The Hope of Our Calling
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Ephesians 1:15-23;4:4
Ephesians is a letter all about how great it is to be a Christian. That colors everything about the message of the book. It is a lesson we need to learn.
What is the “hope of our calling” as mentioned in these passages? Hope itself is defined as the “expectation of good” - Hope is not just desiring something, but EXPECTING it. “Hope” as we see it in Scripture entails the resurrection of Jesus. That is our hope, and our future. Consider how great a hope it was in the 1st Century!
Having this hope within ourselves will encourage us to spread that hope around us, lighting the way for our brethren to be hopeful for those same things.
The “hope of our calling” is UNDERSTOOD, SINGULAR, and BASED ON GOD’S POWER.
An Understood Hope – “that you may know… the hope of his calling…”
An Understood Hope – “that you may know… the hope of his calling…”
Our hope is based in knowledge.
We need to make mention of our brethren in prayers. If we include them in our seeking and yearning for God in our lives, it becomes very hard to be steeped in negative thoughts.
Our relationship as a family is not based on our own personal interactions and how much we enjoy each others’ company. We may have a ball with each other, but what happens when we don’t? We are still family. We will be together in the resurrection.
Acts 27:22-26,30-36 - The great difference is the knowledge. Those who heard Paul believed, and for that reason, they were saved from death.
Notice the possessive phrasing – the “hope of HIS calling”
Our God calls us – all who seek Truth are drawn to Jesus
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
Thus, “his calling” is God’s calling for us to live in Christ.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
God would not expect us to give a “reason of the hope that is in you” without being able to understand it.
Saints have no business being hopeless!
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
Many claim to be unable to understand the Bible, but isn’t it possible that they are simply repeating what they’ve learned from Satan - that “the common person can’t understand it”?
Certainly, if we read it as authoritative, we have a better chance of understanding God’s will in our lives, but the fact remains that the simple doctrine of Christ is cast aside daily for needlessly complex beliefs.
“I know the Bible says this, but I SAY THIS…”
This is not a lack of intelligence, but a lack of CONVICTION!
He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction goes astray.
We cannot claim that God did not allow us to know of this hope, and neither can we claim innocence from ignorance.
God expects us to know this hope, and calls us to understand it!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Acts 12:6 - Peter was able to SLEEP after James’ death. Why? Because he knew this hope!
Our hope is to be understood by others.
Paul wants the brethren’s “eyes of understanding” to be enlightened, “that ye may KNOW…”
Often as Christians we work harder to keep someone from knowledge of how they fall short.
Maybe we tell ourselves that they “aren’t ready”
Certainly we must use tact in how we say things, but consider the full Gospel message that was preached to many who weren’t “ready” for it, and who never wanted it!
Paul to elders at Ephesus - Acts 20:27
For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
The Gospel is a message that some will NEVER be ready for! Should we hold it back for them?
A Singular Hope - “His inheritance in the saints...”
A Singular Hope - “His inheritance in the saints...”
“One Body, and One Spirit” (4:4)
Philippians 4:4-13; 1:12-21
What is his Inheritance? God does not keep all the material existence.
These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
He keeps the remnant... the Church... His body
1 Pet. 2:4-10 - Reaction to the chief cornerstone; Those who believe are precious to Him. A “peculiar people”. His OWN people.
We are the possession, the inheritance of God.
This gives us comfort, encouragement that He will take care of us.
It also gives us a responsibility to live up to that position/place.
Rom. 8:14-15, 31-34 - God has adopted us as His children.
Our hope fuels our Faith.
Romans 4:4-8,22-25;5:1-2 – Our hope in the resurrection is the “launch platform” for our faith.
The resurrection of Jesus is proof that WE will be resurrected as well.
If we lack this hope, our faith will be useless.
Our hope must guide our Practice.
Most Christians would CLAIM this hope of the resurrection, but their practices reveal that they truly do not have this hope.
Most often, we lose this ultimate, revelatory hope, and cling to a false hope in “modern relevance”, or “social adaptability” – essentially having hope in the wrong things!
And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.
Let’s be careful that no one “overthrows” our faith! If we hope in the wrong things, our faith becomes weak!
A Hope in the Greatness of His Power.
A Hope in the Greatness of His Power.
Understand and live in that hope!
Ch. 2 takes us from being hopeless, wretched rebels to a stone in the temple of God. This is that great power.
He wrought this in Christ - He likewise works on us.
Two things we hope for that only God can accomplish:
Resurrection
Exaltation
These are forerunners for what He has done and will do for us!
1 Cor. 15 - Christ is risen; the core of our faith.
The empty tomb proves that He is risen.
If the resurrection isn’t true, none of Jesus’ miracles are true.
Romans 8:11 - If He raised Christ Jesus, He will raise us. Will He also exalt and glorify us?
Philippians 2:1-11; 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2; Col. 3:4; Rev. 3:21
“overcome” is an ultimate aspect - nothing left out of that idea! Consider the power wrought in such astounding deeds!
Acts 24:14-15 – Let’s have the hope that Paul had!
