Msg #1503 Faith and Hope

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Some people have a propensity for the curious; they are students. It is curious that our Lord announces that only three things will abide into His Church's maturity; faith, hope, and charity. Prophesying and speaking in tongues falls amongst the immature. In these “Last Days” the attempted resurrection of the immature things is more disheartening and heretical than curious. But that faith and hope abide together is curious. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. What then is hope? Peter instructs saints to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you, but Job, in the pits of despair said “All hope is lost”, yeah indeed, he said that God himself took it away from him (Job 7:6, 17:15, 19:10). In Matthew 8:28-34 the only hope of hogs, and some men, is comfort, food and health. But in his dialogue Job words the supreme hope of a believer, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me” (Job 19:25-27). Faith and hope unite to bring us salvation (Rom 8:24). Faith carries us through the needs of this life while the believer's hope abides unassuaged by cares of this world. “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (1Cor 13:13). Pursue charity, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1Pet 3:15).

An Essay for week #3 Jan 18, 15

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Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150118.mp3

View Thesis "Reformed Theology NOT" at www.Theology.GSBaptistChurch.com