THAT BLESSED HOPE!

Scripture Reading: Titus 2:11-14

In his letter to the church at Colosse, the apostle Paul speaks of "the hope which is laid up for you in heaven" and "Christ in you, the hope of glory". To the world, the word 'hope' means nothing more than a dream or a desire — something desirable but unreachable or, at the least, doubtful of acquisition. And to many Christians it is a yearning only: "1 hope the Lord will save me in the end and take me to heaven."

But the member of the Church the Body of Christ who rightly divides the Word of truth, knows differently. He knows that the believer's hope is an accomplished possession — a realization. Paul refers to the Body members as the "purchased possession" (Eph. 1:14) and a "peculiar people" (Titus 2:14), which is literally defined 'God's own possession'.

Our hope is a Person, the embodiment of flawless perfection in whom we are positioned and with whom we are identified. In his first epistle to Timothy, Paul's salutation reads, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, WHO IS OUR HOPE". And his prayer for the saints at Ephesus was that they might fully comprehend their treausre. "...That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints..." (Eph. 1:17, 18).

As joint-heirs with Christ we have already come into our inheritance. We need not wish or long for some remote and uncertain bequest from a fickle benefactor; "He HATH RAISED US UP TOGETHER, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). And now we live in anticipation of final fulfilment as we are "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ!"


Posted By – Cecil Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com







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