What is the object of the hope of a Christian?
"1John 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."
What is the work that he must do to obtain it?
"1John 3:3
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as he is pure."
Christians, as children of God, hope to be glorified like Jesus Christ and to see
him at his second coming. Those who have
this hope purify themselves as Jesus Christ is pure.
This
self purification is the substance for their hope and the evidence or the proof
for their faith.
1Peter 1:21says, "...by
him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory;
that your faith and hope might be in God." One
of the very important reasons that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead and
gave him glory was that we might have hope and faith in God so that
he
may raise us also in the same way he has raised Jesus Christ.
"2Cor
4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord
Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you."
God told Abraham that his covenant was with him and
asked him to walk perfect before him. He also gave circumcision to Abraham as a
sign for the covenant. "Gen
17:1 … the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto
him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect…
4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee,
and thou shalt be a father of many nations… 11
And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token
of the covenant betwixt me and you." The
scripture explains that since God already found Abraham with faith, he made the
covenant with Abraham. Here, before his circumcision Abraham represents the
entire world and after the ceremony he represents Israel.
"Romans 4:9
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only,
or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham
for righteousness. 10
How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not
in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11
And he received the sign of circumcision,
a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being
uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe…"
Here we see that Abraham had the
righteousness of faith even before God made the covenant with him.
Abraham did not consider his own inability, but the
promise of God. "Romans
4:19 And being not weak in faith, he
considered not his own body now dead… 20
… but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully
persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."
Abraham trusted the word of God about the seed of his
son Isaac. So, he did not hesitate to offer Isaac as a sacrifice.
"Heb 11:17
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received
the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy
seed be called." We see that Abraham acted
upon every promise of God by obedience; even when it came to sacrifice his only
loving son.
The faith of Abraham was to inherit the eternal kingdom, but not for the things
of this world.
"Heb
11:10
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
Our belief and faith must be like the belief and faith of Abraham if we want
to be the children of Abraham by faith.
"John
8:39
… Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of
Abraham."
Faith is opposite to fear.
"Matt 8:23
… he was entered into a ship, his disciples
followed him. 24
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was
covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25
And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we
perish. 26
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he
arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."
It is important to notice that Jesus Christ did not
ask the disciples why they did not rebuke the wind and sea. It is the power of
God that calmed the sea. He rebuked them saying why did they fear.
Faith is opposite to doubt.
"Matt 14:29 And he said,
Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to
go to Jesus. 30
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to
sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his
hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith,
wherefore didst thou doubt?" Here, Peter
did not walk on the water on his own strength or faith, but because Jesus Christ
had said "come." Jesus
Christ did not rebuke him because he was sinking in the water. But, he
rebuked Peter because he doubted the power of God and he was afraid. Faith
will not doubt God in danger, even in death.
Faith is opposite to worry.
"Matt 6:30 … shall he not
much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
…32 For after all these
things do the Gentiles seek, for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye
have need of all these things. 33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you." Matt 6:25-34 is
an important passage of instruction to the servants of God. The promise of God
is that he will provide the needs of those servants who seek after his kingdom
and his righteousness.
Jesus Christ has healed the sick, cast out devils and
raised the sick. Most Christians are taught to believe that the sick people must
have faith to be healed, even though it is impossible for the demon possessed
and the dead to have faith. They use verses like
"Mark 10:52. Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And
immediately he received his sight…" Yes, Jesus
Christ healed many people who had faith. However, he healed many who had no
faith at all. "Luke
22:50 And one of them smote the servant of the
high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51
And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and
healed him." Jesus Christ healed them all
whether they have faith or not. "Matt
8:16 … healed all that were sick:
Matt 12:15 …great multitudes followed him, and he
healed them all; Luke 4:40
…he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them."
Jesus Christ had the power of God in him to heal, cast
the devils and to raise the dead. This power is the one that went and healed the
sick. "Luke 5:17
… as he was teaching … the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
Luke 6:19
… there went virtue out of him, and healed them all."
Jesus Christ gave his disciples the power of God to
heal, cast out devils, etc. "Matt 10:1
… he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against
unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all
manner of disease." The apostles also healed
everyone who came to them for healing by the power of God. The sick were healed
even by the shadow of Peter. "Acts
5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick
into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the
shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them… and they were
healed every one." Stephen
and Philip healed even though they were not an apostles.
"Acts 6:8
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles
among the people. Acts 8:6
… Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles
which he did. 7
…and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed."
People, who never knew God, were healed. "Acts 28:8 … the
father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered
in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9 So when this was done,
others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed."
However, ministers need faith to receive and to use
the power of God. "Acts 3:16
… through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know:
yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in
the presence of you all." Even
though servants of God had faith, it was the power of God that healed and did
miracles, but it was not their faith. Though people had the faith to be healed,
it was the power of God in his servants healed them. The same power even healed
those who had no faith. So, the healer is God’s power rather than our faith.
"Heb 1:6…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." We cannot please
God without faith and the true faith in God has
two wings to fly. (1)
Our focus must be on the true God that exists through eternity past to eternity
future. (2) We must diligently seek him by
doing his bidding of righteous works in order to receive his reward.
"Rev 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man
according as his work shall be."
"Eph
2:8
…by grace are ye saved through faith; …it is the gift of God.”
God saves his people only through faith.
“James
4:6
…God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
Humble people receive the grace of God. Grace will help them to perform the
work of faith. Then through the work of faith God saves his people. Even though salvation is a gift of God, it is not given to those
who fail to do the work of faith.
We have seen that our faith and hope must be in God
and not in another. However, bible talks about our faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ also. God has raised Jesus Christ from the dead and made him Lord and
Christ. "Acts
2:36 … God hath made that same Jesus, whom
ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."
So, our faith in God should acknowledge the lordship of Jesus Christ to obey
his commandments. Then, the obedient believers will be sanctified by
their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
which is the obedience to his commandments. Then,
they will receive the inheritance in the kingdom of God. "Acts
26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from
darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified
by faith that is in me."
It is sad that most Christians think that Jesus Christ
will save them from hell for the mere calling of his name or such flimsy things
and consider this as their faith in Jesus Christ. But scripture cautions
about using the name of God. "Thou shalt not
take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him
guiltless that taketh his name in vain, (Ex 20:7)"
and "…Let every one
that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity (2Tim 2:19)."
If Christians use the name of Christ without departing
from iniquity then it is not faith, it is sin and they will be punished for that
sin.
Jesus Christ became a man to do the will of God.
"Heb 10:5
…when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and
offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me…
7 Then said I, Lo, I come… to do thy will, O
God." He put his complete trust upon God. He
obeyed God through suffering and he became the author of salvation.
"Heb 5:7
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up
prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to
save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son,
yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made
perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that
obey him;"
Jesus Christ endured the cross,
despised his shame and he became the author of faith.
"Heb 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down
at the right hand of the throne of God."
Jesus
Christ being the author of salvation as well as the author of our faith, he
wants us to look at how he ran his race to obtain the throne of God,
and to follow his way as we run our race. He
calls us to follow his life of sufferings to sit in his throne.
"1Peter 2:21
…hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that ye should follow his steps. 2Tim
2:11 It is a
faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we
shall also live with him: 12
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him."
Jesus Christ humbled himself, received the grace of God and obeyed God until the
end.
"Phil
2:8
… being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death.
Luke
2:40
…and the grace of God was upon him."
God
has raised Jesus Christ above all things just because he humbled himself and
obeyed God, which are the work of righteousness and of faith.
"Phil
2:9
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above
every name:
10
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things
in earth, and things under the earth.
11
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father."
God
will do his good pleasure on all those who will humble themselves and will obey
God.
"Phil
2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but
now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling.
13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure."
Those who obey as he obeyed will sit in his throne as he sits in the right hand
of God the Father.
"Rev
3:21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
God made Abraham, the father of faith, very rich.
"Gen 13:2
And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold."
His eyes were fixed on the kingdom of God but not on
his riches. "Heb
11:10 For he looked for a city which hath
foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
Where are your eyes focused?
The devils believe God, but without the works of
righteousness. "James
2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou
doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O
vain man, that faith without works is dead?"
How about you? Are you doing the work of righteousness by your faith?
We
all have faith and hope. They will take us either to hell or to heaven
depending on what are we hoping for and what kind of work that follows. Let us
also have faith in God to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Then God will give us
the kingdom with pleasure.
"Luke
12:32
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom."
Most Christians ask and
claim the kingdom of God instead of being obedient. The kingdom of heaven
is free for those who obey God. So, obey God and quit sin. God bless you.
Again
