A Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

3 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, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Hope leads to more effective Christian living and witness

A. Hope encourages believers to be bold

2 Corinthians 3:12

2 Corinthians 3:12 ESV

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,

B. Hope encourages believers to evangelize

1 Peter 3:15

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

15 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,

C. Hope leads to godly living

1 John 3:2

Psalm 25:21; Hebrews 6:1-12

1 John 3:2 ESV

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

D. Hope equips believers for spiritual warfare

1 Thessalonians 5:8

1 Thessalonians 5:8 ESV

8 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.

E. Hope enables believers to face suffering with confidence

Romans 5:3-5

Psalm 22:24; 147:11; Philippians 1:20

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

God’s Invitation and Plan of Salvation

Hear - Romans 10:17

​Romans 10:17 ESV 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Believe and Confess - Romans 10:9-10

​Romans 10:9–10 ESV 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Repent - Luke 13:3

​Luke 13:3 ESV 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Be Baptized - Romans 6:3-4

​Romans 6:3–4 ESV 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Remain Faithful - Revelation 2:10

​Revelation 2:10 ESV 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

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