Hope, Lord, Faith, Baptism, Father

Ephesians 4:4-6 “4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Again, we come back to these verses here to show the basis for our Christian unity. We are not united around a set of ideas or a set of principles, we aren’t united around a certain geographical area, or a certain sport, or a certain way of life. We, as believers, are united around these core Biblical doctrines of the Christian faith.

And so we discuss these at length because it is needed.

Last time we discussed “one body and one Spirit”

Tonight, I want to move further down these verses knowing that I won’t even come close to doing these verses justice in the very least.

As we begin tonight - I want to begin with this “one hope”.

Hope is misconstrued today in many areas as something that is “wished for” or a “hope so” hope. That is not the case when we are talking about the Biblical principle of hope. Here, hope is used as a noun, and while we use it commonly in our language as a verb, it is much more powerful used as a noun.

What is hope?

Hope in this context means a “sure expectation”. It means something that we know we can count on.

Lamentations 3:22-24 “22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.””

Colossians 1:3-5 “3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,”

Philippians 1:19-20 “19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 “2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Timothy 1:1-2 “1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 Peter 3:13-15 “13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 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,”

Where is our hope found and fulfilled? In Jesus.

Isaiah 9:1–6 ESV

1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

1 Peter 1:3-5 “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.”

Jesus is a LIVING hope!

The reason why our hope is found in Jesus is because of the resurrection! We don’t serve a dead savoir! We serve a savior that LIVES!

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today I know that He is living, whatever men may say I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer And just the time I need Him He's always near

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today He walks with me and talks with me Along life's narrow way He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart

In all the world around me I see His loving care And though my heart grows weary I never will despair I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast The day of His appearing will come at last

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today He walks with me and talks with me Along life's narrow way He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart

Why is hope important to us as a Christian?

It sustains us.

It helps us persevere.

300 Quotations for Preachers from the Modern Church Ever-Present Love

Mountains, when in darkness hidden, are as real as in day, and God’s love is as true to you now as it was in your brightest moments.

It helps us gain proper perspective.

It lifts our eyes to the true source of our salvation and our ETERNAL hope.

Hebrews 6:16-20 “16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

(God Will Not Fail You)

Who told you that the night would never end in day? Who told you that the sea would ebb out till there should be nothing left but a vast track of mud and sand? Who told you that the winter would proceed from frost to frost, from snow, and ice, and hail, to deeper snow, and yet more heavy tempest? Who told you this, I say? Don’t you know that day follows night, that flood comes after ebb, that spring and summer succeed to winter? Hope then! Hope you ever! For God fails you not.

Spurgeon

We have this hope as an anchor for our soul. Thanks be to Jesus for our ONE hope. Our living HOPE. Our ETERNAL hope.