Our Heavenly Hope

I Corinthians 15:19

I.   Where our hope lies.

A.     Where it is not.

1.       In any creature, man or angel.

2.       In no creature enjoyment as in silver, gold, refreshments, recreation, business or any activity we do.

3.       In no creature righteousness, as in our moral, legal, or civil righteousness. 

4.       In no external privilege, as us being born into a “high” family, privilege or prestige. 

5.       Not in any government laws, government handouts, or stimulus packages. 

6.       In no profession of religion, or being active in religion, as there are many who are very active in religion, as Judas Iscariot, yet have no assurance from God of their hope in eternity. 

B.     Where it is.

1.       Christ alone is our surety – because Christ as contracted with God the Father to be responsible for us, to pay our sin debt, and remain responsible for our eternal welfare. 

a.       Matthew 6:31-34 states, Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

b.       II Thessalonians 3:10 teaches how believers are to work, and God will provide through our work.  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 

2.       Christ is our eternal Saviour and everlasting redeemer. 

3.       His perfections toward us include but isn’t limited to his blood, his person, his sacrifice, his life, his promises, and his fulness. 

C.     How we hope in Christ.

1.       That he will supply all grace to us in salvation and sanctification and glorification.

2.       This is “daily provision”, which God has graciously provided for me all the past days of my life, and I know will continue to provide; all of which provision is only a small token of how he will provide for me through all eternity. 

3.       That he has forgiven us of all past sins, all present sins, and will continue to forgive us of all future sins.

4.       That he has justified us in the past, justifies us in the present and will continue to justify us into the future – all the way into eternity.  We are justified personally, not just figuratively, and completely, not partially or until we fulfill some sort of contrived human or heavenly qualifications. 

5.       God gives us all grace now and will continue to give us grace throughout all eternity. 

6.       We have hope in life and hope in death and hope after death, as our life continues with him forever. 

7.       We have hope of things visible and things invisible.

8.       We have hope of things temporary and permanent.

9.       We have hope of things material and spiritual. 

 

II.   Why IF our hope is in this life only, we are most miserable.

A.     Godly people have forsaken many of the so-called pleasures of this life for the benefits of eternal happiness.

1.       The apostles especially had little comfort in this life, as they were rejected by the world in general, being continually exposed to hardships as they carried the gospel to lost souls.

2.       The early church was not well received by the world in general, yet continued to preach the gospel message and stand for the cause of Christ. 

3.       Many believed the early church was filled with the most unrighteous people, as they accepted believers from all walks of life and even those that were considered gross sinners by the Pharisees. 

4.       The world does not understand our stand for Christ, or his righteousness.  They do not understand why we do run to the same excess of riot as they.

B.     Doctrines that make a difference: I am not miserable, but extremely happy that God has blessed me and promises to keep me safe in his everlasting arms. 

1.       Salvation – The only people who truly understand how salvation makes a difference in our lives are those that are saved. 

2.       Eternal security – Only those that are truly saved know and have confidence in Christ that he has saved them and will eternally keep them saved.  They understand they are sinners, but know God loved them regardless of that fact. 

3.       The local church as opposed to the universal church – The origin of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is most precious to us.  It is a blessing to understand that God has called unworthy sinners to such a place of privilege.  It is not that we earned the right to be a member of one of the Lord’s churches, it is grace derived from the mercy of God. 

4.       The resurrection – It seems impossible to believe that we will live after we have died, but that is the truth.  It seems as impossible to believe that Christ will literally return in the sky, as it is to believe he literally ascended into heaven, but this is our sure hope. 

 

III.   He was born for us.

A.     Isaiah 7:14 - Christ was born of a virgin, the only virgin birth in all the world.

B.     John 3:16 - God so loved the world that He sent Jesus and Jesus came for our sakes.

C.     Philippians 2:6-9 - Christ left all the glories of heaven to come to a sin cursed world to show us how much he loves us.

 

IV.   He lived for us.

A.     Luke 19:10 - Jesus came into the world to seek and save that which was lost.

B.     Jesus was the only man who lived a perfect life.

1.       Luke 23:4 - Pilate said, “I find no fault in this man.”

2.       Matthew 27:4 - Judas said, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.”

3.       Acts 2:36 - Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost declared that God had made Jesus, whom they had crucified both Lord and Christ.

4.       Philippians 4:4-8 - We can think about good things because Jesus took care of all the bad things for us, giving us all the good things.

 

V.   He died for us.

A.     Matthew 27:50 - Jesus yielded up the ghost for us, not for Himself.

B.     John 8:52 - Jesus said that believers would never taste death.

C.     Hebrews 2:9 - Jesus was made a little lower than the angels that He might taste death for every man.

D.     Matthew 27:54 - When the centurion saw the way Christ died, He said, “Truly, this was the son of God.”

 

VI.   He arose for us.  If Jesus had stayed in the grave, He would have been no different from all other religious leaders.  But He arose from the death to show that He is God.

A.     Matthew 28:6 - The angel told the women that Jesus was not in the tomb, but was raised.

B.     John 10:14-18 - Jesus has the power to lay down his life for the sheep, and He has power to take it again.

 

VII.   He is coming again for us.

A.     I Thessalonians 4:13-18 - A picture of the rapture of the saints.

I Corinthians 15:50-54 - God will give us an incorruptible body in place of this corruptible one.