The Power of Easter Hope
Last week we covered how Easter impacts your faith and we looked at the inspired writings of Paul to the church at Corinth. Incidentally, Paul is known as "The Apostle of Faith." So it was fitting that we read a Bible passage written by him when talking about Easter faith.
The Bible is the story of two gardens, Eden and Gethsemane. In the first, Adam took a fall. In the second, Jesus took a stand. (Max Lucado)
It is also fitting today as we consider "The Power of Hope" that we look at the writings of the Apostle Peter, since he is known as "The Apostle of Hope."
Faith, hope and love are all tied to the resurrection of Christ, which we celebrate at Easter. The three Apostles whose works we are reading from all personally experienced what they were writing about! They all gave eyewitness testimony of seeing Jesus after He was raised from the dead! They all had first-hand knowledge of the great faith, great hope and great love because of their assurance of Christ’s resurrection!
There’s great power in that kind of testimony – the testimony of people who are certain about spiritual realities. Today we look at the great power in hope from the pen of a man full of hope.
Consider this tremendous Bible passage on hope from the writings of the Apostle Peter.
1 Peter 1:3-9 (NASB)
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4. to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5. who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7. so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
8. and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9. obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3-9 (NASB)
Peter wrote these words about 30 years after Christ’s death and resurrection. He was writing to encourage the persecuted Christians of Asia Minor.
They were being abused by overbearing bosses (1 Peter 2:18), threatened by unbelieving spouses (1 Peter 3:1, 6), and ridiculed by skeptical neighbors and associates (1 Peter 4:14). On the horizon loomed the possibility of a much more violent form of persecution (1 Peter 4:12-18). It was a very anti-Christian society.
How do you stay hopeful when your life is undergoing these kinds of tests? What do you do when life seems to have more questions than answers?
You’ve got to have hope to keep on going. You’re going to have to have "a hope that never dies" the Bible speaks of in verse 3.
I want to answer three questions today about this powerful hope:
1) What is it?
2) How can you get it?
3) How does this hope empower you?
I. WHAT IS THE "HOPE THAT NEVER DIES?"
The New Testament idea of hope is different from the way we use the word hope today, like we say "I hope it doesn’t rain." We’re referring to the uncertainty of future events. You might be surprised to know that that is not the same thing as the Bible meaning of hope.
When the Bible speaks of hope it is talking about the very opposite of uncertainty. It is communicating with assurance, with confidence that these future events spoken of are surely going to take place. There is no “hoping,” because it is a surety.
We need to understand this difference, If you re-read scripture with this difference in mind it changes our understanding of the text, doesn’t it? Hope with assurance.
1 Peter 1:4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
1 Peter 1:5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Those two verses contain certainty after certainty. The Bible concept of hope involves certainty.
But there’s another thing about "a hope that never dies." It might be easier to think about by considering the opposite of a living hope, that is, a dead hope.
It’s like "dead faith." Do you remember what the Apostle James said about dead faith?
26. For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:26 (NASB)
One of the themes in James’ writings was "faith without works is dead." True faith produces results and change in the life of the person who has faith. If a person has not changed one iota since professing faith in Christ then their faith is really dead. It’s not a genuine faith. True faith produces true change, not perfection, but moving away from the wrong way of life and moving toward the right way of life.
Now apply that same principle to hope. "A hope that never dies" is going to produce something. It’s a powerful. It has power to change how you think, how you talk and how you live!
That’s a wonderful thing! You need hope to face life’s challenges just like the original recipients of the Apostle Peter’s letter needed hope to face their tests.
"A hope that never dies" is a reassuring thing. It’s positive. It deals with the future in certain terms and so it produces positive results!
That’s the power of hope! And what God offers you if more fabulous than anything even all the money in the world can offer you!
That’s the answer to our first question: WHAT IS THE "HOPE THAT NEVER DIES?"
(1) It’s something for sure, something certain.
(2) And it’s something that has the power to produce positive change in your life!
The next question is:
II. HOW CAN YOU OBTAIN THIS "HOPE THAT NEVER DIES?"
So, how can you activate this powerful tool in your life? The answer is given in verse 3. "…we were born again to a new life and have a hope that never dies. This hope is ours because Jesus was raised from the dead."
To have "a hope that never dies," you must be born again. How can you be born again? Being born again, or spiritual birth, is by faith in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The Bible expands on this idea later in this same chapter.
23. for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
24. For,
“ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,
AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.
THE GRASS WITHERS,
AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,
25. BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”
And this is the word which was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:23-25 (NASB)
So, first of all, you obtain this hope by being born again.
Secondly, verse 3 says, "This hope is ours because Jesus was raised from the dead."
The Apostle Peter was one of over 500 people who saw Jesus after His resurrection. (1 Corinthians. 15:5) He was certain that he could place his hope in Jesus because Christ met and conquered death.
Since Christ rose from the dead you can firmly place your trust in Him. You can place your life and your soul in His hands. You can depend upon His love and care. You can follow His wisdom for your life. You can rest assured that God is for you and not against you!
9. that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
The moment you accept Christ’s death in your place on the cross and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead the Bible says you are "born again."
That’s how you obtain this powerful hope! You’re born again when you entrust yourself and commit yourself to the truth of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection!
WHAT IS THE "HOPE THAT NEVER DIES?"
It’s something that is sure, something certain, there is no question about it. And it’s something that has the power to produce positive change in your life!
HOW CAN YOU OBTAIN THIS "HOPE THAT NEVER DIES?"
You become born again by entrusting yourself and committing yourself to the truth of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection! Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
III. HOW DOES THIS HOPE EMPOWER YOU? Let’s read from 1 Peter 1:13-15 (NASB)
13. Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
15. but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior 1 Peter 1:13-15 (NASB)
Being born again by entrusting and committing yourself to the truth of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection gives you a new set of desires. It changes what you want out of life. That’s what the Bible is talking about here. Your new-found hope produces new life.
When we talk about being holy we’re not talking about walking around in robes and repeating chants all day. The Bible idea of holiness is not being sanctimonious or self-righteous. It’s not acting like you’re better than other people. That’s a terrible misconception of holiness and living a Christian lifestyle. Holiness is being like Jesus, Jesus was never sanctimonious.
But we all know that we have some problems here. Our human nature doesn’t want to be holy. It doesn’t want to be like God. It wants to be controlled by its desires. So here’s what’s got to happen. Hope has to push those desires out of the way.
Giving in to your sinful desires is the opposite of hope. Let me give you some examples.
You worry over some future problem, a relationship that’s about to run into a wall or a bill that needs to be paid, your job or lack thereof. Your subconscious says to you, “If things are going to be that bad tomorrow, I may as well focus on getting all I can now, I might as well get all the self-indulgence and pleasure that I can today.”
You give in to the selfish desire to focus on self.
The Bible answer to this is in 1 Peter 1:13, Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. (1 Peter 1:13 NIV)
How does hope empower you? Instead of giving up hope the Bible says: "Be alert and think straight," and focus upon Jesus Christ.
Something very helpful later in this same book of the Bible is:
7. casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you
1 Peter 5-7 (NASB)
You have to think straight and realize that since Christ conquered death He can help you conquer your problems without resorting to the sinful desires of your human nature. You can turn to God with your seemingly hopeless situations. You can turn all your worries over to him.
So hope empowers you by correcting hopeless thinking.
A number of years ago researchers performed an experiment to see the effect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water and found that within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were periodically lifted out of the water for a few short seconds and then returned. When that happened, the second set of rats swam for 24 hours. Why? Not because they were given a rest, but because they suddenly had hope!
Those animals somehow hoped that if they could stay afloat just a little bit longer, someone would reach down and rescue them. If hope holds such power for simple-minded rodents, how much greater should it be in our lives!
God cares about you! He wants you to have hope.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV) Jeremiah 29:11
Hope empowers you by correcting hopeless thinking.
Another way you can be empowered by hope is by considering the return of Christ.
The middle part of 1 Peter 1:13 says 13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. (NIV)
Pay close attention to the fact that it is the grace and kindness of God that the Bible is talking about as the motivation for hope.
When I was a new believer in Christ I used to think that the main reason I should want to live a pure life in connection with the Second Coming of Christ was because I didn’t want Him to come back and find me doing something bad. I didn’t want to be embarrassed by my behavior. Now I’m not saying that isn’t a biblical truth – but that’s not the motivation listed here. The motivation listed here is the kindness of God. God is going to be kind and gracious to everyone who has been born again, to everyone who has put his or her trust in the resurrected Son of God!
When Jesus comes back you want to be able to have a life lived in a way that honors God, you should want to please Him because He’s been so kind to you!
The Bible mentions this connection between living a holy life in connection with the Second Coming of Christ elsewhere as well.
2. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
3. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1 John 3:2-3 (NASB)
The certainty of Christ’s return helps us keep ourselves holy, just as Christ is holy.
If you are born again, God is at work in your life to make you become more like Jesus! And that process will be completed when with Jesus’ return! Notice that phrase in verse 2, "when Christ appears, we will be like him!" (1 John 3:2)
That’s the hope the born again follower of Christ has! God’s kindness toward us is that we are being made more like Jesus in this life, and in the life to come we will get to be like Him! We won’t be tempted to sin any more. No faults. No failures. No mess ups!
A young man was trying to establish himself as a peach grower. He worked hard and invested everything he had in a peach orchard. Finally it blossomed, but later came a frost and killed his chances of having a good peach crop. He did not go to church the next Sunday, nor the next, nor the next.
His pastor went to try to encourage him to get back to church. The young man complained, "I’m not coming back to church. Do you think I want to worship a God who cares for me so little that He will let a frost kill all of my peaches?" The minister looked at him in silence for a few moments, then kindly said, "God loves you more than He does your peaches. He knows that while peaches do better without frost, it is impossible to grow the best men without frost. His object is to grow men, not peaches."
God wants you to experience the power of "the hope that never dies" in your life!
1. WHAT IS THE "HOPE THAT NEVER DIES?"
It’s something for sure, something certain. And it’s something that has the power to produce positive change in your life, and a life in heaven with God!
2. HOW CAN YOU OBTAIN THIS "HOPE THAT NEVER DIES?"
You become born again by entrusting yourself and committing yourself to the truth of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
3. HOW DOES THIS HOPE EMPOWER YOU?
A hope that never dies produces holy conduct, which is it produces the ability to overcome the human desires to do wrong things and do the right things because God’s presence has changed you. Do you have that hope? If not, would you like to have it?
Pray this prayer from the heart: "Lord Jesus, I believe in my heart that you were raised from the dead and that death was sufficient to pay for all my sins and therefore God is for me and not against me and that you yourself are alive today and with me to help forever.
And I pray that you will help me now to hope fully in your promises so that I am freed from the greed and self-pity that come from fear, and that I might be driven to imitate your love and kindness. And so Lord grant me in these times of stress and anxiety to have the power of soul to be joyful and to fill my life with labors of love. Amen.
