Real hope

The MacArthur Study Bible notes on 1 Peter 1:3 offers this detailed description of real hope.

“Hope” means confident optimism, and: 1) comes from God (Ps. 43:5); 2) is a gift of grace (2 Thess. 2:16); 3) is defined by Scripture (Rom. 15:4); 4) is a reasonable reality (3:15); 5) is secured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (John 11:25,26; 14:19; 1 Cor. 15:17); 6) is confirmed in the Christian by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:13); 7) defends the Christian against Satan’s attacks (1 Thess. 5:8); 8) is confirmed through trials (Rom. 5:3,4); 9) produces joy (Ps. 146:5); and 10) is fulfilled in Christ’s return (Titus 2:13)

Here are the Scripture references from above. May God’s Word fill you with real hope today!

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 43:5, ESV)

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,” (2 Thessalonians 2:16, ESV)

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4, ESV)

“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15, ESV)

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”” (John 11:25–26, ESV)

“Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19, ESV)

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17, ESV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13, ESV)

“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8, ESV)

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” (Romans 5:3–4, ESV)

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,” (Psalm 146:5, ESV)

“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:13, ESV)

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Not only grace. . .but mercy

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3, ESV)

“That we were created men, was grace; because we might have been of a lower order of beings, like beasts: but to be new-created, after that we were fallen, and by this new creation to be made sons of God, is not only “mercy,” but such mercy as never was vouchsafed to the angels that fell: no; it was reserved for us: and “abundant” mercy it was! The very angels in heaven have not in this respect been so highly favoured as we: for they can sing of grace only: whereas we, when we had abused and forfeited all the blessings of grace, had them all restored to us through the tender mercy of our God.]”

Simeon, Charles (1832-63). Horae Homileticae Vol. 20: James to Jude (138). London.

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The Scream and the Christian

This week Edvard Munch’s The Scream became the most valuable painting ever sold at auction. It reached nearly $120 million dollars.

After you get over the shock of the sale price, you might ask, “What does the sale of one of the most recognizable pieces of art have to do with us as Christians?  Well, The Scream represents the shriek of anxiety within mankind apart from God.  Nathan at Gentle Reformation explains in detail–which I encourage you to read.  Here’s a summary:

“As a Christian, you have the special privilege to tell those around you, “You know that painting, The Scream? Let me tell you how Jesus would respond to that scene.” And you can say that because Jesus DID respond to the ‘cry of nature’ – and that response was in building a kingdom of peace through his violent and vicarious death on the cross. Let Munch’s overpriced pastel point you towards the Kingdom of Peace and it’s Prince. The world knows angst- at the cost of $120 million. Point them to Jesus who gives peace that passes all understanding.

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God is Your Father

How do you think of God?  Do you think of God as your Father?  If you are a true Christian, God is your Father.  And that truth can and ought to bring great hope and help to you every day!  He is a good Father. A loving Father!  A compassionate Father!  A faithful Father.  Here are just some NT references that I would encourage you to study and believe about God our Father.  May these truths fill you with hope and strengthen you by God’s grace!

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

“so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45, ESV)

“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48, ESV)

“Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9, ESV)

“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:43, ESV)

“And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9, ESV)

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”” (Mark 11:25, ESV)

“For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.” (Luke 12:30, ESV)

““Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32, ESV)

“Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”” (John 20:17, ESV)

“To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7, ESV)

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”” (Romans 8:15, ESV)

“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”” (Galatians 4:6, ESV)

“For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” (Ephesians 2:18, ESV)

“one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:6, ESV)

“To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Philippians 4:20, ESV)

“Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?” (Hebrews 12:9, ESV)

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27, ESV)

“I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.” (1 John 2:13, ESV)

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1, ESV)

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