THE HOPE OF CHRIST
Colossians 1:27
TEXT: To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
PROPOSITION: To share the hope found in God in order to motivate the hearer to seek it and to share it with others.
INTRODUCTION: Many people a day to day existence without the benefit of hope:
1 Chronicles 29:15 For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, And without hope.
Job 7:6 "My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.
I. WHAT THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US ABOUT HOPE
A. God Himself Is The Hope Of Mankind
Psalm 71:5 For You are my hope, O Lord GOD;
Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
B. There Is No True Lasting Hope For Those Separated From God
Ephesians 2:11-14 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh; who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands; 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
C. True Hope Springs From A Personal Relationship With God
Romans 5:5-8 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demon-strates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
D. God’s Desire Is That Mankind Will Live In An Expectant Hope
Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD,
II. WHAT THE HOPE OF GOD BRINGS TO THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER
A. God’s Hope Is A Stabilizing Force In The Believer’s Life
Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
B. God’s Hope Brings Blessing To The Believer’s Life
Jeremiah 17:7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.
C. God’s Hope Gives The Believer Hope In Living
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
D. God’s Hope Is A Lasting Hope
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
III. HOW OUR HOPE IN CHRIST SHOULD IMPACT OUR LIVES
A. Our Hope Should Inspire Us To Seek To Live Holy Lives
1 John 3:2,3 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
B. Our Hope Gives Us A Message We Can Share With Others
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready al-ways to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
C. Our Hope Should Motivate Us To Seek To Be An Encourager To Other Christians
Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wa-vering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
D. Our Hope Should Enable Us To Look Beyond The Present To The Future God Has Prepared For Us
1 Corinthians 15:19-23 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
CONCLUSION:
