Pastor Hill: Thankful for hope

Col 1:23, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

WHAT IS THE GROUND OF OUR HOPE?

OUR HOPE IS FOUNDED UPON GOD’S GRACE: Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men…” It was this very hope that met Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus as he was preparing to arrest Christians, but God and His marvelous grace had something better (Acts 9).

Speaking the Truth in Love by Pastor Tommy Hill

Speaking the Truth in Love
by Pastor Tommy Hill

OUR HOPE IS FOUNDED UPON CHRIT’S MERIT: Who Christ is and what Christ has done. He is our Only Intercessor, Isaiah 59:16, “And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. He is our Only Remedy, John 3:14-15, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

He is our Only Source of Truth, John 6:68, “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. He is our Only Saviour, Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. He is our Only Foundation, 1Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Where is the rest for our soul, if the ground of our hope is to be what we are, what we do, or what we feel? Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Heaven is too precious a thing to be purchased by anything that we can by any possibility do.

OUR HOPE IS IN THE INFALLIBILITY OF SCRIPTURE: If that which is spoken in the Bible is not true, neither is our hope sure, but if God’s Word abides forever, though Heaven and earth should pass away, then we who believe and build on this infallible truth may rejoice and stand fast. Matthew 5:18, “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Peter 1:21, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

WHY SHOULD WE CONTINUE IN THIS HOPE?

THERE’S NOTHING BETTER TO TAKE ITS PLACE: Where are the fields that can tempt away the sheep of Christ? It is the Great Shepherd that leads us by the still waters and to green pastures (Ps 23). Where is the shepherd that can compete with Him? It is the Great Shepherd that gave His life for the sheep. Where is the light that is brighter than this eternal sun? It is the Great Shepherd that gives light that is a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path, (Ps. 119:105).

Oh! Ye, (the world, the flesh and the devil) tempt us with your rattles like children, but having become men, we despise them. What have you to offer of truth, of hope, of comfort, of joy, equal to what we possess? What is there that can give us joy apart from Christ? What did Christ die for, if we can be saved in some other way? Why did he pour out his blood if there is a cheaper method to gain Heaven? Why did he go down into the depths of death, if we can force our way to Heaven by our own endeavors without Him?

No, we will stand fast where we now are, resting only and alone upon Jesus Christ our Savior. We are going along the King’s highway, and the thieves on the side of the road say, “Come off the highway: it is so dull and monotonous. He that travels along the King’s highway is under the King’s protection; but he that wanders into the dark mountains and lonesome woods must take care of himself.

Thank You, Father, for this wonderful hope we have in Christ.

Pastor Tommy Hill is the pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church in Hamlet. He is a Richmond County native. He can be reached at firstfwbchurchhamlet@gmail.com. His column will appear each Friday in The Pee Dee Post.

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