“Two Great Hopes”
Text: 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NKJV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Introduction: There are many hopes that Jesus has for our lives. But there are “Two Great Hopes” that that he has for everyone.
- He hopes to do something “TO” us.
- He hopes to do something “Through” us.
First, we need to know what HOPE means!
In Hebrews 11 we see the writer saying what faith is,
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The Word Hope here means an overwhelming confidence in something. Not wishful thinking, but knowing absolutely in something, and that something is God.
- TO US: “Regeneration”
Jesus wishes to come into our lives and perform “Regeneration.”
Luke 19:10 (NKJV) … for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
John 3:3 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
If Jesus comes into our hearts at all, He comes in as Savior, and giver of eternal life. When a person experiences conviction of sin and is ready to repent (turn away from) sin, then they are ready to, “in faith” receive Jesus as their personal Savior. —Without this experience, the individual, though he be baptized and add to the church roll, is not a Christian!!!
Salvation is something that, if we allow Him to, God wants to do “TO” us.
- TO US: “Regeneration”
- THROUGH US: “Transformation”
—Many Christians today have received Christ as Savior, but they have yet to make Him Lord!!! God cannot “Transform” us unless we surrender the control of our lives to Him!!! Jesus cannot remold and remake us after His will unless we permit Him to have control of every area of our lives.
Illustration: A Southwestern professor wrote.
“The failure of such a large number of Christians in our nation to yield this control to Jesus has brought a tragic result: So many non-Christians cannot see or feel any differences in the lives of great throngs of Christians and do not, therefore, feel any need to become followers of Jesus!
A great Eastern leader, after spending time in our country, said, “I might have become a Christian, had I ever saw one.”
People cannot see our “Regeneration.” It takes place in our heart!!! They could, however, see, and be deeply impressed by, our “Transformation”!!!
What we do will always speak much louder than what we say!!! The world does not need to hear about your “Regeneration,” it needs to see our “Transformation.” Have you made Jesus your Savior, and Lord? Or just Savior?
- Joy or Misery???
Not to permit Jesus to “Transform” our life is to miss the most gratifying part of Christianity!
Illustration: Dr. Chester Swor wrote:
“The non-surrendered Christian is likely to be a most miserable person: close enough to know the claims of the Lordship of Christ yet unwilling to pay the price. Yearning for maximum joy yet unwilling to admit that it comes from maximum surrender.”
—Folks, believe it or not, Christian Joy comes from “Transformation” not “Regeneration”!!! The two cannot be separated, but one produces eternal life, while the other produces Joy in life!!!
Consider this 100+ year old statement: A Christian write….
“I am amazed that I fought so long against my own best welfare! Though I tasted of all the cups the world offered, I have found nothing to compare with my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It produces pure joy, deep peace, and real thrills.”
And this person died 100 years before Henry Blackaby every said that God peruses a love relationship with you!!!!
Are you living a life of Joy, or something less?
Have you made Jesus Lord and Savior, or just Savior?
- God’s Masterpieces:
The canvas’ only hope of becoming a masterpiece is that it surrenders its surface completely to the plan of the artist; but when it does so, it becomes a masterpiece!
A raw diamond only becomes a piece of fine jewelry when it completely surrenders to the cutting and design of the diamond cutter.
You and I will only be all that we can be for God, and experience God working through us, when we completely surrender and make Jesus Lord, and not just Savior!!!
- Jesus desires to reach and change others through us:
A new look at an old passage….
Matthew 5:13 (NKJV) “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
You are the salt of the earth: That is a Christian!
but if the salt has lost his savor: That is an un-transformed Christian!
It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
This is the misery suffered by a Christian that has only allowed Jesus to save them, and not to transform them!!!
Examples of Jesus’ work through “Transformed” Christians:
One boy in a non-Christian family, permitted Christ to touch and transform his life, and all the members of his family came to faith in Christ.
A young man in basic training had the courage to read his Bible and pray in his barracks nightly, and the courage to live his Christian live consistently and openly every day. Before the end of basic training, his entire barrack joined him in nightly devotions.
A high school of 1800 students experienced a remarkable spiritual transformation primarily because of one glorious example of a dedicated, transformed Christian student!
Biblical Examples:
Jesus used Andrew to reach Peter.
Jesus used the woman at the well to reach a city.
Jesus used Phillip to reach an Ethiopian eunuch, and his country.
Jesus used Steven to reach Saul of Tarsus.
Jesus used Paul to reach non-Jewish people all over the world.
Who would Jesus use you to reach if you would surrender and allow Him to “Transform” you into the likeness of Himself?
If not now, When?
If not here, Where?
If not you, Who?
Conclusion:
Is Jesus’ HOPE of “Regeneration” a reality in your life today…….
Is Jesus’ HOPE of “Transformation” a reality in your life today……
Is your “Salt” salty? Or is it good for nothing???
Romans 15:13 (NKJV) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Happy New Year and I encourage you to start it on HOPE.
