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Confident Expectation
HOPE is defined as confident expectation. We can be confident and expect what God has provided and promised to His faithful.
"WITHOUT HOPE".... As Christians, one of our greatest blessings and encouragements each day is our HOPE....the hope God has given to the faithful after this life is over. Eternal life with the Father and the Son.The Apostle Peter calls this HOPE a LIVING HOPE. (1 Peter 1:3) Later in that same chapter we find these words:
"For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, SO THAT YOUR FAITH AND HOPE ARE IN GOD. " (1 Peter 1:20,21)
Without that HOPE, which we have in our Lord by faith, it would be a dark picture for sure. Many in the world around us are living without that hope. When sin came into the world things changed.....fellowship with God and heaven was broken. Without Jesus and the Gospel our hope would not be possible. But, God though his mercy and love, has given us a HOPE that will last. From life now to life eternal.
Please read with me a passage from Titus chapter 3:
"For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life i malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according TO HIS MERCY, BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION AND RENEWING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM HE POURED OUT UPON US RICHLY THOUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs ACCORDING TO THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE. " (Titus 3:3-7) Jesus and His Gospel sent from God makes that possible.
Our hope of eternal life through our Lord by way of our faith is a promise from our Father in heaven.
"For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctified and those who are sanctified are all from one Father, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, " (Hebrews 2:10,11)
We are sanctified by way of obedience to His Word.....the TRUTH, the Word of Truth, the Gospel of Christ. "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation---having also BELIEVED, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, " (Ephesians 1:13)
"Therefore, do not throw away your CONFIDENCE , which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what WAS PROMISED." (Hebrews 10:35,36)
Finally, refer with me to Paul's teaching in Romans, chapter 5: "Therefore having been justified by FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction BY FAITH, in the grace in which we stand; and we exult IN HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD. " (Romans 5:1-2)
What a wonderful God who wants us to be with Him for eternity. He has provided the plan, we have to choose to listen and obey or reject that plan. Only by way of God's Will can we expect to be part of His promise for life with Him after this life is over. Yes, we can have CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of that promise He made to His faithful. What is your choice today?
Ross
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