Focus on Hope

Focus on Hope

• “And now these three remain:

faith, hope and love…” 1 Corinthians 13:13a

Focus on Hope

•Hope = “a desire with expectation of obtainment; to expect with confidence (Trust.)”

Focus on Hope

• “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.

Focus on Hope

• This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5

Focus on Hope

• “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 1:18-19

Focus on Hope

• Hope is both: • A verb: something we do • A noun: something we have within our hearts • “a living hope”

• The good news is that the basis for our hope lies not in our own perfection or righteousness • “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23

Hope from our Merciful God

• “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

Hope from our Merciful God

• “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:6-8

Hope from our Merciful God

• “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” John 1:9

Hope from our Merciful God

• “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call” Acts 2:37-39

Hope from our Merciful God

• 1.If Christ is not risen, our faith is vain! • 2.If Christ is not risen, we are still held guilty for our sins! • 3.If Christ is not risen, those who died as Christians are lost! • 4.If Christ is not risen, then we do not have a “living” hope and should be pitied!

Hope in our Living Saviour

• Our Hope is centred on the historical reality of the resurrection of the Saviour • “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die…” John 11:25

Hope in our Living Saviour

• “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

Hope in our Living Saviour

• “and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,” 1 Peter 1:4

Hope in Our Inheritance!

• An inheritance which is INCORRUPTIBLE “not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable”

• An inheritance which is UNDEFILED “not defiled, unsoiled”

• An inheritance which DOES NOT FADE AWAY “unfading, perennial”

• An inheritance RESERVED IN HEAVEN “to watch, to observe, to guard, protect, to reserve, set aside”

Hope in Our Inheritance!

• “…who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:5 • “to guard, protect by a military guard: either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight”

Hope in our position as God’s children

• Being “protected” involves two things: • THE POWER OF GOD! • OUR FAITH!

Hope in our position as God’s children

• Hope is a source of strength and power • Bound into the big picture of God’s purposes and plans

Focus on HOPE

• Our hope is living not dead • Hope from our Merciful God • Hope in our Living Saviour • Hope in Our Inheritance! • Hope in our position as God’s children

Focus on HOPE