Two Great Hopes

Two Great Hopes

1 Peter 1:3

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

There are many hopes that Jesus has for our lives.

But, there are “Two Great Hopes” that that he has for everyone.

#1. He hopes to do something “TO” us.

#2. He hopes to do something “Through” us.

#1. TO US: “Regeneration”

Jesus wishes to come into our lives and perform “Regeneration.”

Luke 19:10

10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

John 3:3

3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Rev. 3:20

20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

2 Peter 3:9b

not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

If Jesus comes into our hearts at all, He comes in as Saviour, and giver of eternal life.

When a person experiences conviction of sin, and is ready to repent (turn away from) sin, then they are ready to, “in faith” receive Jesus as their personal Saviour.

---Without this experience, the individual, though he be baptized and add to the church roll, is not a Christian!!!

Salvation is something that, if we allow Him to, God wants to do “TO” us.

#1. TO US: “Regeneration”

#2. THROUGH US: “Transformation”

---Many Christians today have received Christ as Saviour, but they have yet to make Him Lord!!!

God cannot “Transform” us unless we surrender the control of our lives to Him!!!

Jesus cannot remold and remake us after His will unless we permit Him to have control of every area of our lives.

A Southwestern professor wrote;

“The failure of such a large number of Christians in our nation to yield this control to Jesus has brought a tragic result: So many non-Christians cannot see or feel any differences in the lives of great throngs of Christians and do not, therefore, feel any need to become followers of Jesus!

A great Eastern leader, after spending time in our country, said, “I might have become a Christian, had I every saw one.”

People cannot see our “Regeneration.” It takes place in our heart!!!

They could, however, see, and be deeply impressed by, our “Transformation”!!!

What we do will always speak much louder than what we say!!!

The world does not need to hear about your “Regeneration”, it needs to see our “Transformation.”

Have you made Jesus your Saviour, and Lord???

Or just Saviour???

#3. Joy or Misery???

Not to permit Jesus to “Transform” our life is to miss the most gratifying part of Christianity!

Dr. Chester Swor wrote:

“The non-surrendered Christian is likely to be a most miserable person: close enough to know the claims of the Lordship of Christ, yet unwilling to pay the price. Yearning for maximum joy, yet unwilling to admit that it comes from maximum surrender.”

---Folks, believe it or not, Christian Joy comes from “Transformation” not “Regeneration”!!!

The two cannot be separated, but, one produces eternal life, while the other produces Joy in life!!!

Consider this 100+ year old statement: A Christian writes....

“I am amazed that I fought so long against my own best welfare! Though I tasted of all the cups the world offered, I have found nothing to compare with my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It produces pure joy, deep peace, and real thrills.”

And this person died a 100 years before Henry Blackaby every said that God peruses a love relationship with you!!!!

Are you living a life of Joy, or something less??? Have you made Jesus Lord and Saviour, or just Saviour???

#4. God’s Masterpieces:

The canvas’ only hope of becoming a masterpiece is that it surrender its surface completely to the plan of the artist; but when it does so, it becomes a masterpiece!

A raw diamond only becomes a piece of fine jewelry when it completely surrenders to the cutting and design of the diamond cutter.

You and I will only be all that we can be for God, and experience God working through us, when we completely surrender and make Jesus Lord, and not just Saviour!!!

#5. Jesus desires to reach and change others through us:

---A new look at an old passage.....

Matt. 5:13

13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.