CHURCH OF CHRIST at

March 28, 2010Don’t Forget:•Nursing Home @ 2:00•Pew Packers @ 5:45•Spring Retreat, April 1-3

Hebron

The Call for Spiritual Unity

Body

Spirit

Hope

Lord

Faith

Baptism

God1—Ephesians 4:4-6

The One Hope

I. The Definition of the One Hope

II. The 3 Elements of the One Hope

III. The Nature of Other Hopes

—Ephesians 4:4c

The Definition of the One Hope

• Hope: a feeling that what is wanted will happen; desire accompanied by expectation– English: from “hop,” to leap up in

expectation– Greek: to anticipate with pleasure;

expectation or confidence

The Definition of the One Hope

• Greek word for hope: 85 times in the New Testament

• Translated hope 69 times– I Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth

faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity

– Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel

The Definition of the One Hope

• Translated trust 15 times– II Corinthians 1:9-10 But we had the

sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us

The Definition of the One Hope

• Translated faith once– Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the

profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)

The Definition of the One Hope

confidencetrust

obedience

TrustFaith

expectation

Hope

desire

The 3 Elements of the One Hope

object expectationdesire

Hope

The 3 Elements of the One Hope

1) The object of the one hope– Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life,

which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began

– Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel

The 3 Elements of the One Hope

2) The desire of the one hope– Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a

better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city

– Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth…But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

The 3 Elements of the One Hope

3) The expectation of the one hope– II Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I

also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able…

– 2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand…there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day…

The Nature of Other Hopes1) No Hope

• Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world

• I Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

The Nature of Other Hopes2) False Hopes

1) The right expectation and desire, but wrong object

– I Kings 18:26, 28 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made…And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them

The Nature of Other Hopes2) False Hopes

2) The right object and expectation, but wrong desire

– Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The Nature of Other Hopes2) False Hopes

3) The right object and desire, but wrong expectation

– II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind

– II Timothy 1:10 [Grace]…is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel

The road of hope leads “within the veil” (Hebrews 6:19)…

• Do you have no hope?

• Do you have the one hope?

Consider During the Lord’s Supper:

Matthew 26:26-29 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.