24 18. A Reason for Our Hope
18. A Reason for Our Hope
INTRODUCTION In 1 Peter 3:15 we have the command: "But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear." To sanctify in our hearts ”Christ as Lord” simply means to have him set apart there as the only one who has a right to rule and reign in our lives. This is the object of the confession we make. ”The word of faith ” that Paul preached says: ”Confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord. ” (Romans 10:8-9.) It has been decreed by Jehovah that ”every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Too often the confession is thought to include merely the historicity of Christ— viz., that he came, died, arose from the dead, and returned to the Father. This is not enough. The confession that leads to salvation acknowledges him as Lord— as the only one who has a right to a throne in our hearts.
You will also observe from our text that the Spirit concedes that these people have hope, that they have a reason for it, and they are here informed that it is their duty to pass this reason on to others who want to know about it, remembering to give it in the spirit of meekness and fear.
Hope is composed of desire and expectation. To say that you hope to pass through the gates into that city that awaits the people of God means that you not only desire to do so, but that you are expecting this very thing to be your ultimate realization. The question comes: If I were to be right now slipping through death’s door into the unseen world, or if I were to see Jesus coming in the clouds, would I go out with the strongest expectation of being forever with him in the heavenly state? You say you desire to go to heaven. This is not enough. Are you undoubtingly expecting it? If so, why? An answer to this question will bring us to the heart of our lesson.
TWO EXTREME POSITIONS
Some have been taught that man can do nothing that will in any way affect his salvation, that God through Christ has done it all, and that if he is one of the elect he will be saved whether or not he gives it any thought. This doctrine is damnable. It dishonors God. It makes God responsible for the damnation of the unsaved. Those who believe this doctrine are never satisfied, for they are ever wondering if they are among the elect, God having not told them just how they could come to know they are. They have been taught to expect a light, a vision, a dream, or some wonderful experience, and by this come to know they are among the elect. But there being no definite way they can know just what experience to expect when they are excited into thinking they have one, they are then left to wonder if it was from God. So it led to the writing into one of their hymns the following words:
It is a thing I long to know, Oft it causes anxious thought: Do I love the Lord or no, Am I his or am I not?
Others have gone to the other extreme and have introduced the doctrine of sanctification, or sinless perfection. Now, understand the Bible teaches such a doctrine, but they tell us that we must attain to this by our own personal efforts—that is, we must come to live a life of sinlessness, otherwise we cannot be saved. This doctrine puts too much emphasis on what man must accomplish by his own efforts; the other doctrine puts too much emphasis on what God has done for man. You will find the truth between these two extremes.
MAN’S CONDITION The Bible clearly teaches that man at his very best falls short. Here all that is necessary is to cite you to the Scriptures that teach this: 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Kings 8:46; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Luke 17:10 : James 3:2; 1 John 1:8; 1 John 1:10. The law of works also teaches this. This law, as learned in the preceding lesson, is holy, righteous, spiritual, and good. (See Romans 7:12; Romans 7:14.) But it demanded sinless perfection on man’s part, and the only way to be justified by it was to live a life of sinlessness—sinning not in thought, word, act, or imagination—from the day we become accountable until death. This is what the law demanded. Hence, Paul says that those who seek to be justified by that law are under a curse. Read Galatians 3:10; also go to Romans 3:9-20. Study these verses carefully and you will learn that the law convicts all of sin. Then note how Paul begins in verse 21 and reasons to the conclusion in verse 28: "But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." He tells us what that righteousness is, and that it comes to us through Christ, and concludes: "We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law." The law of works demanded sinless perfection. And in the eyes of the law of works every soul on earth is shown to be a sinner, even the very best in the church. A study of David’s statement. "Who can discern his errors?" Who can? Does not this question teach that none of us can know all of our weaknesses and imperfections? "Clear thou me from hidden faults." of what faults does he here speak? Faults that he has and knows about, but keeps hidden from others? Nay, verily; they are faults that he himself has, but does not know. The statement simply means that man at his very best falls short and needs someone to come to his rescue.
CHRIST COMES TO OUR RESCUE
"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law." (See Galatians 4:4.) He came to redeem them that were under the law—viz., that law that demanded sinless perfection on our part. The only way he could get under this law was to be born under it—born of a woman. He was once a helpless babe, as we all have been. He grew to the age of accountability, as we all do. But after becoming accountable he stepped out as a subject of the law and never once violated it in thought, word, act, or imagination. He could make a challenge at the end of life’s way that no other soul who has lived in the flesh since Adam’s fall—viz.: "Which of you convicteth me of sin?" (John 8:46.) Is it not a thing to be wondered at that, notwithstanding the fact that we have had atheists and infidels all of these years since Christ lived upon the earth and they have opposed the Bible, they all say Jesus was a good man?
Yes, Jesus lived the life that we could not live—viz., a life of sinlessness. He became the law personified, hence was able to go to the cross and nail that law to the cross and take it out of the way. He had no sins of his own to atone for, hence gave his own blood to atone for ours. But when we say he took the law out of the way, it should be remembered that this was done only for those who come to see their helpless and undone condition and take Jesus as their city of refuge. Those who will not have Jesus as their Savior have nothing remaining by which to be judged except the law of works that demands sinless perfection, and by it no man can be justified. He gave his blood to atone for our sins, but it should be remembered that this blood can atone only for those who see their need of Jesus and take him in his own appointed way as their sacrifice for sin.
THEN, WHAT IS MY HOPE?
Christ is our hope. Paul puts it in the following words:
"Christ Jesus our hope.” (1 Timothy 1:1.) "Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27.) MY hope begins, continues, and is consummated in Christ Jesus. (See John 14:6; 1 John 5:12.)
Through him we have the gospel of grace. The law of works said, "Be thou perfect unto death, and the crown is yours ;" but the gospel of God’s grace tells us if we will come into Jesus and be faithful unto death, the crown is ours.
Perfection located. Does not Paul say that we may be presented "perfect in Christ"? (See Colossians 1:28.) We should seek to know why we may be presented perfect in Christ. It is certain we cannot be so presented out of him.
What Christ means to a human soul. The law of works demanded sinless perfection, and said cursed is the man that attains it not. Jesus came and lived the life the law demanded, then died in our stead, paid sin’s debt for all who will take him as their Savior.
Though we fall short, if we will come into him and are faithful till death, all that we lack in attaining sinlessness he will supply from his own perfect life. He is made unto all of those who are in him wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30-31.) He does not demand, as did the law, a life of sinlessness, for he knows we cannot live it; but he does demand that we come into him first, then live a life of faithfulness till death.
Those who do this are complete in him, because all that they lack is supplied from his perfect life, and because of this can be presented perfect in Christ in the judgment. (See Colossians 2:10; Revelation 2:10.)
Salvation located. God has plainly pointed out the place where we are saved and kept saved. (1) Freedom from condemnation is in Christ. (Romans 8:1.) (2) All of God’s promises are in Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:20.) (3) We become new creatures in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17.) (4) Redemption and the remission of sins through his blood is to be found in Christ. (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13-14.) (5) Eternal life is in Christ. (1 John 5:11.) (6) The blessed dead are those who die in the Lord. (Revelation 14:13.) (7) And those who have "fallen asleep in Jesus" are the ones he promises to bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14.) other Scriptures could be given, but these suffice to show where salvation is found—viz., in Jesus. We can appropriate Christ only by coming into him.
How we may know we are in him. Here we are not left to guess. "For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." (See Galatians 3:26-27.) And you turn to Romans 6:3-5 and you find Paul saying: "Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" And he tells us that this baptism is a burial and a resurrection, hence was not sprinkling. This is why Christ announced in the great commission: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." This puts us in Jesus, where we not only obtain the remission of sins, but where he becomes our righteousness, sanctification, wisdom, and redemption.
Light thrown on some examples of conversion. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and "proclaimed unto them Christ." (Acts 8:5-12.) Verse 12 says that when they believed what Philip preached. they were baptized, both men and women. What led them to be baptized? The answer is simple—viz., believing what Philip preached. When man sees his lost and undone condition and is shown what Christ has done for him, and that if he will come into Jesus and be faithful till death, salvation is his, and that he gets into Christ by being baptized into him—the soul that believes this will be baptized. Only those who refuse to believe this are the ones who fail to be baptized. In verses 35 to 39 of the same chapter you find Philip preaching Jesus unto the eunuch. What did he preach? The answer is simple: He preached Jesus. What did preaching Jesus unto him lead him to desire and ask for? And this answer is also simple—viz., it led him to want to be baptized into Jesus; hence, he asked for baptism, was baptized, and went on his way rejoicing. Jesus has been preached unto you, dear reader, just as Philip did. You cannot be saved out of Jesus. Our only hope is in Jesus, and we get into Jesus by being baptized into him, if we are penitent believers hungering for salvation.
CAN WE BE FAITHFUL IN SPITE OF IMPERFECTIONS? With this question answered we close the lesson. Remember, the law of works demands sinless perfection. Man could not attain to its demands. Jesus did this for us, and now tells us if we will realize our need of him and come into him and be faithful unto death, he will let his perfect life cover our imperfections, and thus present us perfect in the judgment, because we are in him. May we know we are faithful in spite of imperfections? An illustration is in order. Three men are constructing a building. One is a father, forty-five years old, who has been doing this kind of work for twenty- five years, having begun when he was twenty years old. The others are his oldest son, twenty-four years old, having begun this kind of work when he was only nineteen, having had five years’ experience; then his youngest son, eighteen years and six months old, having been in this work with his father and brother six months. They work side by side until the building is completed and the key is turned over to the owner of the building. What kind of workman was that father? You answer: "He was almost perfect." And "almost" is the best you can say, for he made mistakes. You may not be able to see them, but he made them. Man does nothing perfect in the absolute degree. How about the older son? He, too, is a splendid workman, but it is easy to be seen he is not the equal of his father. And the younger son? How hard he tried! Perspiration rolled from his face, while his father worked along with ease and hardly raised perspiration. Yes, and the younger son ruined some of the best tools, sawed lumber too short and crooked, and came off the job at the end with his fingers mashed and bruised.
Now, we place these three before our Father in heaven and ask him to gently let his hand rest on the head of the most faithful of the three. Do you see him lovingly letting his hand rest on the younger son’s head and saying: "Here is the most faithful of the three"? Though the most imperfect, yet there was a yearning in his heart to do it right that his father really did not experience.
Thank God for the gospel of grace that saves us from the curse of the law that demanded sinless perfection! Jesus says: Come unto me, and be faithful unto death, and all of my righteousness, sanctification, and redemption are yours. In the judgment he will say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant;" not, "Well done, good and perfect servant." So we go to the judgment with undoubting assurance, and why? Because we are so good? No, but because he was. Because we are so sanctified? No, but because he was. Here is the gospel of grace. It is our only hope. But don’t forget the gospel of grace can be preached in the spirit of the law of works that destroys hope. May God help us to give the message to all the nations.