There
are no sadder words than “No Hope.” Man needs hope, a lasting hope
for time and eternity.
1
Cor. 15:19 - “If in this
life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable”
We need hope, and there is
such hope given by God. We are saved by hope.
Rom. 8:24 - “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not
hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?”
Before Christ we were
without hope.
Eph. 2:12 - “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens
from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants
of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”
Man’s problem is sin; we
have all sinned and separated ourselves from God. We need forgiveness
and reconciliation.
Rom. 3:10. - “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not
one:”
Rom. 3:23 -. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God;”
There
is no hope for sinful man.
I
John 5:19 – “And we know
that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
The
hope is in Christ and his Gospel.
Rom. 1:16 - “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for
it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
Matt. 1:21 -“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call
his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins.”
We want to study 4 P’s
that cover our subject: (1)Plight of Man, (2)Person of Hope,
(3)Provision of Hope and (4) Proclamation of Hope.
Plight of Man
Romans chapter one tells
the plight of man in verses 20-28. Notice the following verses from
this chapter:
Rom. 1:20-21 - “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the
world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without
excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not
as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their
imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
Rom. 1:24-25 – “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness
through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own
bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a
lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator,
who is blessed for ever. Amen.”
Rom. 1:28 - “And even as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those
things which are not convenient;”
The world had become
wicked and sinful. God said he would send his son to save it.
Gal. 4:4-5 – “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth
his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that
were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
This is the good news of
Romans 1:13-17. Notice verse 17: “For
therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as
it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
It
is not possible for man to save himself.
Eph. 2:8 – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God”
We
see man’s plight is sin.
Person of Hope
Who is this person of
hope? Jesus Christ.
Matt. 1:21 – “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
John 1:29 – “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Mark 10:45 – “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto,
but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Why
did Jesus do this? Because of love.
Rev. 1:5 – “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the
dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”
John 3:16 –“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.”
How
does Jesus do this? Through obedience.
Hebrews 5:9 - “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal
salvation unto all them that obey him;”
Where
are we saved? In the Church.
Gal. 3:27 – “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have
put on Christ.”
Eph. 5:23 – “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ
is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”
Christ
is the only hope of the world.
John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and
the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 10:10 – “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and
to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly.”
Provision
of Hope
How
does a person get this free gift of salvation?
Eph. 2:5-9 – “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us
together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us
up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ
Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches
of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
We must obey the Lord’s
commands and keep faithful until death.
John 14:15 – “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Rev. 22:14 – “Blessed are
they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the
tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Rev. 2:10 - “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:
behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may
be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
We must grow in the
fullness of Christ.
Eph. 4:11-16 – “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of
the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect
man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed
to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby
they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may
grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole
body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint
supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of
every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of
itself in love.
These provisions are found
in the gospel message, the Bible.
2 Tim 3:16-17 – “All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished
unto all good works.”
We must obey, grow and add
the Christian graces, study, and learn what the will of God is, live
the gospel, live according to God’s word.
Proclamation of Hope
The gospel of hope can be
found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
1 Cor. 15:1-4 -
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I
preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye
stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I
preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I
delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And
that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according
to the scriptures:”
We need to believe it and
share it with others.
Matt. 28:19-20 –
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world. Amen”
We must obey the gospel to
have that wonderful and precious hope. The results of NOT obeying are
terrible.
2 Thes. 1:7-9 – “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord
Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In
flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that
obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
Matt. 7:21-23 – “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me,
ye that work iniquity.”
Have you obeyed the
gospel? Are you lost without hope? Christ is the hope; will you put
your trust and hope in him? Obey the Gospel by faith, repentance,
confession, baptism and living faithful unto death.
The choice is yours.
Josh. 24:15 – “And
if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day
whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served
that were on the other side of the
flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as
for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
These great and precious
promises are in Christ, in the Church. How sad to be lost without God,
without Christ, without hope.
QUESTION:
What does “baptized for the dead” mean in 1 Corinthians 15:29?
ANSWER:
“Else what shall they do which
are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they
then baptized for the dead?” (1 Cor. 15:29)
Some
mistakenly view this verse to teach that we who are yet alive may be
baptized for someone who has already died. Our Mormon friends teach
this, and no doubt others are troubled over what this verse is
actually saying.
It
had been mentioned in verse 12 that some were saying “there
is no resurrection of the dead.” But the following verses
(13-28) speak in detail about the beautiful hope there is of a
resurrection from death. Verse 20 assuredly states, “But
now IS Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them
that slept.”Having
shown that there will be a resurrection, Paul then supports his
argument by asking about their purpose in being baptized.
Just
what is the purpose of baptism? John wrote, “the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John
1:7). And in Romans 6:3-4 Paul explains that it is in baptism that we
come in contact with the death of Christ (where His blood was shed).
“Know
ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism
into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the
glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life.”
Then
he compares the benefit of baptism (a death, a burial, and a coming
forth from the symbolic watery grave) with the resurrection of Jesus.
“For if we have been planted
together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the
likeness of his resurrection” (Rom. 6:5).
The
ultimate value in baptism, then, is not to be realized in this present
physical existence, but in a life beyond death. It is with this
understanding that Paul asks his questions. If there is no life beyond
death, then why are you submitting to baptism which has that goal as
its intent? Why be baptized for the benefits which are to be realized
after death, if there is not going to be a resurrection?
Being
baptized for the dead simply refers to being baptized with view to the
wonderful hope of life eternal beyond death.
1.What
were the first things in creation God saw as “good?”
2.After
Ishbosheth’s death David was anointed king. How old does the Bible
say he was at this time?
3.According
to Ezekiel who did God say would possess the houses which formerly
belonged to the Jews?
4.Which
two Old Testament figures appeared with Jesus after his
transfiguration on the mountain?
5.If
a woman exercises faith, love, and holiness with self-control, what
will be her reward?
ANSWERS NEXT MONTH . . .
and
remember last month’s questions?
1.According
to 1st Chronicles, how old did a male have to be to serve in
David’s armies?TWENTY-ONE
(1 Ch 27:23)
2.Where
did God send Jeremiah to learn a lesson about His ability to remake
a nation?THE
POTTER’S HOUSE (Jer 18:2)
3.What
did “Boanerges,” the name Jesus gave to James and John the sons
of Zebedee, mean?“SONS
OF THUNDER” (Mark 3:17)
4.Paul
instructed the Colossians not to be cheated out of their reward by
people who practice what two things?FALSE HUMILTY AND WORSHIP OF ANGELS(
Col
2:18)
5.Whom
does Paul refer to as “My own heart?”ONESIMUS (Phm: 1:12)
I'd rather see a
sermon than hear one any day; I'd rather one
should walk with me than merely tell the way. The eye's a better
pupil and more willing than the ear, Fine counsel is
confusing, but example's always clear; And the best of all
the preachers are the men who live their creeds, For to see good put
in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to
do it if you'll let me see it done; I can watch your
hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run. And the lecture you
deliver may be very wise and true, But I'd rather get
my lessons by observing what you do; For I might
misunderstand you and the high advice you give, But there's no
misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
When I see a deed
of kindness, I am eager to be kind. When a weaker
brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind Just to see if he
can help him, then the wish grows strong in me To become as big
and thoughtful as I know that friend to be. And all travelers
can witness that the best of guides today Is not the one who
tells them, but the one who shows the way.
One good man
teaches many, men believe what they behold; One deed of
kindness noticed is worth forty that are told. Who stands with men
of honor learns to hold his honor dear, For right living
speaks a language which to every one is clear. Though an able
speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say, I'd rather see a
sermon than to hear one, any day.
THE
HARVESTER is a monthly publication intended to encourage all men
everywhere to become laborers into God’s harvest (Luke 10:2). This paper is
mailed free of charge to anyone who wishes to receive it. Please submit name,
address, address corrections and all correspondence to:
