The “blessed hope” is connected both to the
godly living in this present age (v12) and to Jesus’ purifying His own people
(v14). In Scripture hope is an essential ingredient for living the life God has for
us. When Jesus gave His disciples the great and precious promises for living
in His absence (in the Upper Room, John 13-17), He began by giving them hope,
the promise that they would someday be reunited (John 14:1-3). In Romans 8, packed with the resources of
grace, hope has a major emphasis
(8:18-25).
On the other hand, perhaps like me you have
noticed that many Christian books on how we are to live our lives these days
have nothing to say about the return of Christ.
Perhaps they think the subject is too controversial. They may speak of hope but it is often the
hope of the world which is to say, put
your hope in yourself. But according
to Titus 2:13 the blessed hope IS the glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ. Teaching on the
promised return of Christ for His Church is fundamental to Christian living
today. To omit it for any reason is to
rob believers of needed provision from God!
Grace teaches and trains us to live godly in the present age (2:11-12);
the blessed hope strengthens us to follow the teaching. How does this happen?
·
1 Peter 1:3-6a; Nehemiah 8:10: The blessed hope
strengthens us through joy. We often hear the words of Nehemiah: the joy of the Lord is my strength. But where does this joy-in-trials come
from? Peter says our great rejoicing is
the result of the living hope into
which we have been born again, a hope is anchored in the resurrection of Christ
and described as an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away. The importance of joy cannot be overstated. To
be discouraged or depressed is to be weak and will result
in failure in the pressures of this life (Prov. 24:10). It is why the Psalmist asked God to make us glad according to the days in which
You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil (Psa.
90:15). It is the reason also that Paul
exhorted the Thessalonian believers not to grieve as those who have no hope (1
Thess. 4:13). The blessed hope does this
for believers!
·
1 Peter 1:6b-9; 2 Peter 3:14: The blessed hope
increases our desire to please the
One we love. When Christ appears there
will be nothing that will separate believers, whether dead or alive at the
time, from the presence of Christ. We
will see Him and be with Him. In that
moment, as Peter says, our lives here will be a means of praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having
not seen you love. Thoughts of being
in His presence will increase our love for Him and our desire to be exalt
Him. It strengthens us now to be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without
spot and blameless. It is similar to
the way a child desires to please his parents (Prov. 10:1,5); thoughts of being
with the Lord who loved us and gave Himself for us will increase our zeal to
please Him now.
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