Reason to Hope
Griffith Baptist Church – 7/20/08
A.M. Service
Text: Romans 8:23-25
Key verse: Romans 8:23 - And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
The Introduction
Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources Person asked a young accountant who was fresh out of school, "What starting salary were you thinking about?" The Accountant said, "In the neighborhood of 100,000 a year, depending on the benefits package." The interviewer said, "Well, what would you say to a package of 5 weeks vacation, full medical and dental, Company Retirement Fund to 50% of salary, Executive Share Option Scheme, Profit Related Pay and a company car leased every 2 years - say, a 5 series BMW?" The Accountant sat up straight and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?" The interviewer replied, "Yes, but you started it."
As we grow in Christ, we are challenged more and more in life: trials, temptations, growth pains
o Even our text says, Romans 8:22-23 - 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
o As we grow up in Christ, we really learn what hardships and discouragements are about
o We also should be learning how to deal with them
It seems the more we learn, the more we seem to drag down and not remain energized in the Christian life
God knows this and gives us encouragement with words of hope
o Look at Romans 5:1-5 - 1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
o Tribulation produces patience which in turn gives us experience that finally gives us hope
o This is an ongoing cycle
o It is designed to keep us joyful and energized for Christ
Sadly enough, too many Christians are missing out on this portion of their life
o They are bogged down by the cares of this life
o They are missing the essence of their future by only living in the present
o They rob themselves of the very fuel they need to get inspired and do great things for God.
There are three reasons found in our text that we have a cause to hope
Transition Statement: The first reason is that we have the completion of our redemption to look forward too.
Body
1. Reason One: Complete Redemption (23)
A. A little girl was sitting on Santa Claus’ lap. She gave him a whole list of expensive toys which she wanted for Christmas and then without a word of appreciation, she jumped off Santa’s lap and started toward her mother. Her concerned mother spoke quickly, "Honey, haven’t you forgotten something?" The little girl thought for a moment, then said, "O, yes." Then turning back toward Santa, she shouted, "Charge it."
i. Our sins are charged to someone else’s account
ii. Jesus Christ paid it all to redeem the unredeemable
iii. There is nothing that can equal the cost or the value of the one paying for the release.
B. This Christian life is only the first stage of redemption (first fruits of the Spirit)
i. “First fruits” were the beginning or the first installment of the Palestinian harvest (Lev. 23:10)
ii. The Spirit’s presence in believers is the actual beginning of the future world.
iii. This first stage in redemption is the deliverance in Christ – Romans 3:24 - Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
a. Redemption = to deliver by paying a price
C. The next life offers a complete fulfillment of God’s plan
i. We have the guarantee (seal) of the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 1:13-14 – 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
ii. Our life ought to please the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 4:30 – And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
iii. Complete redemption culminates in our bodies being eternally glorified - Philippians 3:20-21 – 20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Transition Statement: The second reason is in the here and now; that it will increase our faith.
2. Reason Two: Increased Faith (24)
A. Hope means taking God at His Word
i. Biblical hope is the anticipation of a favorable outcome under God’s guidance.
ii. More specifically, hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future.
iii. This contrasts to the world’s definition of hope as “a feeling that what is wanted will happen.”
B. Pharmacists For example, • You go to a doctor whose name you cannot pronounce and whose degrees you have never verified. • He gives you a prescription you cannot read. • You take it to a pharmacist you have never met. • He gives you a chemical compound you do not understand. Then you go home and take the pill according to the instructions on the bottle. All in trusting, sincere faith!
C. Faith operates on two principles (Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.)
i. Hope in the unsubstantiated [unconfirmed] (the substance of things hoped for)
a. Verse 24 - for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
b. It has not happened yet, but because God has promised, it will happen
c. Substance = essence. That which has actual existence. Confident assurance.
d. EXAMPLE: We know that heaven exists even though we have not seen it.
e. This hope defies the logical
f. To the unsaved mind, it is preposterous to believe in what you cannot prove by experience.
ii. Unwavering confidence in the unseen [hidden, concealed] (the evidence of things not seen)
a. Evidence = conviction
b. Total, unquestioning confidence that what God says is true, past, present, and future.
c. The unseen things will never perish - 2 Corinthians 4:18 – While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
d. This is experienced in our new life as believers - 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new
e. This is illustrated in our relationship with the unseen but very real Christ - 1 Peter 1:8 - Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
D. Every aspect of our Christian life must start with faith
i. It is how we start our spiritual life, at salvation – Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
ii. It is how we please God – Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
iii. It is inseparable from works – James 2:17 - Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. [2:14-26] - Trying to win their case some lawyers have been known to ask some incredibly unbelievable questions. The Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer’s Journal gave the following example: Question: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse? Answer: No. Question: Did you check for blood pressure? Answer: No. Question: Did you check for breathing? Answer: No Question: Then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy? Answer: No Question: How can you be sure doctor? Answer: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar. Question: But couldn’t the patient been alive nevertheless? Answer: It is possible that the patient could still have been alive and practicing law somewhere. A body without the brain is dead; likewise faith without is works is dead. Dead faith does nothing.
iv. We operate on a different plane, an elevated way of living our life.
Transition Statement: The third and last reason is we can anticipate glory
3. Reason Three: Anticipated Glory (25)
A. God gives us the blessed hope
i. Christ promised He would return
ii. A tourist who visited an exquisite garden on a lovely estate in Italy spoke to the caretaker: ’How long have you been here?" he asked.
’Twenty-five years."
’And how often has the owner been to see the estate?"
’Four times."
’When did he come last?"
’Twelve years ago."
’Who comes then to look after things?"
’I am left pretty much alone."
’Yet you keep the garden so spic-and-span that one would think you were expecting the owner tomorrow."
’Today, sir, today! replied the caretaker."
iii. Titus 2:13 - Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
iv. Christ will one day return and we will be with Him always
B. God will make us perfect
i. He shall change what sin has corrupted and make it incorruptible, just like Jesus – 1 John 3:2 - Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
ii. The details – 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 48-54 - 42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
C. God will keep us forever
i. The promise of Jesus to return and take with Him - John 14:3 – And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
ii. It will be an existence of perpetual joy - Psalms 16:11 – Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
iii. Eternity with God promised - 1 Thessalonians 4:17 - Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
I like that story about the boy and his father who were planning a fishing trip for the next day. That evening as the father was putting his son to bed, the boy hugged his father’s neck and said, "Daddy, thank you for tomorrow."
We have a reason for joy
We have a reason for life
We have a reason for perseverance
We have a reason for hope
Conclusion:
What do you place your hope in today?
Does your hope give you excitement to do all you can for Christ?
Does hope cause you to live for Him each day in anticipation of His working and blessing?
