I'm speaking to you today on
the subject, hope, H-O-P-E, hope, a good hope, a good hope through
grace. That's what the Word of God says.
Listen to II Thessalonians 2, verse 16. Now, our Lord Jesus
Christ Himself and God, even our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself, And God, even our Father, our Heavenly Father, which hath
loved us, hath given us everlasting consolation, comfort, and a good
hope, and a good hope through grace. Now, the word hope is
a word that you use frequently, and I do too. You'd be surprised
how many times you use that word in a day even. Somebody asked
him a question, will your business do well this year? And the man
said, well, I hope so. I hope so. And someone else said,
well, was the surgery on your brother a success? Well, we hope
so. We hope so. Will your son graduate
from school this year? Yes, we hope so. We use it frequently. And the word hope expresses a
wish. or a strong desire. Is that not
right? A wish or a strong desire, something
a person wants very much. I hope, I hope so. Well, do you
know the Bible uses the word hope frequently? Quite often. In reference, now listen to me.
The Bible uses the word hope quite often in reference to our
relationship with God. and our prospects for eternal
happiness and eternal glory." That's right. The word hope. I'm going to show you that today.
The word hope is used frequently in the Word of God in regard
to our relationship, the believer's relationship with God and the
believer's prospects of eternal happiness and eternal glory. A spiritual hope is more than
a wish. A while ago, when I said, will
it rain tomorrow? Well, I hope so, or I hope not.
That's just a wish. That's just expressing a desire.
But a spiritual hope, according to the Scriptures, is a whole
lot more than simply a wish or a desire. Our hope of eternal
life, our hope of eternal glory is a strong desire, but it's
based upon expectation. This hope is based upon expectation,
and this hope is based upon confidence. Confidence not only in the mercy
of God, in the promise of God, and in the Word of God, but a
confidence in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
So our spiritual hope is much greater and much different from
just a simple wish or a simple desire. Now, let me show you
several passages in the Word of God in which the word hope... Now, you listen for the word
hope, hope, in which the word hope is used in reference to
the believer's relationship with God and our expectation of eternal
life. First of all, I'm going to read
from Romans 8, verse 24. And we see in this passage of
Scripture that our prospects of eternal happiness and eternal
glory in Christ Jesus are really an unseen hope, unseen. That's right. It says in Romans
8, 24, we're saved by hope, but hope that is seen, that's not
hope. For what a man seeth, what does
he yet hope for? If you see something, you're
not hoping for it, you already see it. But if we hope for that
which we see not, then we with patience wait for it. Now, when
you're interpreting a verse of Scripture, always read what is
written before, the preceding verses. Now, this is in Romans
8, verse 24. If you read the preceding verses
in Romans 8, you'll find the Apostle Paul is talking about
the whole creation. It says the creation, the trees
and the vegetables and the plants and the flowers and all the things
in creation, the animals, everything in creation was made subject
to vanity and decay because of Adam's sin. When Adam fell, death,
see, death came into the world. By one man's sin, death came
into the world. By one man's disobedience, sin
and death came into the world. And death passed upon not only
the human population, but passed upon the whole world. And the
whole world is suffering because of Adam's fall. We see death
all about us in the trees and the plants and the garden, everything. And this creation groaneth and
travaileth until the day when Christ shall return and there'll
be a new heaven and new earth in which there will be no death.
In which there'll be no death. And that same scripture there
says, we too are waiting and looking and hoping for the resurrection
and redemption of our bodies, which will never die once they're
raised. Once Christ comes and makes us
like himself, we'll never die. And there's going to be a new
earth, new heaven and a new earth in which there'll be no death,
no decay, no rotting, nothing like that, nothing but life.
And the same thing's true of our bodies. And that's what he's
saying here. And it's unseen. It's unseen. It's something God's
promised. It's something that will take
place. It's something we're certain of. But it's an unseen hope. We hope to be like Christ. All
right, secondly, in Romans 5. Now listen to this. It's also
a maturing hope, this hope that we have of being like our Lord.
It's a maturing hope. 5 verse 3 and 5. Listen. We glory in tribulation. We glory in troubles and trials,
knowing that tribulation or trials worketh patience, and patience
worketh experience. And that word experience is maturity,
growth, maturity. And maturity produces hope. Hope. There's that word again.
All through life, now here's what Paul's saying. All through
life, believers have trials. In this world, you'll have tribulation.
That's what our Lord said. You'll have trouble. And all
that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But these trials teach us patience. Patience with the providence
of God. Patience with those around us. Patience. We learn patience
through trials and trouble. You see, trials and troubles
do not produce faith. They reveal faith. Trials and
troubles and heartaches and sorrows and sicknesses and even death,
that doesn't produce faith. That doesn't make a man believe
in God. When a man goes through a certain trial, it reveals whether
or not he does believe on God and the promises of God. So tribulation
and troubles produce patience. And patience produces experience
or maturity or growth in grace. And maturity and growth does
what? Gives us a better hope. In other
words, as I live on this earth and walk with the living God,
and God visits my life with blessings and troubles, happinesses and
heartaches, and successes and failures, and I go through all
these trials and troubles, then I learn patience. I learned to
wait on God. I learned to depend on God. I
grow in grace and I grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And the more I grow, the stronger my hope becomes. You see that? I mature not only in grace, but
in hope. I have a better hope now than
I had five years ago. A much stronger hope because
I made some. And all of us who love Christ
make some progress in maturity and Christian growth. We believe
more strongly than we've ever believed. God's Word means more
to us. His promises mean more to us.
All right, thirdly, it's called not only an unseen hope and a
maturing hope, but it's called a living hope. Our hope is a
living hope. Listen to I Peter 1, 3. Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. which according
to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope."
A living hope. Now watch what follows. "...by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." You see, this
hope, our hope is not a creed, a creed so cold and dead. Our
hope's not just a catechism. That's so cold and dry, isn't
it? A dry, dead catechism. Our hope
is not just a church membership. Our name's on a roll somewhere.
Is that your hope? Our hope is not just a profession
of faith. Our hope is in and of and by
and through a living Lord. That's what he's saying here.
Christ hath begotten us unto a living hope. Not an old profession of faith
that we made 20 years ago. Old experience that we've told
over and over and over again. It gets drier every time we tell
it. But our hope is in and through
and by a living Lord. One who what? Raised from the
dead. Came forth from the tomb. He
hath begotten us unto a living hope. by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead. He died and He was buried, but
He arose and He ascended to the right hand of God. That's what
Paul said. He said, Who can condemn me?
It's Christ that died. Yea, rather is risen again, who
is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession
for me. Christ lives and Christ lives
in us and we live in God by Him. And our hope is a living hope.
You see what I'm saying? Oh, yes, this spiritual hope,
according to the Word, it's an unseen hope. It's a growing,
maturing, better hope. And it's a living hope. And I'll
tell you something else. Now, watch this, 1 John 3, 2.
It is a purifying hope. That's right. Listen to what
it says. Now, you listen to the Word. Now, I John 3, 2, are we the
sons of God? It does not yet appear what we
shall be. No, I don't know and you don't
either. It doesn't appear. But when He shall appear, when
Christ returns, we shall be like Him. We know that much, don't
we? We'll be like Him, for we shall
see Him as He is. And every man that hath this
hope in him." What hope? Well, we're now the sons of God.
That's what he said. Brethren, beloved, now are we
the sons of God. Not something that's going to
take place later. By faith in Christ, by the blood of Christ,
by the death of Christ, being accepted in the beloved, being
adopted into the family of God, we're sons of God. We're sons
of God. And we are going to be like Christ. We have a hope someday that we'll
be raised from the grave incorruptible, immortal, eternal, perfectly
conformed to the image of the Son of God. And he that hath
this hope that he's gonna be like Christ, what does he do? Well, that hope influences his
life, causes him to walk in holiness and truth and integrity and honesty
and causes him to want to be like his Lord and to bring honor
and glory to his master. He doesn't want to embarrass
his Father in heaven. Had a man say to me not long
ago, he said, you know, when I was just a boy, he said, around
the house, he said, and out in public, I tried to live so that
I wouldn't bring reproach on my mother and father. I wanted
to be a boy that they would be proud of. And I think that's
what this is saying here. That he that hath this hope that
he's going to be like Christ, it influences his action, it
influences his conduct, it influences his walk, it influences everything
about him. He wants to be a child that brings
glory to the Heavenly Father. That's what our Lord said. He's
told us that men might observe our works and glorify our Father. Let your light so shine before
me that they may observe your lives and glorify your Father,
your Father which is in heaven. All right, in the next place.
This is also the believer's hope, is a good hope. Now watch II
Thessalonians 2.16. Now listen to it. Now our Lord
Jesus Christ Himself This is a text I read a moment ago. And
God, even our Father, which hath loved us, hath given us everlasting
consolation and a good hope. A good hope. Now, I told you
that this hope is an unseen hope. It's as sure as the promise of
God. It's as sure as the Word of God, but it's unseen. And
it's a maturing hope. As the years go by and as you
grow in grace and as you go through trials and God deals with you
in His providence and purpose, your hope is strengthened and
it matures. And it's a living hope. It's
not a dead hope. It's not something that takes
place in the isolated past, but it's a living hope because Christ
lives. Christ lives. And it's a purifying
hope. It influences and affects a man's
conduct and character and conversation. And it's a good hope. It's a
good hope. Do you know why it's a good hope?
Do you know why the believer's hope is a good hope? Well, I'll
tell you why. First of all, God gave it to
us. That's what the text says. Now our Lord Jesus Christ and
our Father who has loved us have given us a good hope. This hope is the gift of God.
That's why my Lord doesn't give anything but good gifts. HE HATH
BLESSED US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN THE HEAVENLIES IN
CHRIST JESUS. EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT
GIFT COMETH FROM GOD. AND EVERY SPIRITUAL GIFT IS A
GOOD GIFT. FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH
FAITH AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELF, IT'S THE GIFT OF GOD. AND JOHN
SAID THIS, THIS IS THE RECORD GOD HATH GIVEN US ETERNAL LIFE. SO I'LL TELL YOU WHY IT'S A GOOD
HOPE because God gave it to us. He's the one that loved us. We
didn't love Him. We love Him because He first
loved us. He not only loved us, but He
chose us. Christ said, you didn't choose
me, I chose you. He chose us in Christ before
the foundation of the world. He chose us from the beginning
unto salvation. Says that right there in 2 Thessalonians
2.13. He not only loved us and chose
us, but He called us. Paul said, It pleased God who
separated me from my mother's womb to call me by His grace. We're the called of Christ Jesus.
Oh, we call on God. Sure we do. But we call on Him
because He called us. And He not only loved us and
chose us and called us and keeps us, but He keeps us. He keeps
us by His power. What God doeth, Ecclesiastes
said, it shall be forever. Do you know why our hope is a
good hope? Because God gave it to us. God
Himself, God our Father, hath given us a good hope. And I'll
tell you another reason why it's a good hope. It's a good hope
because it's through grace. That's what that verse says.
That verse says, Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God,
even our Father, hath given us a good hope through grace. If
my hope If my hope and your hope is in ourselves, it's not a good
hope because we fail, we fall. But His grace can never fail. If our hope is in our works,
it's not a good hope. How much works? How long shall
we work? But grace never fails because
grace is a gift. For by grace are you saved through
faith and that not of yourself, That faith and grace is the gift
of God. For whom He foreknew, He also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son. And
whom He predestinated, He called. Whom He called, He justified.
Whom He justified, He'll glorify. It's sure because God's grace
guarantees it. And then thirdly, it's a good
hope. Watch this. It's a good hope because God
gave it. It's a good hope because it's through grace. It's a gift
and grace cannot fail. And then it's a good hope because
it's based on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's what it says. Now, our
Lord Jesus Christ himself, himself, our Lord himself came to this
earth. Our Lord himself took upon himself
our redemption. and accomplished it. Paul said
this in Hebrews, when He had by Himself purged our sins, by
Himself, He sat down on the right hand of God. You see that? That's
the reason it's a good hope, because it's accomplished by
Christ Himself. He didn't give it to an angel
to accomplish or give it to a man to accomplish. He took upon Himself,
Himself, the responsibility of redeeming our souls. And when
he had by himself purged our sins, he sat down on the right
hand of God. I'll tell you this, the strength
and certainty of a man's hope depends on the strength and the
power of the one who gave it and the one who accomplishes
it and the one in whose hands it has been placed. And our hope
is in the hands of Jesus Christ. and those are strong hands. And
our hope is an expectation that arises from the promised mercy
of God in Christ. And our hope is a confidence
that's based on His substitutionary work. And our hope is in a mediator
who is where? Seated at the right hand of God. Now then, here's my final question. And I know this has got to be
on your mind. It is on mine. I've been talking
about this hope, an unseen hope, a maturing, better hope, a living
hope, a living hope, and a purifying hope. And God says here, a good
hope. Now here's the question. It must
arise in your heart. It does in mine. Is my hope a
good hope? Is my hope a good hope? I'm going
to die. It's appointed unto me and wants
to die. And after that, the judgment. What is your life? It is but
a vapor. It appears for a little while
and then it vanisheth away. What is your hope? What's your
hope for eternal life? Well, is my hope a good hope?
All right, let me ask you some questions briefly. I have a few
moments. I'll try to ask one each moment, each minute, about
six minutes. My hope is a good hope if if
I can give a good reason for that hope, a good reason. Now, listen to the Word of God.
Let everything be established by the Word of God. I Peter 3,
15, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, that is, recognize
the holiness of God, and be ready always to give an answer to every
man that asketh you a reason, a reason. of the hope that's
in you with meekness and fear. Now, what's your reason? What's
your reason? I'll tell you mine. Christ Jesus,
the Son of God, is my substitute, sacrifice, savior, and send-offer. He loved me and gave himself
for me. He came to the earth and worked
out a perfect righteousness in my stead, went to the cross and
died for my soul. He was buried and rose again
and ascended to the right hand of God. where He is my righteousness,
sanctification, redemption and hope and everything. Christ is all and in all. That's
the reason why I have a hope. All right, secondly, my hope
is a good hope if it's based on the Word of God. It's not
what I think or what you think or what we suppose or believe.
Romans 15 verse 4 says this, For whatsoever things were written
aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience
and comfort in the scriptures might have hope. God said it,
and that's the only foundation we've got for believing it. Faith's
foundation is the Word of God, and my hope is a good hope if
it's based on the Word of God, and the Word of God says Christ
is the only Savior. I'm the way, the truth, and the
life. No man cometh to the Father but by me, Christ said. It's
not I think, I believe, my opinion. That's all useless. What sayeth
the Scriptures? All right, thirdly, my hope is
a good hope if it rests entirely on the person and work of Jesus
Christ. Christ in you, that's the hope of glory. Other foundation
can no man lay than that which is laid, Christ the Lord. There's
none other name unto heaven given among men whereby we must be
saved except Christ the Lord. Is that clear? And so our hope,
our faith, On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground
is sinking sand. My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus Christ and His righteousness. And that's a good hope. Fourthly,
my hope is a good hope if it brings me rest and joy and peace
in Christ. Listen to Romans 15. Now the
God of hope fill you with joy. Not an artificial hand-waving
hope to do excitement and emotion. I'm talking about a peace of
heart and conscience and mind before God. A quietness of spirit,
a blessed quietness. Not making a lot of noise to
be seen of men, but a rest in Christ Jesus. The God of hope
fill you with joy and peace in believing, not in celebrating,
in believing that you may abound in hope through the power of
the Holy Spirit. I tell you, Christ in the heart
gives you peace. And that's at all times. That's
not just in an atmosphere of religion. That's on the job and
in the home, in the kitchen, in the shop, in the garage, on
the street, in the park, in the store. Rest in Christ. All right. Fifthly, my hope is
a good hope if it believes God and acts in faith regardless
of the circumstances. Regardless of the circumstances.
Romans 4.18. Abraham, against hope, believed
in hope. He didn't have a human reason
to expect a son at his age, but he believed God. And he hoped
against hope. He staggered not at the promise
of God, and so it was imputed to him for righteousness. Conditions
and circumstances do not change a good hope, which is based on
faith in Christ and not feelings, but Christ. That's a good hope
if it can rest in Christ regardless of the circumstances or the situation
or the conditions. And then last of all, my hope
is a good hope if it continues to the end, to the end. Christ is the son over his house
whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing
of this hope firm to the end. I fought a good fight. I've kept
the faith. Therefore, there's laid up for
me the crown of righteousness." That's a good hope. If you want
this tape, it costs $2. On one side, the cross of Christ,
on the other side, a good hope through grace. Write for it.
Here's the address. Be given to you in a moment.
Till next week, God bless you, everyone.