save us.
Thank God!
I believe both statements about the age of the universe to be true and have Scriptural and scientific grounds for it. If you are interested, they are explained here: Freeper Views on Origins.
It is a collection of the various points of view, mine is the first. Please feel free to post yours as well!
God created this universe, and because He loved us, He sent His only Son to save us.
Amen! Praise God!!!
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Father, thank you to help me rejoice in what your Son has accomplished and that your Word has been honored today by rightly dividing it for the edification, exhortation and comfort to the Saints. We claim this in the powerful and life giving name of the Christ, Jesus. Amen.