The Enduring Hope of Biblical Christians

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The Enduring Hope of Biblical Christians

by Nolan McFadden A Enduring hope is an essential blessing in our lives. Hope strengthens our hearts and gives us courage for the future. In fact, hope has been defined as a confident expectation of future good. Without hope, many fall into apathy, anxiety, addictions, despair, discouragement and depression. Where may we find hope? Thankfully, there is hope on planet Earth. Enduring hope is found in the LORD and in His faithful promises revealed in the Holy Bible. We are reminded of God´s promise of hope in Psalm 146:5-6. The psalmist proclaimed, “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:…”

In the first century the disciples of Christ Jesus were called Christians (Acts 11:26). They were not called Baptists, Catholics, Pentecostals, Methodists, Dispensationalists or Calvinists. In the New Testament a Christian is a born-again follower of Jesus and His teachings (John 3:1-36; 14:15-24; 15:10-22; 17:6-17). Thankfully, as born-again Christians, we have much more than a temporary hope. We have an inner, enduring hope that comes from the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

There is good news for people who are in need of hope. This message of good news (called the gospel) was spoken of by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. In this Bible text we read, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” When a person chooses to repent, believe the message of the gospel, receive and follow Jesus as Lord and Savior, he or she is given an inner, enduring hope by God. Thus, enduring hope is truly a gift from God. Christians have this inner hope.

How is the enduring hope of Christians different than the temporary hope of the unsaved?

Let´s consider the differences: I. Our LORD is “the God of hope.” The apostle Paul declared, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13) When “the God of hope” is your Lord and Savior, you have abundant hope. Tragically, without “the God of hope,” people live their lives in despair and guilt separated from God and without abundant hope (Isaiah 59:1-4). According to the Scriptures, Jesus is “the great God and our Saviour…” (Titus 2:13). Subsequently, in 1 Timothy 1:1 the apostle Paul referred to the Lord Jesus Christ as “our hope.” If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have a certain, abundant hope every day.

II. According to Titus 1:1-2, Christians live “…in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;…” In Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8-9 we learn that eternal life is the “gift” of God to be received through personal faith in our Lord Jesus.

Whereas, without believing in Jesus, one cannot receive this gift of eternal life from God the Father. In John 3:36 the apostle John declared, “He that believeth on the Son [Jesus] hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Jesus said, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the

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Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) Likewise, speaking about Jesus, the apostle Peter proclaimed, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

III. Christians live in the hope of answered prayers from God our Father in the name of His eternal Son – Christ Jesus. In the New Testament Scriptures we find that God answers prayers in the name of Jesus. Why does God answer our prayers in the name of His Son – Jesus?

According to the Scriptures of truth, our Lord Jesus is the [singular] mediator between God the Father and mankind (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, Hebrews 7:25). The apostle Paul proclaimed, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6) Moreover, our Lord Jesus taught His true disciples to pray to God the Father “in my name” no less than six times in John chapters 14-16 (John 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:23-26). Therefore, in obedience to the very clear instructions of our Lord Jesus to His first century followers, it is to God our Father that we must present our prayers in the name of His eternal Son - Jesus.

IV. As Christians, we live in the hope of God´s promises to forgive our sins, cleanse us from our sins and save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21, Romans 3:23-26, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 10:9-17, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 1:6-11, 1 John 2:1-2). The apostle John declared, “and he [Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) In 1 Peter 3:18 the apostle Peter proclaimed, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:…” Whereas, without receiving God´s forgiveness of sins through believing in the substitutionary death of Christ Jesus as the basis of forgiveness, one cannot receive God´s forgiveness for his or her sins. Jesus explained to people who rejected His teachings, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he [the Messiah of Israel], ye shall die in your sins.”

(John 8:24) V. As Christians, we have “that blessed hope” of the promise of our Lord´s coming. The apostle Paul wrote about this “blessed hope” in Titus 2:13. He said, “…looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Our Lord Jesus promised His followers, “And if I go and prepare a place for you [in Heaven], I will come again [from Heaven], and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3) VI. Christians live in the hope of being resurrected to receive a new, glorified body at our Lord´s coming. The apostle Paul spoke of this special hope of being resurrected to eternal life that God gives to believers. Paul wrote, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [i.e., those who have died], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we

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which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) In like manner, Paul taught, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21) Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 Paul explained, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Christians will be resurrected to enjoy eternal life in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21-22). Whereas, unbelievers will be resurrected to receive eternal judgment from God for their sins. The apostle John explained, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29) Moreover, John wrote, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

(Revelation 20:10-15) Also, in Revelation 21:8 the apostle John warned, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

VII. As Christians, we have the hope of God´s presence with us every minute of our lives. We are in God´s care each day. Our LORD has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). In Matthew 28:20 Jesus told His disciples, “…and, lo, I am with you alway[s], even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

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VIII. As Christians, we have the hope of God´s promise to be our Helper each day. The apostle Paul exhorted, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

(Hebrews 13:5-6) IX. As Christians, we have the hope of God´s promises to lead, guide and teach us. In Psalm 32:8 our LORD says, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Jesus promised His disciples, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

(John 16:13) X. As Christians, we have the hope of God´s promise to deliver us from evil. In Psalm 32:7 King David prayed to Jehovah saying, “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.” The apostle Paul trusted our Lord to deliver him. He wrote, “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

(2 Timothy 4:18) The apostle Peter wrote, “and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:…”

(2 Peter 2:6-9) XI. As Christians, we have the hope of God´s promise to supply our needs. Jesus taught, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) The apostle Paul encouraged Christians who had given generously to his missionary work. He said “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) XII. As Christians, we have the hope of God´s promise to comfort and strengthen us. Our LORD said to His people in the time of the prophet Isaiah: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Likewise, Jesus promised His disciples, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26) The apostle Paul proclaimed, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13) As genuine Christians, our hope is not in humanity, politicians, technology, philosophy, psychology, the economy, or a military arsenal. We may honor and appreciate people for their good conduct and good work. Nevertheless, we must remember that humanity has been corrupted by sin (Psalm 10, Isaiah 64:6-7, Jeremiah 17:9-10, Romans 3:10-23). Subsequently,

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the psalmist declared, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.” (Psalm 118:8-9) In Psalm 39:5 we read, “…verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.”

In like manner, the psalmist prayed to Jehovah saying, “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” (Psalm 60:11-12) Our daily hope must be in our omnipotent LORD God of Israel.

It is Jehovah, and He alone, who saves, heals, strengthens, protects and sustains us. In prayer, we need to seek Him, His help, His counsel and His guidance found in the Holy Scriptures. For without our LORD, we can do nothing of any eternal value (Jeremiah 10:6-7, John 15:5). Let´s continue to trust our LORD to help, strengthen, teach and guide us. May we be encouraged today in God´s faithfulness, hope, love, and mercy. Ω

© 2020 Nolan McFadden Copies permitted by author.