SET YOUR HOPE UPON CHRIST JESUS

In the movie "Shawshank Redemption" Red says to Andy - "Hope is a dangerous thing my friend, it can kill a man." Andy replies, "Hope is a good thing, maybe even the best of things. And good things never die."

God gave the world Hope thousands of years before Christ arrived. Many Christians who study the Scripture know of Old Testament passages that reveal the prophetic word of Jesus' miraculous birth, His life, suffering and death for the redemption of all. 

However, how many of us know or research the Old Testament passages that foretell Christ's resurrection? Paul mentions this prophetic support  of Christ's resurrection in the O.T. in his letter to the believers in Corinth.

• “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, . . . that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve” (1 Cor. 15:2, 3-5).

Without the resurrection of Jesus, we just have another man claiming to be The Messiah. However, Jesus did rise from death, Hades and the grave, plus He fulfilled Old Testament passages that said He would. Isaiah 53:10 said "he will see his offspring and prolong his days..." after He sacrificially gave His life for ours - "though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin".

• "Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand."

One cannot "see" and live on after being "an offering for sin" if their was not a bodily resurrection.

In a second Old Testament passage, David utilizes his prophetic anointing and states - 

• "...my body also will rest secure,
  because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. (Psalm 16:8-10)

Notice that David is at peace for when death comes knocking. He says, "my body also will rest secure" creating an image that his body is a deposit or loan to the grave, meant to be taken back "because you [Christ] will not abandon me to the realm of the dead". However, David goes a step further and proclaims that as for the "Faithful One", not even "decay" will be seen on Christ's body before He rises - "nor will you let your faithful one see decay".

As a final example of Old Testament prophecies foretelling Christ's resurrection, part of The Lord's response in Matthew 12 to the Pharisees demand for a sign was that of an analogy to Jonah's predicament in the belly of the great fish for three days. 

• "'For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth' (Matt. 12:40). As Jesus explains, Jonah and the big fish is an analogy of the death and resurrection of Jesus, though Christ is a much greater prophet than Jonah. Craig Blomberg is insightful: 'Just as Jonah’s time in the fish would have proved meaningless had he not been spit up onto the shore to continue his appointed ministry of preaching repentance to Nineveh, so also the crucifixion is not the decisive sign of who Jesus was, for his subsequent rescue from death is what vindicated his ministry and enabled his mission to go forward'” (https://credomag.com/2013/03/the-resurrection-of-christ-in-the-old-testament/)

Isaiah saw the major highlights of Christ's coming including His resurrection. David foretold Jesus would not be in the grave long enough to acquire decay. Jesus brought back to remembrance the story of Jonah and used Jonah's time in the belly of the great fish as an analogy and/or sign for His great mission - victory for us all through Him.

All of these Old Testament words are fulfilled events of Hope in Christ's first coming. In addition, not only did He fulfill the Hope of Salvation for everyone, but He also established another Hope - the resurrection and/or glorification of the body. Paul explains this to the Romans like this - 

• "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved." (Romans 8:22-24)

We have always had Hope since Genesis. Right after we messed up with God, The Lord declared His Word of Hope as He spoke to the serpent of old, He said, "he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." (Gen. 3:15)

Now that Christ has come, lived, died, risen and ascended - He continues to give us Hope.

Christ has told the Disciples and all believers - 

• "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-4)

Later, Paul elaborated on this Return in 1 Thess. 4:13-18 - 

"...so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope - 

Let me pause here and insert the fact - when our last breath escapes our lungs and we no longer are part of this world, The Gavel falls in judgment on - What have you done with Jesus in your life? For those who have rejected the free gift of Salvation by Christ for their lives there is no hope, only damnation to eternal separation from God. Isaiah describes the finality of the lost like this - "...those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your [God's] faithfulness." Isaiah 38:18

For those that will have chosen Christ and His lifestyle - eternity blesses them with ruling and reigning with Christ, being married to Christ, having a new name, living in a new body, in a new city, on a new Earth, in a new Heaven without any sin, curse or pain. The decision for either of these locations and experiences is now - "I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2)

Now, Paul continues the 1 Thessalonian 4 passage by injecting the reader with The Hope that will help believers endure and persevere from Christ's ascension forward. 

• "For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." (1 Thess. 4:13-18)

Christ sealed the deal for everyone's spiritual, physical and mental salvation, empowerment and glorification after He rose from the dead and sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within believers. Peter said it nicely when he stated -

• "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)

Our hope is not just some wish or whim on the haphazard expectation that we might see what was promised. Instead, we have a track record of faithfulness by God to the great witnesses of our faith and all other believers willing to die for their testimony. The Christian's Hope is based on a solid foundation in the past, "an ever-present help in time of trouble" (Psalm 46:1) as we live now and the guarantor of all our future promises, for everything is "Yes" and "Amen" in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). Everything depended upon The Head Crusher (Gen. 3:15), The Savior, The Firstfuit of those who have died (1 Cor. 15:20) and still does. 

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming." (1 Peter 1:13)

Set your hope upon His promises, set your great expectation upon Him, The Hope - Christ Jesus.

THE DIFFERENCE IN LIFE

Jesus was different. He taught peacefully, most of the time, about many good things. However, all His words and miracles depended on having some kind of relationship with Him. 

Sometimes the relationships were established before He spoke or performed His miracles. Sometimes the relationships were established after and due to His words and/or miracles. 

The Savior had come to save and that was a shock that sent ripples throughout the world, but the way He saved was different. How can a Savior King save while hanging from a cross instead of ruling from a throne in Jerusalem over the Romans and all the Earth? He was received at first, criticized, shunned and eventually rejected or crucified. 

The Holy Spirit is God, but He too was received at first, criticized later and found so different to many that He has been shunned or ignored. The creation has the audacity to say to The Creator, the Holy Spirit is weird, if anybody is weird - we are weird. 

I heard it said recently that for many The Holy Sprit is like the crazy uncle in the back room we dare not bring out to socialize. Christians are confident with Father God and Christ Jesus in the room but get quite nervous when the Holy Spirit is on display.

The outward manifestations of the Holy Spirit, for example speaking in tongues and miracles and supernatural signs can be daunting to some. The individuals who have a relationship with the Holy Spirit know Him and how He works, so this should not take them off guard. Just like knowing anybody, the more time you spend with The Holy Spirit, the more you know Him. The proximity you have to the Holy Spirit will dispel any difference you have with Him. 

There is a habit that believers have engaged in for a while that can help rid our uneasiness, our preconceived notions, our differences with the Holy Spirit. We need to stop placing the cart in front of the horse. This is a  misalignment of order habit or behavioral issue that is displayed through teaching of The Gifts of the Spirit first instead of a relationship with The Giver as priority. We need to have a relationship with The Holy Spirit first so that we may appreciate and capitalize on the Gifts given.

I realized something recently that has shed new light on my relationship with the Holy Spirit. In Isaiah 9:6, I had been placing a comma between the words "Wonderful" and "Counselor" when there is not. Even though God is Wonderful, even though He is a Counselor, this passage has two-word descriptions of God - "Wonderful Counselor", "Mighty God" and "Everlasting Father". And the Holy Spirit has been that to me for some time now - Wonderful Counselor.

Scripture says that The Holy Spirit is the third person of The Holy Trinity - Father, Son and  Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, helper, friend and reflection of Father God and Christ. He is all definitions of love spelled out for us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. He is an interceder for us - He is someone who communicates with Christ and Father God when we don't know how to pray, what to pray or when to pray.

Back in the old days you had to get permission to come before a king's presence. But now, you and I have The Presence of The King of all kings wherever we go, whatever we do and whatever we say. His Majesty spends all His time with me, even when I spend some of my time with Him. I feel a relationship with a friend we have in Jesus, The Holy Spirit, is way past due. So, let us seek out daily our King, our Wonderful Counselor - The Difference In Life!

THE ROCK OF GRACE

There are two mountaintops that people, Christians in particular, have their feet on the summit of and cannot make a decision which peak to live on - Mt. Fear or Mt. Hope.

Hebrews 12:18-24 states it like this - 

"You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: 'If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.' The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, 'I am trembling with fear.'"

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."

Now with Fear there must be a two-pronged understanding. Fear can be paralyzing OR fear can be praiseworthy. The kind many people are familiar with is the terrifying or threatening experiences. Usually, in scenarios like this, fear attacks or tries to seize control of all functions of the individual. Fear has many helpers, perhaps you have heard of a few of them - anxiety, depression, confusion and the like. 

This kind of fear is devoid of hope, belief and love. This kind of fear the enemy of our souls strategizes and uses against believers from his kingdom of darkness. The devil would have you so scared that you do not share The Good News anymore, but Philippians 1:14 says, "...dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear."

There is another name for one of the mountains people stand on in their lives - Mt. Law. The Law, with all it's many rules and regulations for living a perfect/holy life, was meant to point out that none can live the perfect life except the prophesied Savior or Messiah to come. Why give it? To provide structure and boundaries until The Christ comes and leads us further. The Law dealt with rules and punishment. Then Christ Jesus came to provide us a better mountain we could choose to stand on; a life that "speaks better" than if we had both feet or even one foot on Mt. Law.

Many instances in Scripture refer to fear as respect, specifically honoring God. In the book of Acts you can find terms like - "God-fearing women", "God-fearing Greeks" and "a God-fearing man" - describing people with the highest regard for God. Hebrews 11:7 portrays Noah building the ark - "in holy fear" - a feat and attitude that was rewarded with the salvation of his family and the animals. In the Christian journey 1 Peter 1:17 instructs the believer to "live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear." In addition, Paul in his letter to the church in Phillipi encouraged the contingent - "continue to work out your salvation with fear [or great respect and awe] and trembling."

The Good News is that God so Loved the world that He sent Love in the form of His Son Jesus. 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment." Christ took our punishment on The Cross. We do not have to be ruled or controlled by the terrifying fear of the world and the enemy. There is no terror, no horror in love.  This is why all are drawn to love. Love never fails and He will not fail us now. This is why we must respect and honor God, because God is love (1 John 4:8).

Yes, Love in the form of Christ Jesus has showed its awesome purpose and power - to redeem human kind and create a perfect future with God, which at the moment of Christ's resurrection became our Hope.

Paul says it nicely when he addresses the believers in Rome - "...we boast in the hope of the glory of God." After the salvation of an individual - what becomes the believer's focus? Hope. Hope of a transformed, glorified body like Christ's one day. Hope of Christ's promises being fulfilled personally and corporately. Hope of seeing "our righteousness" in person (Galatians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:1).

Paul tells us in Romans that the whole of Scripture was written for the sake of 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

Scripture has proclaimed that believers are the Ambassadors of Hope - "Christ in us, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). 1 Timothy 6:17 even singles out what we should and should not place our hope in. And the author of Hebrews does a beautiful, word-smith job of describing Christ Jesus, His promises and our Hope - "as an anchor for the soul".

There is a proper fear to have toward God. Our relationship with God should contain a healthy dose of respect and honor for Him to keep the proper perspective. I see shirts and bumper stickers all around with the slogan - "No Fear". Some fear is healthy, it keeps us cautious and aware or alert. But if you allow this mantra of No Fear to control every aspect of your life, even your relationship with God, at the moment of death you will be filled with nothing but fear of a horrible kind. 

Luke 12:5 declares Hell is real but you do not have to spend eternity there. Christ Jesus has the authority to place you there should it warrant. 

"But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." 

This same one with authority to send one to hell can also grant entry into Heaven because He paid the price. This same one who made an impossible Law to follow, also made The Way to escape from living under perfect performance. 

C.S. Lewis once said, "Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth thrown in. Aim at Earth and you will get neither." Using the same formula, aim at Mount Grace and you will get the structure and guidelines that pointed to the fulfillment of all of them in Christ. Aim at Mount Law and you get neither Grace nor a perfect, holy life you can live - only impossible rules with punishments. 

This does not mean we should not honor instructions like The Ten Commandments. However, Christ has fulfilled all commandments, granted us forgiveness when we fail and granted believers common sense to live under the Spirit of Grace.

I encourage everyone, but especially my brothers and sisters in Christ, stand solely on His Grace. If you find that you are living in a straddling position with one foot on Mount Sinai, Mt. Law, Mt. Fear and the other on Mount Zion, Mt. Hope, Mt. Grace, then place both feet upon Zion, upon Hope, upon The Rock Of Grace.