Hope in Christ
Hope in Christ
“in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:12 NIV
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/eph.1.12.niv.
Paul reminds the believers in Ephesus that they were the first to put their hope in Christ. When I read that my heart was stirred with a renewed desire to be one who clearly and securely has my hope in Christ.
Hope is essential and where we place our hope is vital.
- God in His Word offers to us a great deal of instruction and encouragement regarding hope.
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
Romans 15:4 NIV
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/rom.15.4.niv
- God wants to give us hope. He intends only for our good.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/jer.29.11.niv
- Hope is our salvation.
“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
Romans 8:24-25 NIV
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/rom.8.24-25.niv
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
1 Peter 1:3 NIV
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1pe.1.3.niv
“so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
Titus 3:7 NIV
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/tit.3.7.niv
- Hope gives steadfastness and stability
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,”
Hebrews 6:19 NIV
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/heb.6.19.niv
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Romans 5:5 NIV
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/rom.5.5.niv
“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”
Colossians 1:22-23 NIV
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/col.1.22-23.niv
When we live in the hope that is in Christ we bring God glory.
Here’s a link to many verses in the Bible that speak of hope:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/hope
Here are a couple of inspiring worship songs:
Living hope
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less (Solid Rock)
I will close with this prayer for the blessing of an overflowing hope.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NIV
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