We explain the parables of God, boasting of His wonderous works so that everyone might set their hope on God. The wisdom of the righteous brings us the gladness of hope. Let us rejoice in the light of Jesus’ righteousness that dwells in us with the sure expectation that when Jesus’ desire is come, it will be a tree of life.
A foundation principle of the gospel is the hope and resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust. This is our blessed hope; that He will show us the path of life. His presence brings us the fullness of joy and at His hand are pleasures forever. It is Christ living in us that makes known to us the riches of the glory of the mystery which has been hid in Christ and is now manifested to His saints.
It is our hope of salvation that gives us the strength to stand in the day. We are called to live righteous and godly lives as we look for that blessed hope when He redeems us from all iniquity. It is hope that gives us the faith to hope for that which we see not but we with patience wait for it. Let those of us who hope in God adorn our inner man of the heart with a meek and quiet spirit which pleases Him. Put on the new man, created in righteousness and holiness in the image of Him and let God renew your mind and your hope.
Psa 78:1-7 RV Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. (2) I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old: (3) Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. (4) We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wondrous works that he hath done. (5) For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: (6) That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and tell them to their children: (7) That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
Pro 10:27-32 RV The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. (28) The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. (29) The way of the LORD is a strong hold to the upright; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. (30) The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not dwell in the land. (31) The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut off. (32) The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
The wisdom of the righteous brings us the gladness of hope.
Pro 13:8-14 RV The ransom of a man’s life is his riches: but the poor heareth no threatening. (9) The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. (10) By pride cometh only contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. (11) Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall have increase. (12) Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. (13) Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. (14) The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Act 23:6 RV But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
Act 24:14-15 RV But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets: (15) having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.
A foundation principle of the gospel is the hope and resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust.
Psa 16:8-11 RV I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (9) Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall dwell in safety. (10) For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. (11) Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; in thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
1Co 15:24-29 RV Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. (25) For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. (26) The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. (27) For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him. (28) And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all. (29) Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?
Col 1:24-29 RV Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church; (25) whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfill the word of God, (26) even the mystery which hath been hid from all ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, (27) to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (28) whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; (29) whereunto I labour also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
1Th 5:1-8 RV But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. (2) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (3) When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape. (4) But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief: (5) for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness; (6) so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. (7) For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (8) But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
It is our hope of salvation that gives us the strength to stand in the day.
Tit 2:11-14 RV For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, (12) instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world; (13) looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.
Heb 11:1 RV Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen.
Rom 8:24-25 RV For by hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth? (25) But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
1Pe 3:3-6 RV Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel; (4) but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (5) For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands: (6) as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.
Eph 4:22-24 RV that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, which waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit; (23) and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, (24) and put on the new man, which after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
image by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash