September 18

The Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope.— 1 Timothy 1:1.

HOPE is a most joyous sensation of mind arising from the expectation of future good. Now God has been pleased to reveal and promise to all believers, the possession of future eternal good, even the enjoyment of his favour and presence for ever. This is what is comprehended in the term salvation. Now Jesus is essentially the soul and spring of this hope, so much so, that with propriety he may be styled our hope itself. He is styled the "Hope of Israel," and the "Hope of his people," the Apostle describes him as dwelling in us, the "Hope of glory." His merits are the ground of our hope. Had he not been obedient, magnified the law and died for our sins, Divine mercy would not have been communicated, so that we should have been the subjects of everlasting despair. But by his death, he hath redeemed us to God, and through him we have reconciliation and acceptance with God. His resurrection is the pledge of our hope. By his death we are redeemed, and by his resurrection, we have a demonstrative proof of his divinity, and hence, of the acceptableness of the offering of himself. Hence all our confidence as to his virtue and merits, is firmly established and unmovably fixed by his resurrection from the dead. Hence we are said to be "Begotten again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead." His gospel is the warrant of hope. Here we have the rich blessing of his grace and love revealed to us: here they are published, and freely offered: here the word and truth of God are pledged for their ratification. The spirit of Christ is the warrant of our hope. By the enjoyment of Christ's spirit, we possess the beginning, the first fruits of the blessings promised. And the spirit is given us as an earnest that the full inheritance shall finally be ours. The enjoyment of Christ is the great object of hope: to be transformed into his likeness, to enjoy his presence, to dwell in his kingdom, and to participate of his glory, is the consummation of blessedness. The possession of Jesus, is the possession of eternal life. He who inherits Christ, inherits all things.