1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,040 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Collin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,040 –> 00:00:14,880 To contact us, call us at 1-877-open-365 or visit our website, www.openthebible.org. 3 00:00:14,880 –> 00:00:17,700 Let’s get to the message. 4 00:00:17,700 –> 00:00:19,120 Here is Pastor Collin. 5 00:00:19,120 –> 00:00:26,639 Well, this is the last week in our series Growing in Hope and the last week in our Trilogy 6 00:00:26,639 –> 00:00:29,600 on Faith, Hope and Love. 7 00:00:29,600 –> 00:00:35,439 We began in January by looking at Growing in Love then in March we looked at Growing 8 00:00:35,439 –> 00:00:40,439 in Faith and throughout this month we’ve been looking at Growing in Hope. 9 00:00:40,439 –> 00:00:48,759 Other things will pass away, but Faith, Hope and Love will remain forever. 10 00:00:48,759 –> 00:00:54,740 And as we heard earlier in the service, these are the things that we want to pursue together 11 00:00:54,740 –> 00:00:55,740 at the Orchard. 12 00:00:55,840 –> 00:01:02,980 We want to glorify God by growing in Faith, Hope and Love through the Gospel of Jesus 13 00:01:02,980 –> 00:01:04,339 Christ. 14 00:01:04,339 –> 00:01:12,459 Now, over these last weeks we’ve been asking the question how can I grow in hope? 15 00:01:12,459 –> 00:01:18,279 And we’ve identified over these weeks ten distinct strategies from the scriptures that 16 00:01:18,279 –> 00:01:19,440 we’ve looked at. 17 00:01:19,580 –> 00:01:24,040 From David we learned that hope comes from God. 18 00:01:24,040 –> 00:01:29,879 And we saw from his example that if we’re to grow in hope we must speak honestly to 19 00:01:29,879 –> 00:01:36,279 God, we must challenge ourselves, especially in relation to our darkest thoughts. 20 00:01:36,279 –> 00:01:44,400 We must affirm what we know to be true and we must wait expectantly on God. 21 00:01:44,459 –> 00:01:49,419 And then we learned from the apostle Paul that hope comes not only from God but it comes 22 00:01:49,419 –> 00:01:56,339 through the Lord Jesus Christ, Christ in you, the hope of glory. 23 00:01:56,339 –> 00:02:03,139 And we saw there that to grow in hope we need to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we need 24 00:02:03,139 –> 00:02:09,699 to enjoy what he has already given, and we need to anticipate what he has promised for 25 00:02:09,699 –> 00:02:11,580 the future. 26 00:02:11,699 –> 00:02:16,199 And then last week we saw that hope comes not only from God and through Christ, but 27 00:02:16,199 –> 00:02:18,839 it comes by grace. 28 00:02:18,839 –> 00:02:25,600 And we saw that if we would grow in hope we must think often about the love of God, we 29 00:02:25,600 –> 00:02:34,779 must stop counting the good that we have done, and we must receive what God gives by faith. 30 00:02:34,779 –> 00:02:40,520 Now today I want us to see the outcome of growing in hope. 31 00:02:41,279 –> 00:02:46,899 If we pursue these strategies, there are some wonderful things that will happen in our lives 32 00:02:46,899 –> 00:02:49,179 as we grow in hope. 33 00:02:49,179 –> 00:02:56,199 And I’ve called this Hope-Surprising Outcomes, because really the range of what comes out 34 00:02:56,199 –> 00:03:01,240 of growing in hope is quite spectacular. 35 00:03:01,240 –> 00:03:07,619 We’re going to look today at four distinct blessings that we will enjoy in increasing 36 00:03:07,619 –> 00:03:12,080 measure as we grow in hope. 37 00:03:12,080 –> 00:03:16,940 Grow in hope and you will be a better witness. 38 00:03:16,940 –> 00:03:22,259 Grow in hope and you will lead a purer life. 39 00:03:22,259 –> 00:03:26,899 Grow in hope and you will enjoy a deeper comfort. 40 00:03:26,899 –> 00:03:31,100 Grow in hope and you will experience greater strength. 41 00:03:31,100 –> 00:03:37,320 Now we’re going to look at these four things from four distinct passages of Scripture here, 42 00:03:37,320 –> 00:03:42,720 and I want us to begin in 1st Peter, Chapter 3 and verse 15. 43 00:03:42,720 –> 00:03:46,000 Grow in hope and you will be a better witness. 44 00:03:46,000 –> 00:03:47,960 Look at what Peter says. 45 00:03:47,960 –> 00:04:00,160 Always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope 46 00:04:00,160 –> 00:04:02,039 that is in you. 47 00:04:02,039 –> 00:04:07,220 Yet do this with gentleness and respect. 48 00:04:08,220 –> 00:04:14,460 Now hope is only surprising when it looks like you’re losing. 49 00:04:14,460 –> 00:04:20,940 I mean if your team is five goals down with seven minutes to play, well the fans are more 50 00:04:20,940 –> 00:04:27,399 likely to be heading for the exits than to be singing songs of hope and of joy. 51 00:04:27,399 –> 00:04:34,179 No one would be surprised if a person was full of hope on the day that they began a 52 00:04:34,179 –> 00:04:35,880 new job. 53 00:04:36,299 –> 00:04:40,119 But if a person was full of hope on the day that their company let them go, well that 54 00:04:40,119 –> 00:04:43,739 would be quite surprising. 55 00:04:43,739 –> 00:04:50,299 No one would be surprised if a person is full of hope if the doctor tells them that they 56 00:04:50,299 –> 00:04:56,679 are going to make a full recovery from the particular illness that they have suffered. 57 00:04:56,679 –> 00:05:05,040 But what would be very surprising would be a person who was full of hope when the doctor 58 00:05:05,040 –> 00:05:11,079 told them that there was no more treatment that he or she could give. 59 00:05:11,079 –> 00:05:18,720 Now, I want you to think about the position of these early believers, and how striking 60 00:05:18,720 –> 00:05:27,220 and even surprising it is that they should have been marked by this marvelous hope. 61 00:05:27,220 –> 00:05:33,839 These early believers lived in times much worse than ours. 62 00:05:33,839 –> 00:05:38,660 Some of them suffered the confiscation of their property. 63 00:05:38,660 –> 00:05:45,920 Some would be thrown to lions for the amusement of vast crowds in great arenas. 64 00:05:45,920 –> 00:05:52,839 They lived in a sick culture, in terminal decline. 65 00:05:52,839 –> 00:06:00,399 And yet, what they were known for was their irrepressible hope. 66 00:06:00,399 –> 00:06:04,679 Other people simply could not understand it. 67 00:06:04,679 –> 00:06:08,519 Nothing in the world is going your way. 68 00:06:08,519 –> 00:06:14,700 All the forces of business and education and entertainment and politics, they’re all against you. 69 00:06:14,700 –> 00:06:19,660 You’re a tiny, oppressed minority, and yet you are full of hope. 70 00:06:19,660 –> 00:06:21,779 How come? 71 00:06:21,779 –> 00:06:27,200 How can you be so full of hope in a world like this? 72 00:06:27,200 –> 00:06:32,839 And Peter says, you’d better be ready to give an answer. 73 00:06:32,839 –> 00:06:40,980 You’d better be ready to explain that your hope is in God and it’s through Christ and 74 00:06:40,980 –> 00:06:45,100 it’s by grace. 75 00:06:45,100 –> 00:06:49,200 Hope was the distinctive mark of the early Christians. 76 00:06:49,200 –> 00:06:52,119 It was actually the first thing that people saw. 77 00:06:52,119 –> 00:06:56,799 It was very striking because it was so surprising. 78 00:06:56,799 –> 00:07:05,579 There was a quiet confidence about them, a strength, a resilience, a sense of looking 79 00:07:05,579 –> 00:07:07,640 forward. 80 00:07:07,640 –> 00:07:11,899 When people saw it, they didn’t know what to make of it. 81 00:07:11,899 –> 00:07:14,720 Couldn’t understand it. 82 00:07:14,720 –> 00:07:21,880 And because, hope is so clearly such a good and desirable thing, people’s interest was 83 00:07:21,880 –> 00:07:23,700 aroused. 84 00:07:24,179 –> 00:07:28,980 wanted to know, what is it that makes these people so hopeful? 85 00:07:28,980 –> 00:07:32,940 That’s the point of this verse. 86 00:07:32,940 –> 00:07:40,019 Now, it seems to me that growing in hope therefore is vital for our Christian witness. 87 00:07:40,019 –> 00:07:45,899 For us to shine like lights in the world, we must grow in hope. 88 00:07:45,899 –> 00:07:53,339 We should never assume that people will have an immediate interest in our church, or doctrine, 89 00:07:53,380 –> 00:07:56,100 or our way of life. 90 00:07:56,100 –> 00:07:59,559 Interest has to be stimulated. 91 00:07:59,559 –> 00:08:09,799 And the best way to arouse interest is the obvious attraction of living hope. 92 00:08:09,799 –> 00:08:15,739 And this is why we must have our minds fixed on the glorious future that lies ahead of 93 00:08:15,739 –> 00:08:21,940 every Christian believer—CHRIST IN YOU, the HOPE OF GLORY. 94 00:08:21,980 –> 00:08:30,839 If we lose sight of our glorious future, then, we would lose our distinctive mark of hope. 95 00:08:30,859 –> 00:08:38,340 We would become as miserable and as embattled as everyone else seems to be, 96 00:08:38,340 –> 00:08:44,000 and we would no longer have an effective witness that is distinctively different 97 00:08:44,020 –> 00:08:46,679 that points to our Lord Jesus Christ. 98 00:08:47,080 –> 00:08:54,280 Now that is why growing in faith, and hope and love, is at the centre of the 99 00:08:54,280 –> 00:09:02,940 Mission of our Church. Growth in faith, hope and love, and we will be shining 100 00:09:02,960 –> 00:09:11,200 lights in this dark world. We’ll not be habitually angry. We’ll not be afraid. 101 00:09:11,500 –> 00:09:19,619 We’ll show courtesy and respect, as Peter puts it here, even to people who hate 102 00:09:19,640 –> 00:09:28,099 what we stand for. And people who do not believe will wonder… 103 00:09:28,099 –> 00:09:39,539 Why are you like this? Where does it come from? What is the reason for the hope 104 00:09:40,419 –> 00:09:46,539 That’s the point of this verse. So I want us to see and to take this in that 105 00:09:46,539 –> 00:09:52,820 growing in hope is vital to our witness to the world. That is why we need to 106 00:09:52,820 –> 00:09:57,580 build these ten strategies that we’ve been learning over these last weeks into 107 00:09:57,580 –> 00:10:02,859 our lives. We must speak honestly to God. We must challenge ourselves, especially 108 00:10:02,859 –> 00:10:07,900 in relation to our own darkest thoughts. We must affirm what we know to be true. 109 00:10:08,239 –> 00:10:14,140 We must wait expectantly on God. We must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 110 00:10:14,140 –> 00:10:19,580 We must enjoy what he has given to us now. We must anticipate what he has yet 111 00:10:19,580 –> 00:10:26,299 promised. We must think often about the love of God. We must stop counting the 112 00:10:26,299 –> 00:10:32,380 good we have done, and we must receive what God gives by faith. 113 00:10:33,260 –> 00:10:43,500 Now, if we grow in hope, we will shine like light in the world. And you know, 114 00:10:43,500 –> 00:10:52,619 the darker this world becomes, the brighter the light of hope will shine. 115 00:10:52,619 –> 00:11:00,940 That’s the first thing. Grow in hope, and you will be a better witness. 116 00:11:01,580 –> 00:11:09,179 And here’s the second. Grow in hope, and you will live a purer life. 117 00:11:10,700 –> 00:11:15,419 Now, this is a wonderful outcome, and I want us to spend some time on it today. 118 00:11:16,539 –> 00:11:19,099 1 John chapter 3, verses 2 and 3. 119 00:11:20,380 –> 00:11:30,059 Beloved, we are God’s children now. And what we will be has not yet appeared. 120 00:11:31,500 –> 00:11:41,659 But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 121 00:11:43,419 –> 00:11:52,380 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself, as he, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ, 122 00:11:53,340 –> 00:12:01,020 is pure. Now, these are surely among the most remarkable words that have ever been written. 123 00:12:02,460 –> 00:12:13,900 They describe our glorious hope. They tell us how our glorious future actually changes 124 00:12:13,900 –> 00:12:19,020 the way that we live right now. Now, I want you to notice that John 125 00:12:19,020 –> 00:12:29,099 makes five distinct and very wonderful affirmations. First, we are God’s children 126 00:12:29,979 –> 00:12:41,500 now. You become a child by birth not by behavior. And when you are born again of the Spirit of God, 127 00:12:42,219 –> 00:12:46,940 you are as much a child of God as you will ever be. You don’t become more a child of 128 00:12:47,340 –> 00:12:52,859 God as you progress in the Christian life. You are born into this when you are born again 129 00:12:52,859 –> 00:13:02,380 of the Spirit of God. That means that you are as much a child of God on your worst day 130 00:13:03,580 –> 00:13:11,659 as you are on your best day. It means that you are as much a child of God now as you will be 131 00:13:11,659 –> 00:13:16,780 when you’re surrounded by His glory in His immediate presence in heaven. 132 00:13:19,739 –> 00:13:30,219 John makes this very clear in his gospel. To those who receive Him, to those who believe in Him, 133 00:13:31,979 –> 00:13:39,500 they have the right to be called children of God because they are born of God. 134 00:13:41,900 –> 00:13:51,260 And to those who believe John says here, we are God’s children now. 135 00:13:53,179 –> 00:13:59,419 And then he says this, what we will be has not yet appeared. 136 00:14:01,099 –> 00:14:06,380 We’re God’s children, but right now it doesn’t look like it. 137 00:14:06,380 –> 00:14:09,979 It certainly doesn’t look like it when we suffer. 138 00:14:10,859 –> 00:14:16,059 You know, you visit a believer in hospital, you sit with a believer who has a broken heart, 139 00:14:16,859 –> 00:14:21,659 and the question that arises is well, if we’re really God’s children, 140 00:14:21,659 –> 00:14:24,780 is God not able to do something better for us than this? 141 00:14:26,940 –> 00:14:30,619 Yes, says John, we’re God’s children. 142 00:14:31,659 –> 00:14:33,580 We are God’s children now, but it doesn’t 143 00:14:33,659 –> 00:14:37,179 look like it when we suffer, certainly doesn’t look like it when we die. 144 00:14:38,700 –> 00:14:42,700 We pass through the same dark valley as anyone else, 145 00:14:43,900 –> 00:14:50,140 strength seeps away from the body until life itself is gone. 146 00:14:51,659 –> 00:14:56,140 And so sometimes we find ourselves struggling with some very profound questions, why 147 00:14:56,700 –> 00:15:02,140 does God sometimes seem to prosper his enemies more than he blesses his friends? 148 00:15:03,580 –> 00:15:08,539 If I’m really a child of God, why does he allow this? 149 00:15:10,460 –> 00:15:16,140 Now, you see there is an incongruity here, there is an apparent contradiction. 150 00:15:16,140 –> 00:15:20,859 We are God’s children now, but what we will be has not yet appeared. 151 00:15:22,059 –> 00:15:26,219 How are you going to resolve this contradiction? 152 00:15:26,219 –> 00:15:31,179 Well, you know when you face the incongruity 153 00:15:32,219 –> 00:15:34,940 there are two paths that lie before you 154 00:15:35,900 –> 00:15:42,380 they both go in very different directions and therefore lead to very very different places 155 00:15:43,580 –> 00:15:47,099 one path is simply to doubt who you are 156 00:15:48,140 –> 00:15:52,940 Well, perhaps I’m not a child of God after all 157 00:15:53,820 –> 00:16:00,520 And of course that is the path of unbelief and it leads into great darkness 158 00:16:02,380 –> 00:16:06,739 What John does for us here is he points to a better path 159 00:16:08,119 –> 00:16:10,760 instead of doubting who you are 160 00:16:12,140 –> 00:16:14,140 anticipate what you will be 161 00:16:15,419 –> 00:16:20,299 That’s what he says here what we will be has not yet appeared 162 00:16:20,619 –> 00:16:21,679 Not appeared 163 00:16:21,679 –> 00:16:29,559 When you look at the suffering of your own life, or the suffering that is in the life of another Christian believer 164 00:16:30,640 –> 00:16:32,940 Remember that you are not seeing the full picture 165 00:16:34,700 –> 00:16:38,440 Well you say what is the full picture well John tells us 166 00:16:39,640 –> 00:16:41,960 when he appears 167 00:16:43,440 –> 00:16:45,440 Then we shall be like him 168 00:16:46,200 –> 00:16:48,200 when he appears 169 00:16:48,859 –> 00:16:52,739 Our risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ 170 00:16:53,900 –> 00:16:58,359 will return in power and in glory he will appear and 171 00:16:59,359 –> 00:17:01,359 when he appears 172 00:17:01,820 –> 00:17:04,599 We will be like him 173 00:17:07,160 –> 00:17:12,880 Now there are some ways in which we are like the Lord Jesus Christ already 174 00:17:12,880 –> 00:17:14,219 Already 175 00:17:14,219 –> 00:17:17,439 Remember that the Lord Jesus Christ became like us 176 00:17:18,579 –> 00:17:23,500 From all eternity he shared the life and glory of God the Father 177 00:17:23,859 –> 00:17:29,459 He has always been at the Father’s side. But when he came into the world 178 00:17:30,640 –> 00:17:32,640 He had to walk by faith 179 00:17:33,400 –> 00:17:35,400 not by sight 180 00:17:35,599 –> 00:17:37,599 He needed to pray 181 00:17:37,920 –> 00:17:39,920 He knew what it was to be hungry 182 00:17:40,599 –> 00:17:42,199 to weep 183 00:17:42,239 –> 00:17:44,000 to fall asleep 184 00:17:44,000 –> 00:17:45,239 exhausted 185 00:17:45,239 –> 00:17:49,880 He knew what it was to wrestle with the cost of commitment to God’s own will 186 00:17:50,920 –> 00:17:53,439 The Lord Jesus Christ became like us 187 00:17:55,040 –> 00:17:59,560 He had to endure the taunts of unbelieving siblings 188 00:18:01,280 –> 00:18:03,280 He suffered physical pain 189 00:18:04,640 –> 00:18:06,640 Mental anguish 190 00:18:07,020 –> 00:18:11,739 He was betrayed by his friends, he was falsely accused by his enemies 191 00:18:12,959 –> 00:18:14,959 He carried a cross 192 00:18:15,619 –> 00:18:20,660 And He went right into the valley of the shadow of death 193 00:18:23,300 –> 00:18:29,800 The Lord Jesus Christ became like us in the pain and suffering of his incarnation 194 00:18:31,339 –> 00:18:36,959 so that we might become like him in the glory of his resurrection and 195 00:18:37,859 –> 00:18:39,859 that’s our living hope and 196 00:18:40,280 –> 00:18:46,479 the Apostle Paul speaks of it in second Corinthians in chapter 4 where he speaks about how 197 00:18:47,280 –> 00:18:51,339 as part of our Christian experience we find ourselves afflicted 198 00:18:52,339 –> 00:18:54,339 and perplexed and 199 00:18:54,599 –> 00:18:56,140 persecuted and 200 00:18:56,140 –> 00:18:58,140 struck down 201 00:18:58,560 –> 00:19:03,959 So then the question is well then why are we not crushed? Why are we not driven to despair? 202 00:19:04,400 –> 00:19:08,859 Why are we not destroyed and the answer he gives is this we know 203 00:19:09,859 –> 00:19:16,420 That he who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and bring us 204 00:19:16,699 –> 00:19:19,260 Into his presence we have this Living Hope 205 00:19:20,939 –> 00:19:23,099 And that is why we press forward 206 00:19:23,979 –> 00:19:28,060 so you see when you feel the tension when you feel the 207 00:19:28,660 –> 00:19:35,859 Contradiction of being a child of God on the one hand and then the pain and suffering of life in this world on the other 208 00:19:35,859 –> 00:19:36,660 hand 209 00:19:36,660 –> 00:19:39,640 Don’t resolve it by denying who you are 210 00:19:41,459 –> 00:19:45,839 Resolve it by anticipating what you will be 211 00:19:46,979 –> 00:19:49,880 and your faith will stand as 212 00:19:50,520 –> 00:19:57,319 You look to the glorious return of the Lord. Jesus Christ and find hope in what you will be 213 00:19:58,479 –> 00:20:04,560 When he appears we shall be like him 214 00:20:07,640 –> 00:20:09,640 Now 215 00:20:10,400 –> 00:20:12,540 How do we know that this is so? 216 00:20:14,880 –> 00:20:16,680 Well John tells us 217 00:20:16,680 –> 00:20:19,479 We shall be like him because 218 00:20:21,119 –> 00:20:25,640 We shall see him as he is 219 00:20:28,160 –> 00:20:31,160 Friends, this is an amazing statement 220 00:20:33,599 –> 00:20:35,599 God said to Moses 221 00:20:36,280 –> 00:20:38,239 No one 222 00:20:38,239 –> 00:20:40,819 Can see the Lord and live 223 00:20:41,560 –> 00:20:43,199 no one 224 00:20:43,199 –> 00:20:44,520 Why? 225 00:20:44,520 –> 00:20:49,479 Well because as our Lord Jesus made clear only the pure in heart 226 00:20:50,280 –> 00:20:52,280 can see God 227 00:20:52,520 –> 00:20:53,599 if 228 00:20:53,599 –> 00:20:57,359 You were not completely and utterly pure 229 00:20:58,760 –> 00:21:03,699 The immediate presence of God would consume you in just a moment 230 00:21:04,099 –> 00:21:06,099 When 231 00:21:06,459 –> 00:21:12,939 God’s people sinned in the desert after the commandments had been given the first time at Mount Sinai 232 00:21:14,380 –> 00:21:16,380 God said to Moses 233 00:21:16,540 –> 00:21:18,859 that he would send an angel to 234 00:21:19,180 –> 00:21:25,660 Lead the people into the Promised Land, but then God said this I will not go up among you 235 00:21:26,140 –> 00:21:27,660 lest I 236 00:21:27,660 –> 00:21:29,660 consume you and 237 00:21:29,699 –> 00:21:31,699 then God said 238 00:21:31,900 –> 00:21:34,939 if for a single moment, I 239 00:21:35,859 –> 00:21:38,180 Should go up among you. I 240 00:21:39,500 –> 00:21:41,859 would consume you 241 00:21:43,060 –> 00:21:45,060 the presence of 242 00:21:45,180 –> 00:21:47,180 the glory of the 243 00:21:47,979 –> 00:21:49,979 infinitely Holy God 244 00:21:50,780 –> 00:21:53,520 His immediate presence with sinners 245 00:21:54,619 –> 00:22:00,219 Would consume us in a moment and so God says well, I can’t go with you 246 00:22:01,180 –> 00:22:05,000 Because no one can see the Lord and live 247 00:22:06,819 –> 00:22:11,319 That is why the prophet Malachi at the end of the Old Testament says 248 00:22:12,099 –> 00:22:16,500 who can endure the day of His coming and 249 00:22:17,300 –> 00:22:19,880 Who can stand when he appears? 250 00:22:21,140 –> 00:22:24,800 For he is like a Refiner’s fire 251 00:22:26,239 –> 00:22:28,500 And yet right here 252 00:22:29,500 –> 00:22:32,300 John tells us Christian believers 253 00:22:34,000 –> 00:22:37,280 That we shall see God 254 00:22:39,280 –> 00:22:41,280 Now, do you see what that means? 255 00:22:43,199 –> 00:22:45,300 Only the pure in heart 256 00:22:46,520 –> 00:22:48,520 can ever see God 257 00:22:49,500 –> 00:22:51,579 so if you were to see God then 258 00:22:52,400 –> 00:22:57,400 Every vestige of sin would need to be removed from you completely 259 00:22:57,400 –> 00:22:59,719 And John says that’s how it’s going to be 260 00:23:01,119 –> 00:23:04,479 We shall see him as he is 261 00:23:07,599 –> 00:23:12,160 Now notice the direction of the argument this is very important 262 00:23:13,020 –> 00:23:19,640 The fact that we will see him is the proof that we will be like him 263 00:23:20,699 –> 00:23:22,560 because only 264 00:23:22,560 –> 00:23:24,579 Spirit’s made perfect only 265 00:23:24,920 –> 00:23:26,000 Only 266 00:23:26,000 –> 00:23:27,880 glorious glorious 267 00:23:27,880 –> 00:23:34,060 resurrected bodies perfect spirits in glorious bodies could ever hope to see God and 268 00:23:34,479 –> 00:23:38,079 What John is saying is see him we will 269 00:23:39,199 –> 00:23:43,599 And that wonderful truth that you will see him 270 00:23:44,520 –> 00:23:47,800 Tells you that you will indeed be like him 271 00:23:48,439 –> 00:23:52,060 So the question that is dealing with is, how do we know? 272 00:23:52,060 –> 00:23:54,859 Know that we will be like him? 273 00:23:54,859 –> 00:24:01,520 And the answer that he gives is we know that we will be like him because we will see him as he is 274 00:24:04,180 –> 00:24:07,000 So just to be clear, he is not saying 275 00:24:07,780 –> 00:24:11,079 You had better become like him if you’re going to have any. Hope of seeing him 276 00:24:12,339 –> 00:24:14,339 That would be to leave 277 00:24:14,459 –> 00:24:20,359 The impossible task on us of trying to earn our own final salvation 278 00:24:20,359 –> 00:24:23,800 Have I lived a life that is pure enough to get me into heaven? 279 00:24:23,800 –> 00:24:27,800 That is not what he is saying. The argument is entirely the other way around 280 00:24:29,060 –> 00:24:36,219 He’s saying to those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is your glorious. Hope you will see him 281 00:24:37,079 –> 00:24:39,079 And when you see him 282 00:24:39,699 –> 00:24:41,359 you will be 283 00:24:41,359 –> 00:24:45,239 completely free from sin and from all of its ugly 284 00:24:45,959 –> 00:24:48,000 Effects you will be holy 285 00:24:49,000 –> 00:24:51,000 Your heart will be 286 00:24:51,000 –> 00:24:53,000 completely pure 287 00:24:53,400 –> 00:25:01,099 You will love God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength and you will love your neighbor as 288 00:25:01,500 –> 00:25:05,140 Yourself, I shall behold his face. I 289 00:25:06,280 –> 00:25:08,560 shall his power adore and 290 00:25:09,579 –> 00:25:11,880 Sing the wonders of his grace 291 00:25:13,540 –> 00:25:15,540 Forever more 292 00:25:15,660 –> 00:25:17,660 Now that is your glorious future 293 00:25:18,219 –> 00:25:21,459 in Christ that is your hope and 294 00:25:22,319 –> 00:25:24,500 when that hope burns 295 00:25:25,280 –> 00:25:28,300 brightly in you it will have a 296 00:25:28,920 –> 00:25:31,380 transforming effect on your life 297 00:25:32,680 –> 00:25:34,680 Look at what John says 298 00:25:35,199 –> 00:25:36,680 everyone 299 00:25:36,680 –> 00:25:39,119 Who thus hopes in him? 300 00:25:39,839 –> 00:25:44,640 As he the Lord Jesus Christ is 301 00:25:45,800 –> 00:25:47,400 pure 302 00:25:47,400 –> 00:25:50,939 Now notice here that John is making a statement of fact 303 00:25:52,239 –> 00:25:59,020 He doesn’t say if you have this hope, well, you ought to purify yourself. What he says is you will 304 00:26:00,020 –> 00:26:02,020 you will 305 00:26:02,119 –> 00:26:06,380 See we all move in the direction of the thing. We really hope for 306 00:26:07,199 –> 00:26:10,839 What we hope for shapes, what we do 307 00:26:11,780 –> 00:26:15,839 A man hopes to marry a woman he loves 308 00:26:16,579 –> 00:26:19,800 His hope is to spend his whole life with her 309 00:26:20,780 –> 00:26:23,160 So, how does that hope shape his behavior? 310 00:26:23,160 –> 00:26:25,160 Well, he moves in the direction of his hope 311 00:26:25,160 –> 00:26:28,680 He spends as much time with her as he possibly can 312 00:26:29,160 –> 00:26:34,300 Hope drives his behavior and if he wasn’t interested in spending time with her 313 00:26:34,300 –> 00:26:37,500 Well, no one would really believe that he was actually… 314 00:26:37,500 –> 00:26:41,079 Had his heart set on spending his life with her 315 00:26:41,079 –> 00:26:43,079 Clearly, his heart’s somewhere else 316 00:26:45,920 –> 00:26:50,260 Now, our great hope is to be with Christ 317 00:26:50,680 –> 00:26:52,680 And it’s to be like Christ 318 00:26:53,439 –> 00:26:55,439 And hope drives behavior 319 00:26:56,839 –> 00:26:59,500 And this hope will shape what we do 320 00:26:59,500 –> 00:27:03,599 Everyone who has this hope in him 321 00:27:05,079 –> 00:27:07,579 Purifies himself 322 00:27:08,400 –> 00:27:10,400 The brighter your hope 323 00:27:12,540 –> 00:27:15,219 Of being like Jesus in glory 324 00:27:16,660 –> 00:27:20,520 The purer your life will become right now 325 00:27:22,199 –> 00:27:25,459 You’ll pursue what you hope for 326 00:27:27,060 –> 00:27:28,300 Grow in hope 327 00:27:29,459 –> 00:27:32,599 And you will live a purer life 328 00:27:33,339 –> 00:27:35,260 So we’ve seen two things 329 00:27:35,560 –> 00:27:37,640 Grow in hope and you’ll be a better witness 330 00:27:38,339 –> 00:27:41,979 Grow in hope and you will lead a purer life 331 00:27:43,020 –> 00:27:45,939 Here’s a third marvelous and glorious thing 332 00:27:47,040 –> 00:27:48,420 Grow in hope 333 00:27:48,839 –> 00:27:52,900 and you will experience deeper comfort 334 00:27:53,880 –> 00:27:57,359 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 13 and 14 335 00:27:58,540 –> 00:28:01,760 We do not want you to be uninformed brothers 336 00:28:01,780 –> 00:28:04,500 brothers, about those who are asleep 337 00:28:05,680 –> 00:28:10,380 that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope 338 00:28:11,500 –> 00:28:14,579 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again 339 00:28:14,939 –> 00:28:18,420 even so, through Jesus, God will bring 340 00:28:18,459 –> 00:28:21,959 with him those who have fallen 341 00:28:21,959 –> 00:28:23,680 asleep 342 00:28:24,579 –> 00:28:27,040 Now the Apostle Paul is not suggesting 343 00:28:27,099 –> 00:28:29,959 here that Christians don’t grieve 344 00:28:30,500 –> 00:28:33,500 The more a person loves 345 00:28:34,040 –> 00:28:37,239 the deeper they will grieve the loss of a loved one 346 00:28:38,760 –> 00:28:41,619 Paul is not saying that Christians don’t grieve 347 00:28:42,060 –> 00:28:45,760 What he is saying is that our grief 348 00:28:45,760 –> 00:28:48,739 is different from the world’s grief 349 00:28:48,739 –> 00:28:51,020 because it is shot through 350 00:28:51,020 –> 00:28:52,699 with living hope 351 00:28:53,599 –> 00:28:56,599 and Paul then describes 352 00:28:57,319 –> 00:29:00,180 the glorious day in which 353 00:29:00,180 –> 00:29:03,319 every single one of us as believers will 354 00:29:03,319 –> 00:29:06,520 participate. No believer will miss out on this 355 00:29:06,520 –> 00:29:09,300 one way or another we will all share 356 00:29:09,300 –> 00:29:12,140 in the joy of this glorious 357 00:29:12,140 –> 00:29:13,459 day 358 00:29:14,140 –> 00:29:16,199 and in the verses that follow 359 00:29:16,500 –> 00:29:19,739 the apostle makes five glorious affirmations 360 00:29:20,640 –> 00:29:21,680 First 361 00:29:21,979 –> 00:29:24,280 the Lord himself 362 00:29:24,939 –> 00:29:27,099 will descend from heaven 363 00:29:27,959 –> 00:29:29,900 Jesus Christ 364 00:29:30,300 –> 00:29:31,979 is coming again 365 00:29:33,020 –> 00:29:34,219 Second 366 00:29:34,619 –> 00:29:37,420 God will bring with him those who 367 00:29:37,420 –> 00:29:38,719 have fallen asleep 368 00:29:39,959 –> 00:29:43,000 Now, some of you will be thinking right now of the 369 00:29:43,000 –> 00:29:45,760 names and faces of dear loved ones who have 370 00:29:45,760 –> 00:29:47,680 died and you miss them 371 00:29:48,880 –> 00:29:51,699 but you are going to see them again 372 00:29:52,540 –> 00:29:55,339 They are with Jesus 373 00:29:56,219 –> 00:29:58,979 And he will bring them with him 374 00:29:59,459 –> 00:30:01,099 when he comes 375 00:30:02,400 –> 00:30:05,680 Then the apostle makes a third affirmation 376 00:30:06,020 –> 00:30:08,160 The dead in Christ 377 00:30:08,739 –> 00:30:10,380 will rise first 378 00:30:12,020 –> 00:30:14,020 The souls of believers 379 00:30:14,280 –> 00:30:16,339 are with the Lord Jesus 380 00:30:16,939 –> 00:30:18,979 already perfect 381 00:30:18,979 –> 00:30:20,800 in his presence 382 00:30:21,300 –> 00:30:25,219 These souls are away from the body 383 00:30:25,319 –> 00:30:28,319 and they are at home with the Lord 384 00:30:29,219 –> 00:30:31,719 But when the Lord Jesus Christ comes again 385 00:30:32,219 –> 00:30:35,119 the souls of believers who have died 386 00:30:35,119 –> 00:30:37,119 and are already with Jesus 387 00:30:37,119 –> 00:30:40,619 will be clothed with resurrected bodies 388 00:30:40,719 –> 00:30:44,619 bodies adapted for eternal life 389 00:30:45,540 –> 00:30:47,839 This is stated very beautifully, 390 00:30:47,839 –> 00:30:49,839 clearly and wonderfully 391 00:30:49,839 –> 00:30:51,839 in the Shorter Catechism 392 00:30:51,839 –> 00:30:56,839 It’s a document that was written in 1674 393 00:30:56,839 –> 00:30:59,640 by believers who wanted to frame 394 00:30:59,640 –> 00:31:01,939 in as clear a way as possible 395 00:31:01,939 –> 00:31:04,239 the heart of the Christian faith 396 00:31:04,239 –> 00:31:06,739 and they did it. A catechism does this 397 00:31:06,739 –> 00:31:09,140 in the form of questions and answers 398 00:31:09,140 –> 00:31:11,839 it was a kind of tool for teaching 399 00:31:11,839 –> 00:31:13,739 the Christian faith 400 00:31:14,459 –> 00:31:16,459 so there’s this question 401 00:31:16,459 –> 00:31:20,060 what benefits do believers receive 402 00:31:20,060 –> 00:31:22,560 from Christ at death? 403 00:31:22,560 –> 00:31:24,560 The answer is this 404 00:31:24,560 –> 00:31:27,160 The souls of believers 405 00:31:27,160 –> 00:31:30,859 are at their death made perfect 406 00:31:30,859 –> 00:31:32,859 in Holiness 407 00:31:32,859 –> 00:31:35,260 and do immediately 408 00:31:35,260 –> 00:31:38,260 pass into glory 409 00:31:38,260 –> 00:31:40,459 and their bodies 410 00:31:40,459 –> 00:31:42,660 still being united 411 00:31:42,660 –> 00:31:46,479 to Christ do rest in their graves 412 00:31:46,479 –> 00:31:50,160 till the resurrection 413 00:31:50,160 –> 00:31:53,880 Christ will bring with Him the souls 414 00:31:53,880 –> 00:31:55,880 of believers who have died 415 00:31:55,880 –> 00:31:57,880 and they will be clothed 416 00:31:57,880 –> 00:32:01,079 with resurrected bodies 417 00:32:01,579 –> 00:32:03,979 Then the Apostle says 418 00:32:03,979 –> 00:32:05,979 we 419 00:32:05,979 –> 00:32:07,979 who are alive 420 00:32:07,979 –> 00:32:09,479 who are left 421 00:32:09,479 –> 00:32:11,880 will be caught up together 422 00:32:11,939 –> 00:32:14,319 with them in the clouds 423 00:32:14,599 –> 00:32:17,599 to meet the Lord in the air 424 00:32:18,239 –> 00:32:19,239 Now you 425 00:32:19,239 –> 00:32:21,239 you read a statement like that 426 00:32:21,239 –> 00:32:23,239 and you say now how can this possibly 427 00:32:23,239 –> 00:32:26,479 be, how could these bodies 428 00:32:26,479 –> 00:32:29,540 rise to meet the Lord in the air 429 00:32:29,540 –> 00:32:31,540 I mean, even Michael Jordan 430 00:32:31,540 –> 00:32:34,540 could only jump to a staggering height 431 00:32:34,540 –> 00:32:37,040 of around four feet 432 00:32:37,040 –> 00:32:40,040 Well the point of course is that 433 00:32:40,040 –> 00:32:43,160 on this glorious day we will be given 434 00:32:43,160 –> 00:32:45,160 resurrected bodies 435 00:32:45,160 –> 00:32:47,339 and we will be given resurrected bodies 436 00:32:47,339 –> 00:32:49,040 at the same time 437 00:32:49,040 –> 00:32:52,040 as our departed loved ones 438 00:32:52,040 –> 00:32:54,040 This is what the Apostle Paul says 439 00:32:54,040 –> 00:32:56,040 in 1st Corinthians 440 00:32:56,040 –> 00:32:57,339 in chapter 15 441 00:32:57,339 –> 00:32:59,040 We shall not all sleep 442 00:32:59,040 –> 00:33:02,040 but we shall all be changed 443 00:33:02,040 –> 00:33:03,040 in a moment 444 00:33:03,040 –> 00:33:06,040 in the twinkling of an eye 445 00:33:06,040 –> 00:33:07,540 at the last trumpet 446 00:33:07,540 –> 00:33:10,040 the trumpet will sound 447 00:33:10,040 –> 00:33:13,040 and the dead will be raised in perishable 448 00:33:13,040 –> 00:33:17,040 and we shall be changed 449 00:33:18,040 –> 00:33:20,040 And then he says 450 00:33:20,040 –> 00:33:25,040 And so we will always be 451 00:33:25,040 –> 00:33:27,040 with the Lord 452 00:33:27,040 –> 00:33:29,040 So 453 00:33:29,040 –> 00:33:32,040 Encourage each other 454 00:33:32,040 –> 00:33:35,040 Comfort each other 455 00:33:35,040 –> 00:33:39,040 with these words 456 00:33:39,040 –> 00:33:42,040 Take this in, brother, sister 457 00:33:42,040 –> 00:33:44,040 Believe it 458 00:33:44,040 –> 00:33:46,040 Grow in hope 459 00:33:46,040 –> 00:33:49,040 and you will experience 460 00:33:49,040 –> 00:33:52,040 a deeper comfort 461 00:33:52,040 –> 00:33:55,040 So, we’ve seen three things 462 00:33:55,040 –> 00:33:57,040 Grow in hope 463 00:33:57,040 –> 00:33:59,040 and you’ll be a better witness 464 00:33:59,040 –> 00:34:01,040 Grow in hope 465 00:34:01,040 –> 00:34:03,040 and you’re going to lead a purer life 466 00:34:03,040 –> 00:34:05,040 Grow in hope 467 00:34:05,040 –> 00:34:07,040 and you will experience a deeper comfort 468 00:34:07,040 –> 00:34:09,040 And very briefly 469 00:34:09,040 –> 00:34:10,040 and lastly 470 00:34:10,040 –> 00:34:11,040 Grow in hope 471 00:34:11,040 –> 00:34:13,040 and you will enjoy 472 00:34:13,040 –> 00:34:15,040 greater strength 473 00:34:15,040 –> 00:34:17,040 Listen to this 474 00:34:17,040 –> 00:34:19,040 from 1st Timothy chapter 4 475 00:34:19,040 –> 00:34:21,040 verse 10 476 00:34:21,040 –> 00:34:23,040 We toil and 477 00:34:23,040 –> 00:34:25,040 strive 478 00:34:25,040 –> 00:34:27,040 because 479 00:34:27,040 –> 00:34:29,040 we have our 480 00:34:29,040 –> 00:34:31,040 hope set 481 00:34:31,040 –> 00:34:33,040 on the living God 482 00:34:33,040 –> 00:34:35,040 Now what a wonderful 483 00:34:35,040 –> 00:34:37,040 verse that is to end with this morning 484 00:34:37,040 –> 00:34:39,040 Is there 485 00:34:39,040 –> 00:34:41,040 anyone here who feels 486 00:34:41,040 –> 00:34:43,040 tired, jaided 487 00:34:43,040 –> 00:34:45,040 exhausted 488 00:34:45,040 –> 00:34:47,040 Anyone 489 00:34:47,040 –> 00:34:49,040 here who feels a need 490 00:34:49,040 –> 00:34:51,040 for greater strength 491 00:34:51,040 –> 00:34:53,040 Maybe you can 492 00:34:53,040 –> 00:34:55,040 identify with a discouraged old man 493 00:34:55,040 –> 00:34:57,040 who said, my back is all 494 00:34:57,040 –> 00:34:59,040 sore, my knees are all bent 495 00:34:59,040 –> 00:35:01,040 My get up and go 496 00:35:01,040 –> 00:35:03,040 has got up and went 497 00:35:05,040 –> 00:35:07,040 Grow in hope 498 00:35:07,040 –> 00:35:09,040 and your strength 499 00:35:09,040 –> 00:35:11,040 will be renewed 500 00:35:11,040 –> 00:35:13,040 You’ll be able to 501 00:35:13,040 –> 00:35:15,040 continue in the battle, you’ll be able 502 00:35:15,040 –> 00:35:17,040 to toil and to strive 503 00:35:17,040 –> 00:35:19,040 in as much 504 00:35:19,040 –> 00:35:21,040 as your hope is set on 505 00:35:21,040 –> 00:35:23,040 the living God 506 00:35:23,040 –> 00:35:25,040 Grow in hope and your strength and energy 507 00:35:25,040 –> 00:35:27,040 will be renewed 508 00:35:27,040 –> 00:35:29,040 Toiling striving takes 509 00:35:29,040 –> 00:35:31,040 energy 510 00:35:31,040 –> 00:35:33,040 Losing hope is the fastest 511 00:35:33,040 –> 00:35:35,040 way to run out of steam 512 00:35:35,040 –> 00:35:37,040 But if your 513 00:35:37,040 –> 00:35:39,040 hope is set on the living God 514 00:35:39,040 –> 00:35:41,040 your strength will be 515 00:35:41,040 –> 00:35:43,040 renewed 516 00:35:43,040 –> 00:35:45,040 Now 517 00:35:45,040 –> 00:35:47,040 every single one of us needs this 518 00:35:47,040 –> 00:35:49,040 Isaiah says 519 00:35:49,040 –> 00:35:51,040 Even youths 520 00:35:51,040 –> 00:35:53,040 faint and 521 00:35:53,040 –> 00:35:55,040 become weary and, young 522 00:35:55,040 –> 00:35:57,040 men, shall fall 523 00:35:57,040 –> 00:35:59,040 exhausted 524 00:35:59,040 –> 00:36:01,040 You know my older son 525 00:36:01,040 –> 00:36:03,040 has competed on a number of occasions 526 00:36:03,040 -> 00:36:05,040 in the Ironman, what an 527 00:36:05,040 –> 00:36:07,040 extraordinary competition that is 528 00:36:07,040 –> 00:36:09,040 The fitness 529 00:36:09,040 –> 00:36:11,040 of athletes 530 00:36:11,040 –> 00:36:13,040 who can swim more than two 531 00:36:13,040 –> 00:36:15,040 miles and then 532 00:36:15,040 –> 00:36:17,040 cycle for more than a hundred miles 533 00:36:17,040 –> 00:36:19,040 and then run twenty-six 534 00:36:19,040 –> 00:36:21,040 miles as a kind of a warm down 535 00:36:21,040 –> 00:36:23,040 I mean it is absolutely astonishing 536 00:36:23,040 –> 00:36:25,040 but you only need to stand 537 00:36:25,040 –> 00:36:27,040 at the finish line and see 538 00:36:27,040 –> 00:36:29,040 the truth of what Isaiah is saying 539 00:36:29,040 –> 00:36:31,040 There are limits 540 00:36:31,040 –> 00:36:33,040 to all human endurance 541 00:36:33,040 –> 00:36:35,040 Even youths shall 542 00:36:35,040 –> 00:36:37,040 faint and be weary and young men 543 00:36:37,040 –> 00:36:39,040 shall fall 544 00:36:39,040 –> 00:36:41,040 exhausted 545 00:36:41,040 –> 00:36:43,040 But then Isaiah says 546 00:36:43,040 –> 00:36:45,040 But those who hope 547 00:36:45,040 –> 00:36:47,040 in the Lord 548 00:36:47,040 –> 00:36:49,040 shall 549 00:36:49,040 –> 00:36:51,040 renew their strength 550 00:36:51,040 –> 00:36:53,040 This is how 551 00:36:53,040 –> 00:36:55,040 you stay the course 552 00:36:55,040 –> 00:36:57,040 when you’re feeling really 553 00:36:57,040 –> 00:36:59,040 tired of the battle 554 00:36:59,040 –> 00:37:01,040 Grow in hope 555 00:37:01,040 –> 00:37:03,040 and your strength 556 00:37:03,040 –> 00:37:05,040 will be renewed 557 00:37:05,040 –> 00:37:07,040 So may we 558 00:37:07,040 –> 00:37:09,040 by God’s grace and mercy 559 00:37:09,040 –> 00:37:11,040 Grow in 560 00:37:11,040 –> 00:37:13,040 hope 561 00:37:13,040 –> 00:37:15,040 As we do 562 00:37:15,040 –> 00:37:17,040 we will be a better witness 563 00:37:17,040 –> 00:37:19,040 As we do we 564 00:37:19,040 –> 00:37:21,040 will lead purer 565 00:37:21,040 –> 00:37:23,040 lives, as we do 566 00:37:23,040 –> 00:37:25,040 we will experience 567 00:37:25,040 –> 00:37:27,040 a deeper comfort 568 00:37:27,040 –> 00:37:29,040 and as we do 569 00:37:29,040 –> 00:37:31,040 we will enjoy greater 570 00:37:31,040 –> 00:37:33,040 strength 571 00:37:33,040 –> 00:37:35,040 Let us pray together 572 00:37:35,040 –> 00:37:37,040 Father we 573 00:37:37,040 –> 00:37:39,040 thank you for the glorious 574 00:37:39,040 –> 00:37:41,040 outcomes 575 00:37:41,040 –> 00:37:43,040 of the living hope 576 00:37:43,040 –> 00:37:45,040 that comes to 577 00:37:45,040 –> 00:37:47,040 us from you 578 00:37:47,040 –> 00:37:49,040 through your son Jesus Christ 579 00:37:49,040 –> 00:37:51,040 and by your marvellous grace 580 00:37:51,040 –> 00:37:53,040 grant that we may 581 00:37:53,040 –> 00:37:55,040 grow in hope 582 00:37:55,040 –> 00:37:57,040 that these wonderful outcomes 583 00:37:57,040 –> 00:37:59,040 may be increasingly 584 00:37:59,040 –> 00:38:01,040 evident in our lives 585 00:38:01,040 –> 00:38:03,040 for these things 586 00:38:03,040 –> 00:38:05,040 we ask and pray 587 00:38:05,040 –> 00:38:07,040 in Jesus name 588 00:38:07,040 –> 00:38:09,040 Amen 589 00:38:09,040 –> 00:38:11,040 You have been listening to a sermon 590 00:38:11,040 –> 00:38:13,040 with Pastor Colin Smith of Open The Bible 591 00:38:13,040 –> 00:38:15,040 to contact us 592 00:38:15,040 –> 00:38:17,040 call us at 593 00:38:17,040 –> 00:38:19,040 1-877-OPEN-365 594 00:38:19,040 –> 00:38:21,040 or visit our website 595 00:38:21,040 –> 00:38:23,040 openthebible.org