The Christian Hope

Rev. 21:1-5

"Christian" hope = our hope of salvation, eternal life, heaven, Lord's return, etc.

Question:  How does this differ from other people's hope?
Answer:  Christian hope is:
#1.  expectation - in the Greek, the word hope was expectation, not wishful thinking like it has become in English.  Hope was neutral - could be good or evil.  Could be used as  "I hope a tornado comes" meaning, I EXPECT a tornado to come, as easily as "I hope my husband comes home from work" meaning, I EXPECT my husband to come home from work.

#2.  joyous anticipation - in New Testament - hope always used as joyous anticipation.

#3.  Based on God's Word - Especially on the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and finally on the revelation of the Resurrection.  We believe that God chose to reveal Himself to our world, our society.

Contrast the Basis of non- Christian's hope ---- NOTHING.
Example:  When a non-Christian's loved one dies - figure that this loved one is OK.  Based on what????
Based on NOTHING but just own expectation.

So compare:  Job 8:13-15, 11:20, 27:8  Prov. 11:7 - false hope comes to nothing.

In Dante's Inferno - sign over the gate of hell:  "Abandon all hope ye who enter here".  Whatever you hoped in is GONE!!!!

Christian hope is not just another wish as others have.

NOTE:  technically, our Hope is in God, not in the things He has promised us!!   We don't trust the things we receive, Psalms 25:5, 39:7, 71:5
AND in His Son --- 1 Tim. 1:1, 1 Tim. 4:9-10,
Summary:  1 Pet. 1:20-21

So, what does this hope include?
                      2)  heaven/eternal glory - Jesus said this is part of your inheritance
                      3)  the Lord's return - - establishment of His rule/Kingdom (so.... righteousness, justice, etc.)
Also:
                      4)  the Resurrection of the Body}        1 Thess. 4:13-18
                      5)  the Reunion of the Saints      }
                      6)  The Redemption of Creation - Rom. 8:18-23

All this = the Christian Hope = great expectation beyond the grave.

So..... on one hand, we have hope beyond the grave!
          on the other hand, in Christ, we have hope this side of the grave as well!!!
Rom. 8:28 - ...in all things God works.....   Rom. 8:31-32
Point = trust Him with today, tomorrow, next week, etc. - faith & confidence is in a Person - not in our plans.

So Above = what does this 'hope' include?

Now...... what does this 'hope' accomplish?

1)  confidence
2) courage - example:  martyrs
3)  strength - Isa. 40:30-31
4)  endurance - 1 Thess.1:3   Heb. 6:19
5)  joy .... in face of adversity - examples:  martyrs/their families
6)  renewal - Psalm 42:5, 62:5
7)  boldness - 2 Cor. 3:12
AND,
8)  SALVATION - Rom. 8:24 (a)

What it does accomplish = largely up to you!!
(Hope = offered and partly instilled, BUT you must choose to embrace it!! and employ it!!)

Application:

1)  Know the hope that is offered - Eph. 1:18
2)  Receive the hope that is offered - Col. 1:23
3)  Hold to the hope you've received - Heb. 10:23
4)  Share the hope you've been given - 1 Pet. 3:15

Everyone has hope, BUT what is it based on???  People are dying without hope or with false hope!!