Our Hope in Christ

Jesus offers all that man needs. We could stop there, but many are unwilling to accept that fact. We look for strength in strange places---alcohol, tobacco, narcotics, pornography, fornication, man-made doctrines, and the list can go on and on. Yet, no matter how long the list is, the fact remains the same--Jesus offers everything that man needs. It is plain and simple, no matter how complex we might try to make it.

Jesus came to this earth to do His Father's will (Matthew 6:38), as well as to fulfill the Old Covenant (Matthew 5: 17-18). He also came to fulfill prophecy (Isaiah 7:14; 53:4-7) and to establish His kingdom (John 18:37). He came to save sinners (Luke 5:32; 19:10) and to leave us a perfect/complete example to follow (Colossians 2:9-10). We should be so thankful that He came to this earth for us (Philippians 2:6-8), for we are weak but He is strong.

God sent His Son to this earth with an offer for everyone (John 3:16) and an invitation for everyone to accept His offer (Matthew 11:28- 30). Jesus offers salvation (Mark 16:15-16), eternal life (John 14:6), love beyond compare (Romans 8:31-39), peace such as we could never have imagined (John 14:27), and beyond the grave, hope that can overcome all obstacles here on earth (Hebrews 6:18-20). Yes, He came because we are weak and He is strong.

He offers so much, and He is available for all to come to Him (John 5:40). If we are willing to recognize our weaknesses and humble ourselves before Him, we will find ourselves renewed. He is so strong that He offers those who obey Him a new relationship (Galatians 3:26-27), a new name (Acts 11:26; 26:28), a new interest (Ephesians 4:1; Matthew 6:33), a new attitude (Galatians 5:22-24), a great responsibility (1 Corinthians 10:31), and once again, a new hope (Romans 8:24-25). We can be new creatures in Christ, new creatures that gain strength from the One who is so strong, while we are so weak.

Yes, Jesus the Christ is strong, and we are weak. We can do all things through Him because of the strength He has and is willing to give (Philippians 4:13). Yet, He will give His strength only to those who desire it (James 4:10), those who seek it (Hebrews 4:14-16), those who have faith in Him (John 6:35), those who obey His directions (1 John 1:7), those who retain His type of attitude (Philippians 2:5), and those who will not turn away from Him (John 6:66-69). We can all gain strength from Him, strength that we need to face this life’s issues, strength to guide us over the valley of the shadow of death into His loving arms. Oh we are so weak, and He is so strong!

He knew of our weakness and our need for the strength He could offer. In John 17:20-26, He prayed for our strength. He also prayed that we would be united with Him and His Father. He knew that we would face trials and tribulations, because He faced trials and tribulations (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15). He overcame them so we could look to Him for an example of how we can prevail. We need this strength because we are weak.

We can do all things through Christ because He is the one who strengthens us. Oh, that we would yield ourselves to Him so we, like Him, can be strong. When will we learn this? When will we stop looking elsewhere for strength? When will His Father tire of our looking somewhere other than to His Son whom He gave so we could be strong?

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WHAT IS NECESSARY  FOR YOUR SALVATION? HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE SCRIPTURES FOR YOUR SALVATION? ♦  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit. (2Pe 1:20-21) ♦  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Rom 10:17) ♦  And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  (Act 8:35-37) ♦  And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work. (2Ti 3:15-17) HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO BELIEVE ON JESUS AND TO CONFESS HE IS LORD? ♦  Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. (Act 16:30-31) ♦  If thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Rom. 10:9-10) HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM FOR YOUR SALVATION? ♦  Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:39) ♦  There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:21)

HOW IMPORTANT IS GOD'S GRACE FOR YOUR SALVATION? ♦  For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Ephesians 2:8 ♦  That, being justified by His grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7 HOW IMPORTANT TO YOUR SALVATION IS ENDURANCE, HOLDING FAST THE WORD, AND HOPE? ♦  But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. Mathew 24:13  ♦  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him. James 1:12 ♦  For we are saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Romans 8:24-25) ♦  Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:1-2) Are any of these NOT necessary for your salvation: God's grace? God's revealed word that teaches us how to be saved? Listening to God's written word and believing it? Believing in Jesus and confessing Him as Lord? Recognizing our sins and repenting? Being baptized for the remission of sins? Enduring trials and remaining faithful to the end? Keeping hope ever before you? Did you choose anything on this list that is not necessary for salvation? If so, why? Is that answer from God's word or your own opinion or the opinion of the church you belong to? One more question: Whose opinion counts: Yours? Your church's? God's word?

Baptism is the link between you and... Baptism is the link between you and... Baptism is the link between you and... Remission of sins: And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name. Acts 22:16 Salvation: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. Mark 16:16 Which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:21 Christ's death:  Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Romans 6:3 Being buried and raised with Christ: Having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses. Colossians 2:12-13 Dwelling in the body of Christ: For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Putting on Christ: For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. Galatians 3:27 Receiving God's word and being added to the church:  They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41 A new life. We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

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