Let's turn back in our Bible again to Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8. I'm going to use for title what is said in verse 24. Romans 8 verse 24. Saved by hope. We wait for the redemption of our body. Waiting for my body that will never sin. The redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, he doesn't hope, he sees. But if we hope for that we see not, then we with patience, we do wait upon that hope.

I tell you, the blessings of God, the blessings of the gospel are worth waiting upon. He's worth waiting upon. Wait upon the Lord, David said, again I say, again I say, wait upon the Lord.

Faith, we read in Hebrews 11, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Now that word, hope, is used in scripture many, many, many times. I looked it up this morning. and found that the word hope is used 122 times. Hope, hope, hope. And the New Testament is used 53 times. Paul uses this word quite often. Hope, hope.

We read a moment ago in 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 13 that believers have everlasting consolation in the Lord Jesus Christ and we have a good hope. We have a good hope through grace, through the grace of our Lord. And then we read another scripture in Colossians 1, 27, Christ in you is the hope of glory. Christ in you, that's our hope. Christ is our hope. And then when Paul writes 1 Timothy 1, 1, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ, our hope. The Lord Jesus Christ is our hope. He's all the hope of our salvation. Salvation is in Him, of Him, and through Him, by Him, and to Him. To Him be the glory now and forever.

By the Lord's sovereign grace, and by the Lord's sovereign choice, and by the Lord's power, we've been made sons of God. Being made sons of God, we have God the Holy Spirit indwelling our heart that bears a constant witness to the loving adoption of our gracious Heavenly Father unto His children. We read in verse 14 and following, Romans 8, for as many as be led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Or we've not received the spirit of adoption, spirit of bondage, again to fear, but we've received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself bear witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. It so be that we suffer with Him that we may be also glorified together. Glorified together with Him.

We've been going through 1 John in our Bible study on Sunday morning. And we had 1 John chapter 3 where it said, Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called sons of God. That's verse 1. Verse 2 said, Beloved, now are we sons of God. And it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, and we shall see Him as He is, face to face. Face to face with Christ my Savior.

Not only has the Holy Spirit, God the Holy Spirit, made known to us that we've been born into the kingdom of God, made children of God, but we also are made heirs of His grace, joint heirs with Christ, being in union with Him, being made one with Him, being found in Him. As I've often said to you, the Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the body, The church, he's the head, but what's true of the head is true of the body. Where the head is, that's where the body is. What's true of him is true of us. We read in 1 John 4, we studied verse 17, as he is, so are we in this world. As he is, so are we in this world that we may have boldness, liberty in the day of judgment. We have freedom and liberty in the day of judgment. Because we stand in Christ, one with Him. That's what we call representation union, federal headship, one with Him.

We read in Romans 5, 19, in Adam, one man's disobedience, many were made sinners. He represented all men everywhere. When he fell, we fell. By one man's obedience, many shall be made righteous, and that's Christ's obedience unto death, his obedience unto death, whereby he obtained for us eternal redemption with his own blood.

And beloved, now, now are we sons of God. Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face, face to face with Christ my Savior. Now I know in part, but then shall I know even also I am known that's 1st Corinthians 13. So one day we behold him now with eyes of faith we have a good hope through grace but one day faith will end in sight hope will end in reality but love and It abides forever. We'll really love Him like we should, like we ought to, in that day when we're made just like Him, be with Him eternally with the Lord Jesus Christ. That's glory. It's not worthy to be compared. The sufferings of this life.

Verse 18, let's start there. Romans 8, verse 18, for I reckon, I reckon, that's a good old country saying, isn't it? I reckon so. I reckon it to be so. That the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory. Comparison. What's the suffering in this life compared to that eternal glory with the Lord Jesus Christ? Can you make that comparison? I reckon it to be so. You remember we had that word reckon before. Chapter 6, Romans 6, verse 11. Likewise reckon, Romans 6, 11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but liven the God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Dead to sin, dead to its power to condemn. There's no condemnation to those who are in the Lord Jesus Christ.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time, we are creatures of time. We are creatures of time. How many times a day do we look at the clock? How many times a day do we? I mean, it's constant, isn't it? We are creatures of time. One day, time will be no more. One day, there will be no such thing as time. It'll be just one eternal glory for those in the Lord Jesus Christ. For the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.

Now there is suffering in this life. Turn over to 2 Corinthians. Let's look at a few scriptures on this. 2 Corinthians chapter 4. 2 Corinthians chapter 4. In this world you shall have tribulation, our Lord teaches. 2 Corinthians 4 verse 15, For all things are for your sake, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we think not, though the outward man perish. And that's just flesh. The inward man is renewed day by day. That's that spiritual man. That's that spirit that's been resurrected. For our light afflictions, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal way to glory. While we look not at things which are seen, but things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Our hope in Christ is an eternal hope, an eternal hope. we have in Christ Jesus. Let's turn to a couple more. Let's find over here in 2 Timothy chapter 3. You know, all the apostles suffered greatly for the gospel. Paul, when he was stoned at Lisper told them, we must through great tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

In 2 Timothy chapter 3, Paul is sitting on death row, waiting to be executed here. He writes back, 2 Timothy 3, verse 11, Persecution and afflictions which came unto me in Antioch, list Iconium, list what persecutions I endured. But out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, all that will live godly in the Lord Jesus Christ shall suffer persecution.

Why didn't the Lord, in His eternal wisdom and purpose, just give John and Peter and those apostles and James who was beheaded, why didn't He just give them all green lights and blue sky and no trouble? It wasn't His purpose. It wasn't His purpose to do so. God purposed these heartaches and trials that we go through. And they're for our good. While trials do not produce faith, They certainly reveal faith, whether it's to be true or not.

Turn over to 1 Peter 1, talking about our sufferings. And we don't know anything about suffering like the early church did. You take a stand for the Gospel in that day, it'll cost you your life. 1 Peter 1, Look at verse 6, wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you're in heaviness to manifold temptation. If need be, whom the Father loveth, he chastens and scourges every son whom he receiveth, that the trial of your faith, being more precious than of gold that perisheth with fire, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto the praise and honor and glory at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom having not seen ye love, and whom though now ye see him not yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul."

Turn to one other here in Peter. Find 1 Peter chapter 4. Turn over there. 1 Peter chapter 4. Verse 12, verse Peter 4, 12. Beloved, think it not strange, concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you, but rejoice, insomuch as you are partakers of Christ's suffering, that when his glory shall be revealed you may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Our Lord told those disciples on the eve of Him going to the cross, these words have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In this world, tribulation. Ah, but be of good cheer, He said, I have overcome the world.

Man is born of woman, few days and full of trouble. You know anything about that? We've all suffered sickness, heartache, and trial of one sort or another. But to the believer, as we read here in Romans 8, 28, and we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to God's purpose. These things are not working against you, they're working for your eternal good. For your eternal good.

Now, for I reckon, Verse 18, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory, the glory that shall be revealed in us. What a comparison. You can have the best day, the best health, the best wealth, The best relations, you can have everything that you can think of as being best in this life, that's temporary, that's fleeting, that's flesh that is grass, that is passing away. What we have in Christ is eternal and forever, will never fade away. Jesus Christ is same yesterday, today, and forever. will be one with the Lord forever and ever. Now verse 19, for the earnest expectation of the creature, or the creation, waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. And that word there, creature, can be rightly In the original, it's creation. For the earnest expectation of the creation waited for the manifestation of the sons of God. Talking about that glorious resurrection day.

For the creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope. This creation is looking for that day of recreation. Because the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. The creation waits for the new creation.

Not only did sin enter into man when Adam sinned, but it also affected the whole creation. The whole of God's creation is under the curse of sin. God said to Adam in Genesis chapter 3, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it. Cursed is the ground for thy sake. In sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of your life. This earth has a curse upon it. It's the curse of sin. He said, thorns and thistles will it bring forth. In the sweat of your face, you're going to have to dig and grub out a living in this life.

Every time I take a garden hoe and head for the garden, I don't weed out the plants, I weed out the weeds. And I think of that verse, thorns and thistles in the sweat of your face, digging, digging, digging, digging out, grubbing out a living. This earth is cursed. This earth groans, groans under the weight of sin. The whole creation is waiting for the glorious return of the Lord, when he shall come again with his saints, with the voice of an archangel, with the trump of God, when the saints of God will be raised from the dead.

Turn back over here to 1 Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonians this time. 1 Thessalonians chapter four, the Lord's coming back. It's interesting if you read 1 Thessalonians, they say this is one of Paul's first epistles, and at the end of every chapter he talks about the coming of the Lord. The coming of the Lord. They were anticipating the coming of the Lord. And then in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, look at verse 15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which remain We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent or precede them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 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, wherefore comfort one another with these words.

" The Lord is coming back. The Lord is coming back. This creation waits for that glorious day. There will be a time of recreation. If you turn to 2 Peter, let's turn over there. Let's read about it in 2 Peter chapter 3. 2 Peter chapter 3. This creation that groans under the weight and burden of sin will one day be purged with fire, and God's going to make a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. In 2 Peter 3, verse 10, the day of the Lord will come. as a thief in the night, in the hour you think not the Son of Man cometh, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, the earth also, and the works therein shall be burned up, seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons you ought to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat,

Nevertheless, we according to His promise, verse 13, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Think about it. We'll have a new body and a new earth and a new heaven to enjoy our union with the Lord Jesus Christ without any distraction of sin. Love Him with an unsinning, unsinning heart.

Look at verse 20. Romans 8, the creation was made subject to vanity, decay, ruin, not willingly but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope. This original creation in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, waiting for that new creation to take place, to be made new again. The creation in its fallen state is subject to vanity, decay, disease, disaster because of sin. One writer of the past said, God for the sin of man had cursed creation and subjected it to corruption and decay. This was all by the sovereign will of God. But also, we know by the sovereign will of God that He's going to recreate a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. And we're going to enjoy that forever to be with the Lord.

Verse 21, Romans 8. because the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." Don't you like the sound of that? The glorious liberty of the children of God. Remember our Lord said, you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. Whom the Son set free, He's free indeed. There's none are so free as those who are free in Christ. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath set us free, this creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, the bondage of sin, into the glorious liberty like the children of God. A new heaven and a new earth.

Verse 22, for we know that the whole creation, the whole creation, what does it do? It groans. The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Have you ever seen or heard the earth groan? You see those violent volcanoes spinning out that molten rock. That's the earth groaning under the bondage of sin. Have you ever been in an earthquake? I've been in an earthquake before and it's when I was a young boy about Braxton's age. I was laying in bed one morning And the time to go to school, my bed started shaking, rocking, and I thought my dad was waking me up, you know, pulling one on me. I woke up, there was no dad there. The whole house was groaning, the whole earth was shaking. Earthquake!

When the Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary Street, the earth was groaning then. You remember? The sun was darkened for three hours, and there was a great earthquake. And the bodies of those saints, some of those who had died, were resurrected after the Lord's resurrection day. There was a great groaning of the earth as they witnessed the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. But even in that was their hope of salvation, their hope of redemption, this creation.

Look what it says there. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Verse 23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits, the first fruits of the Spirit. The first fruit of the Spirit is repentance and faith. repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

But even though we have the first fruit and the evidence and pledge of our eternal salvation and having a new body like unto His glorious body, even we ourselves, not only does creation groan, but we ourselves also groan within ourselves, waiting, waiting, waiting for the adoption to wit that is namely the redemption of our body.

You ever groan? Every morning I get up, I groan. Aches and pains. We groan within ourselves. But you know, that's not our main groaning. We have heartache, we have pain, and we have trouble. But you know, that's not the believer's main groaning. The main groaning we have is over the infirmities of our flesh. As Paul says just across the page there in Romans 7, oh, wretched man that I am. Can't you see the groanings in that statement? Oh, wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver me from the body of this death or from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. That's our hope.

We groan within ourselves waiting for that glorious day of the Lord's return. looking forward to that day of the Lord's return. We are blessed having the first fruit or taste or token, taste and see that the Lord is good. We have the first fruit of the Holy Spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness. We are blessed to enjoy the abiding presence of the Spirit of God, being led by as sons of God.

But we also have this old rotten flesh that we drag around. This old fallen nature, this sinful nature to deal with each day. And we've grown under the burden of this sinful flesh. One day we'll bury this flesh in the ground. Dust thou shalt return. The spirit, soul, goes back to God who gave it. But in Genesis chapter 3, it said you came from the dust and this body is going back to the dust. waiting and looking forward to that new body, that resurrected body.

Notice in Romans 8 verse 11, but the Spirit Himself that raised up the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you. He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." We're going to have a new body like unto His glorious body. He's going to change our vile body and fashion it like unto His glorious body. That's just not something New Testament believers enjoy and believe.

But you know Job? They say Job, the book of Job, is one of the first books ever written. They say Job lived before Abraham. I don't know. That's what they say. But what was Job's hope? You know what his hope was? Listen to this. Job 19, 25, 26. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after the skinned worm destroy this body, yet in my flesh I'll see God. When you die, those worms eat your body from the inside. David said, I'll be satisfied. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness, and I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.

The Lord redeemed us. We read in 1 Thessalonians 5, 23. The very God of peace sanctify you totally, wholly, completely. And I pray God, your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved. be preserved and blameless unto the coming of the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. He bought us body, soul, and spirit. He redeemed us body, soul, and spirit. Verse 24, that's the hope we're talking about. We're saved by hope. We're saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. For what man seeth, why does he yet hope? But if we hope that we see not, Then do we with patience, then we do with patience wait for it. Saved by hope.

Now this is not just a wish, a fainting wish, or a fainting desire, but rather a good hope, full of complete salvation based upon the promises of God's unchanging word. Now stay right here in the book of Romans. Stay with me now. Turn with me now. Turn to Romans 15. We have a sure hope based upon the promise of God. All the promises of God in him are yes, and in him, and amen, and to the glory of God by Christ. 2 Corinthians 1.20.

But look what it says here. The basis of our hope is not upon our feelings, not upon tradition. Romans 15, look at verse four. Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scripture might have hope. Hope, same chapter, Romans 15, 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Our hope is based upon, thus saith the Lord. And it's a living hope. It's a living hope we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. A living hope, Christ in you, the hope of glory. Turn back to Romans 5 for just a moment. Let's see what the Lord says about this thing, about hope. Romans chapter 5. Therefore, verse 1, Romans 5 verse 1, therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Not only so, but we glory in tribulation also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience and experience hope, and hope make us not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Hope, we have a good hope, a good hope through grace.

Now let's take our Bible. I'll encourage you to do this. Turn to a few references here about this word, how the Lord uses this word hope. 1 Thessalonians chapter one, turn there. 1 Thessalonians chapter one, chapter one, 1 Thessalonians. Remembering, verse 3, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. Brethren, knowing, brethren, beloved, your election is of God. So we have a good hope. We have a good hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now turn to 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5. 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5. Look at verse 8. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 8. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love And for him, the hope of salvation. The hope of salvation. Now look at verse 9. 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 9. For God hath not appointed us under wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore, comfort yourselves, comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as you do. Who died for us, the Lord Jesus Christ, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

That's our hope. Hope of salvation, is it not? Turn to 1 Timothy 1. 1 Timothy 1. I quoted this earlier. 1 Timothy 1 verse 1. 1 Timothy 1.1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Now notice the two words, which is, has been added so we can read it. By the commandment of God our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ, our hope. He is our hope. Christ is our hope. Christ is our hope.

Turn to a couple pages over. Turn to Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus. Turn to the book of Titus. Book of Titus, chapter 1. Paul, a servant, verse 1, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledging of the truth, which is after godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.

Titus chapter 2, verse 13, turn there. Titus chapter 2, verse 13, looking for that blessed hope, the blessed hope. and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity, purifying himself of peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

" Titus chapter 3, turn one page. Stopped by works of righteousness, which we have done, verse 5. Titus 3, verse 5. But according to His mercy, He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

You see how the word uses that word? The Lord uses that word, hope, hope, hope, all the time.

Now, turn to the book of Hebrews. A couple more here. I'll let you go. the book of Hebrews, chapter 6, Hebrews chapter 6. We could read many, many more. Hebrews 6 verse 18, that by two immutable things is impossible, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold of the hope that's set before us, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast, which enters into that within the veil, where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.

Our high priest is entered into the heavenly, he's seated in the heavenly, that's our hope. Hebrews 7. You've got to look at this one. Hebrews 7, verse 19. Hebrews 7, verse 19. For the law made nothing perfect, but bringing in of a better hope did, by which we draw nigh to God.

Who is that better hope? The Lord Jesus Christ, our eternal priest. Saying that we have a priest, Seeing that we have a great high priest that has passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

What is your hope? Who is your hope? Who is your hope? Well, you know, I have a hope, you know. You see, the believer's hope is based upon the Word of God. That's the basis. That's the starting point, the basis of the Word of God. We are saved by hope. We're saved by hope. We have a good hope.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13, 13, Now by the faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love. Faith will end in sight. Hope will give way to reality. But love, love, is an eternal thing. We have hope. It's a good hope. It's a good hope through what? It's a good hope through grace. Good hope through grace. Christ is that hope. Christ is that hope.