|
DATE |
CHURCH |
SUBJECT |
PREACHER |
BIBLE
REF. |
|
30.03.08 |
All Saints' Church |
Christ Our Hope |
Rev. Tony Higton |
1 Cor. 15:19-26 |
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The word “hopeless” is one of the most negative in the English
language. Sometimes we use it superficially. But hopelessness is
an extremely negative condition. It is not only emotionally
traumatic it has a powerful psychosomatic effect too. People who
seriously give up hope can die from it. One’s heart goes out to
people who lose their beloved partner and feel they can’t live
without them. Sometimes they die shortly afterwards.
But Christianity is all about hope, because:
Christ is our
eternal hope
We’ve all heard comments like: “Oh, he’s so heavenly-minded,
he’s no earthly use.” But I don’t think I’m open to
contradiction when I say that this isn’t the main problem with
Christians. Most of us are too earthbound, too earthly-minded,
and that is not helpful. We are meant to be heavenly-minded,
partly because it is a powerful incentive to live our lives
properly here in this world.
Paul states: “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we
are to be pitied more than all men” (verse 19). Jesus triumphed
over sin, death and Hell. He is the source of our hope- and it
is an eternal hope. To remember this eternal hope regularly will
give us (alongside other help the Christian faith provides):
Firstly, encouragement in perseverance: it really is all
worthwhile, including the hard slog. We are in this world a
relatively short time – then, through faith in Christ - we enter
our eternal reward.
Secondly, comfort in suffering: a time is coming when “He will
wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or
mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has
passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Thirdly, confidence in death: we can say with Paul “Death has
been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and
the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (verses 15:54-57).
Christ is our
incarnate hope
Jesus’ resurrection body shows us what we shall be like.
His body was transformed and eternal. He was not limited by
space or physical barriers. He could appear and disappear at
will and pass through solid objects. As he is, so we shall be.
The incarnation of the Son of God was partly to show us this.
As Paul puts it: “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death
came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also
through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be
made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits;
then, when he comes, those who belong to him.”
Christ is our certain hope
We often use the word “hope” in a very weak way. We say we hope
it won’t rain - thinking it probably will!” But the Bible uses
the word hope in a very strong way referring to future
certainties. Christ’s victory is totally certain. Death is not
the end: Christ has conquered it. For us it will be a simple
transition from life to life, from earth to heaven. It will be,
as the Salvation Army puts it, “promotion to glory.
The risen Jesus will return to earth and, says, Paul: “Then the
end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father
after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he
must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The
last enemy to be destroyed is death” (verses 24-26).
He will destroy all anti-God oppression, all anti-God structure,
all anti-God power and all ageing, decay and death
Then God will exercise the benevolent rule he always intended
for the welfare and happiness of humanity.
So, in the light of this, let’s:
- Persevere in
doing good
- Press on in
adverse circumstances
- Smile at the
prospect of death
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