TOPIC: THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE (1)

TEXT: Titus 2:13-14 

"Looking for that blessed HOPE, and the  glorious appearing of the great God and our saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

                    

PREFACE:

Living in the midst and moment of uncertainty, confusion, crisis and terrible pandemic, one may tend to lose hope, courage and fortitude. But then, is all hope lost when we certainly know that our Redeemer is yet alive and that He holds the whole world in His hands? No! We can't lose hope, for He is readily alive and has not abandoned us , even, in a second. That's why the Christian's hope is chosen as a topic for our bible study series, in May, 2020. May you be richly blessed as you follow me on this lane.

The key Truth:

The Christian's hope is a practical confidence he or she has in the rule and purpose of God, which find their  goal in the return of Jesus Christ at the end of the age.    

                    

THE PROMISES TO GOD'S PEOPLE:

GOD IS WORKING in history. The Christian is confident in the righteousness of God, which is working through the events of this world towards the final glory that must eventually follow the ministry and suffering of Jesus Christ. It is His personal return that will usher in the new age.

Resting on the predictions of the Old Testament, the promises of Christ and the conviction of the Apostles, the Christian is assured of the sovereign control of God to the end of time (Isaiah 11:1-9).

 THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S PURPOSES:

GOD'S purposes will certainly be fulfilled, no doubt about that. Let us hinge our faith on His unfailing purposes based on promises. Evidentially, the preaching of the Apostles demonstrated the Christian belief that the return of Jesus, to make all things new, would be the ultimate fulfilment of His work of salvation.

For the believer, the appearance of Christ will come as the longed-for conclusion and perfection of the salvation already won through the sacrifice of the cross, hallelujah! Amen! (Acts 3:17-21,Romans 8:18-23).

THE DEFEAT OF GOD'S ENEMIES: 

The outcome of the conflict between good and evil is already settled. How do I know? Yes, it's settled at the death and resurrection  of Jesus Christ which subsequently ensured the defeat of sin, death and all the powers of evil including corona virus and its efficacies.

But it will not be until Christ's public and powerful return in glory that God's  righteousness will be finally upheld. God's victory will then be evident to all (Philippians 2:9-11, 1Corinthians 15:24-26).

A LIVING HOPE:

The hope of every Christ's believer is a living hope. This hope is never faltered. It cannot be extinguished by any power, circumstance, situation, harassment, turmoil and intimidation. The reason is that, it is Christ who fills the Christian with the confident expectation the Bible calls 'hope'. All the New Testament passages which describe the last things focus their attention on Him.

It is in the resurrection of Jesus that we find particular encouragement. Our living hope is that like Him we too shall rise from death to enjoy the new heaven and the new earth from which death and decay are banished. Christ's followers await a new body, incorruptible and powerful. Glory to God! This body will relate to the old existence, but Paul tells us that it will be significantly different ( 1Peter 1:3-5, 1Corinthians 15:20-23, 51-55).

    

A STEADFAST HOPE:

Christian's hope is a steadfast hope. Unfortunately majority of so many professed Christians today are not Christians because this virtue of Christian steadfastness is not seen in them . How can a so called Christian easily punt off his Christian faith because he cannot endure sound teaching, rebuke or reproof. No unteachable person is a Christian. Christians are Christ's disciples disciplined for righteousness. The quality of christian hope is that it imparts courage and patience for the present. It is not a vague desire for better times, nor is it a resigned and passive submission to life's problems while we wait for a new tomorrow.

I want you to know that the hope we are talking about here, is that which is centred in Christ and it has kept the Church through the ages during persecution and hardship. It is the hope that demolishes fear, intimidation, enticement and that transforms pessimism into godly and practical optimism (1Thessalonians 1:3, Romans 8:24-25).

     

A PURIFYING HOPE: 

Our hope as Christians is hope in the return of Jesus Christ in the future which should have a deep effect on the way we live now. Ours is not the hope of the curious who look only for the details of signs and dates while remaining detached and unaffected.

To the Christian, Christ's return is a reality. As a result of this, let your priorities, decisions, and lifestyles be inevitably shaped by the thought of His sure coming. Do you have a score to settle with God, your neighborhood or intra score? Please, do it before it is too late. He said he is coming back, and I know it's true and it is nearer than before. Hurry up. Purify yourself, be spotlessly clean (1John 3:2-3, Hebrews 10:23-25, Jude 24-25 and Revelation 22:11-12, 20:12).

POSTSCRIPT: CHRISTIAN HISTORY INDICATES THAT THOSE WHO HAVE THEIR EYES ON THE NEXT LIFE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE MOST EFFECTIVE IN THIS. LET THERE BE HOPE AGAINST HOPE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND HAPPY NEW MONTH OF HOPE FOR GREATNESS AND IMPACT.

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This message is from God through pastor Dr Jude O.D Ekele, JP, Cert.DCS, B.A Ed, B.A, M.A, Dmin.

The Area Superintendent,

The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Ojo Alaba International Area, Lagos.

(C.May, 2020)