A GNow our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace," 2TH 2:16. The Scriptures speak often of a hope—so why do we hope instead of know assuredly? ROM 8:24-25 tells us why. "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." Our text speaks of "…everlasting consolation and good hope through grace," which exhorts us of the danger of a false hope. 1PE 1:3 speaks of "…a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To assure ourselves that our hope is in fact a "good hope through grace," we need to examine the source of our hope. The context of this verse teaches, "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel…." V: 13-14. Our text reveals that the source of our Father’s choice is His eternal love! A good hope is one you can explain. See what Scripture says in 1PE 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." A good hope is drawn from Scriptures, and not from any emotions, feelings, or traditions of men. JER 17:9-10 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." The Word of God must be our only authority upon which we base our hope. See what David says of his hope in PSA 119:81 "My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word." This same principle is New Testament truth as well. ROM 15:4 says, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." The hope spoken of in our text, i.e., "good hope through grace," is never founded outside the Holy Word of God. David prayed in PSA 119:49-50 "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me." So where does the Word of God lead us to find the foundation of a good hope? It is only found in the "…Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope," 1TI 1:1. Any foundation other than Christ will never stand the test in a dying hour, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ," 1CO 3:11. There is no salvation in any other than the person of Christ, including church membership, baptism, nor even in partaking of the Lord’s supper. The man who has a good hope enjoys a peace that the world knows nothing of. JOH 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Those who have the peace of Jesus Christ in their hearts fear no evil; they are persuaded, and know in whom they have believed. Cf. ROM 8:36-39. How many perish with no more than the hope of the hypocrite ? 1JO 3:3 says, "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." The slightest revelation by faith of the price of obedience Jesus paid makes the believer hate the very thought of sinning against such love. The very grace that flows from our "…everlasting consolation and good hope through grace," is found in the context; "Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." The hope that does not make a man honest, truthful, sober, meek, kind, and faithful, i.e., that does not have the fruits of the Spirit, is not the hope spoken of in our text. Cf. PRO 14:22-23. Amen. OOD HOPE THROUGH GRACE
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:21:07 +0000