Faith, Hope and Practice of Paul

First, let us hear from the lips of Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, a statement of his faith, his hope and his practice.
(1) "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets." Here was Paul's faith: "all things which are written in the law and the prophets." A Christian man has, as we know, a wider field, being able to add "all things which are written in the New Testament.”
This is the faith of a Christian man—the whole Word of God—the undivided canon of inspiration.
He wants nothing more, he can do with nothing less, and he desires nothing different. "All scripture"
is the creed of the Christian, and, assuredly, it is amply sufficient. In it he finds his standard, his
confession, his touchstone and his all. By it he can test himself and all around him—his own thoughts
and the thoughts of his fellow men. Morals and doctrines can all be measured by this rule, and weighed in is this balance. It is divinely sufficient for all ages and all nations may find in the High and all ages and all low, rich and poor, learned and ignorant precious volume of God all they want. To say that we can ever stand in need of anything beside is to cast dishonor on that which our God has so graciously given.
(2) What was Paul's hope? "And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust." This is the hope of a Christian—hope toward God and hope of resurrection. It is not toward man, nor has it reference to anything on this side of the grave. All earthly hopes and creature expectations vanish like the morning cloud. The stamp of death is on everything down here. The grave is the gloomy terminus of man's history in this world. Blessed be God, the hope of the Christian carries him beyond the grave altogether, and connects him with those unseen and eternal realities which belong to him as risen with Christ. There is nothing worthwhile down here for which to hope. All is rapidly passing away. The chilling breath of mortality is continually passing across earth's brightest scenes, and withering them. The fondest hopes we cherish, in reference to the creature, are sure to be disappointed.
Paul was wise, therefore he said, I "have hope toward God." Had it been otherwise, his lot would have been most miserable. He had reached the end of all that this world could offer. He had proved the hollowness of man's fairest pretensions. What remained, therefore, for him but to build all his hopes on the One who quickens the dead—the living God—the God of resurrection.
(3) Finally, we consider Paul's practice. "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men." Such is the practice of a Christian. May it be ours, from day to day, in all the scenes of life. May we be able to carry ourselves in such a way as to give no offense—no just occasion to man, to keep a clear and an uncondemned conscience in the presence of God. We ought not to be satisfied with less than this. We may be misunderstood, we may do things ignorantly, make mistakes, and fail in many things. But at this we should always earnestly and uprightly aim, to have a conscience void of offense toward God and man. It will, unquestionably, demand "exercise." It cannot be reached without difficulty. But it should be diligently sought, for it is the practice of a Christian.
Such, then, is the lovely picture presented in the person of Paul, the prisoner—the picture of a true, practical Christian. His faith reposes on the revelation of God. His hope reaches forth after resurrection, and his practice is characterized by earnest exercise to live a blameless and harmless life in the sight of God and man. God grant that we may know and exhibit these things in this day of so much empty profession.