The Power Of Hope Series

"You have been born again, and this new life did not come from something that dies, but from something that cannot die. You were born again through God’s living message that continues forever." 1 Peter 1:23-25 (NCV)

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 Corin. 15:5) He was certain that he could place his hope in Jesus because Christ 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!

"For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 (NLT)

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!

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!

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!

3. HOW DOES THIS HOPE EMPOWER YOU?

"Be alert and think straight. Put all your hope in how kind God will be to you when Jesus Christ appears. 14Behave like obedient children. Don’t let your lives be controlled by your desires, as they used to be. 15Always live as God’s holy people should, because God is the one who chose you, and he is holy." 1 Peter 1:13-15 (CEV)

Being born again by entrusting and committing your self to the truth of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection gives you a new set of desires. That’s what the Bible is talking about here. Your new-found hope produces new and holy conduct.

When we say holy we’re not talking about walking around in robes and repeating chants all day. The Bible idea of holiness is not being sanctimonious. It’s not acting like you’re better than other people. That’s a terrible misconception of holiness. Holiness is being like God, it’s being like Jesus.

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 or whatever. Your subconscious says to you, “If things are going to be that bad tomorrow, I may as well get pleasure today.” A mild form of this would be overeating; a more serious form would be stealing.