Hope: Here and Now

6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

1 Corinthians 15:19 ESV

19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

B. Christians live here and now in a Hope for Heaven

Matthew 6:19–20 ESV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

2 Timothy 4:8 ESV

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

[As believers in God we don’t live as if there is only benefit and hope for us in Heaven only…]

II. Hope on Earth

A. Spiritual Wisdom and Thanksgiving grows Hope Here and Now

Colossians 1:9 ESV

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

2 Thessalonians 1:3 ESV

3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

B. The Born Again are obedient to Truth and serve One Another due to the Hope in God Here on Earth

1 Peter 1:21–23 ESV

21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

Hebrews 6:10 ESV

10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

[If you want the Hope of God Here and Now. You must obey His Word Here and Now…]

III. Hope in the Word

A. God’s Word brings Hope closer and closer

Romans 10:8 ESV

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

2 Corinthians 5:19 ESV

19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Ephesians 1:13 ESV

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

B. It is not an Ordinary Word that gives us Hope and we Hunger for it

1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV

13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

1 Peter 2:2 ESV

2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

[Do you want the Hope that comes from God’s Word; which grows on Earth; deliverd eternally is Heaven??? Then Here the invitation that brings Salvation…]

God’s Invitation and Plan of Salvation

Hear - Romans 10:17

Romans 10:17 ESV17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Believe and Confess - Romans 10:9-10

Romans 10:9–10 ESV9 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 ESV3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Be Baptized - Romans 6:3-4

Romans 6:3–4 ESV3 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 ESV10 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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