Hope Now and Hope Forever!

1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Truly, if we have no hope for life after we die then we are living only for our very short time upon this earth. As we get older and older we realize just how short the time is. When we are young and have our whole lives- 70, 80, 90 years to look forward to it seems like we will never die. We don't have to worry too much about death when we are young, right? But let time creep up on you and 70 is coming up fast then you might start thinking about death more and more, and its inevitability. This isn't to discount anyone and any age contemplating death, some people do die very young and know others who die young. The life we are born into is precarious at best. Young or old an accident can take us at any moment. Young or old we can discover we have a terminal illness at any moment. There isn't any moment we can live without knowing (at the age we can contemplate such things) that we can die. Our life will cease. When people die around us, they leave our lives in all but memory. When we die it will be the same- we will be memories for a few generations. This is our life, this is what life is. The first above says- IF in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable.    Truly if this is ALL we have we are most miserable. Even the very rich can be very miserable. I'm not saying we can't find happiness, contentment, a way to life our lives in relative peace and comfort- a lot of people do. Yet underlying ALL things, underneath all our contentment lingers death, sickness, pain, agony, heartache, and the list goes on. If we aren’t personally experiencing the tragedies of life, we may know those who are, and those tragedies can be just a heartbeat away for any of us- this is truth, this is the life we live. The misery of this life is our reality, but it that was all the reality truly we'd have no real hope.

We do have hope though-

1Co 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 

1Co 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 

We have the hope of resurrection from death!

We have the hope of a life beyond this short life!

We have the hope of life after death, upon the return of our Savior!

We don't have to be miserable, not with the hope we possess that all our suffering in whatever forms they take will be short compared to the life we will have with Christ.

When our Savior returns we will be resurrected from the dead! This is HOPE!

And this HOPE is something we need to have before us CONSTANTLY! Our Savior and the hope found in Him must be our everything!

1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

We have hope of Christ in this life and in life everlasting, life eternal! All praise, glory and honor unto our GOD, now and forever!

Made Alive When Christ Returns.

Jesus Christ rose from the dead- yes or no? What do you believe? If you're reading this study then hopefully you're seeking truth, Biblical truth. If you haven't accept Christ as your Savior, prayerfully you will.  Christians by their very name are followers of Christ. Followers of Christ are those who believe Christ is God's only begotten Son, declared to be so. Christ followers believe that God's only begotten Son sacrificed Himself for all of humanity and each person can choose to accept what Christ has done, believing in His forgiveness, and in His ability to save us, to give us salvation so that one day we will find our home in heaven with Him.

We believe that Jesus' death resulted in His being resurrected, raised from the dead by His Father, our Heavenly Father.

1Co 15:12  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 

1Co 15:13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 

1Co 15:14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 

1Co 15:15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 

1Co 15:16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 

1Co 15:17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 

1Co 15:18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 

Please note here- 'Then they also which ARE FALLEN ASLEEP in Christ are perished.'

What does this mean, 'fallen asleep in Christ'?  Seriously, what does this mean? Elsewhere in the Bible Jesus talks about Lazarus being asleep and clarifying it as his being dead. (John 11:11-14).  So let's read this again with this knowledge- 'Then they also which are DEAD in Christ are perished.' What VERY important message is this telling us? That those who died have NOT ALREADY been raised and taken to heaven.   The raising of the dead in Christ is a FUTURE hope, not a hope already realized.  In fact, if the dead from the very first to die (Abel) until now ALL are immediately whisked in spirit form from their bodies with all their memories and personality and taken to heaven then why do they need a Savior? People wouldn't need a Savior if it is automatic that when we breathe our last breath and our heart beats its last, we slip out of our bodies and up to heaven.

1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

1Co 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 

1Co 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

In Christ SHALL all be made alive.

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 

EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER.

Christ the firstfruits.

AFTERWARDS-

…they that are Christ's AT HIS COMING.

If this is to be true what we've just read then those who are Christ's will be made alive AT HIS COMING.

1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 

1Co 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 

1Co 15:26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 

1Co 15:27  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 

1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 

.

I Am What I Am

I am what I am.  Paul spoke those words. Paul said- 'I am what I am'; however Paul said it this way-

'But by the grace of God I am what I am.

His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain.

But I labor more abundantly than they all.

Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.'

What's this mean?

Paul was who he was by the grace of God. He was an apostle who worked tirelessly, unceasingly for the Lord. If he wanted to, Paul could have allowed himself to become incredibly prideful.

Paul said this--

1Co 1:13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 

1Co 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 

1Co 1:15  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 

Paul was glad he didn't baptize many people because he did NOT want any to say they were baptized in his name. Paul wanted all to look to Christ and NONE to look to him! Paul knew all his righteousness was as a filthy rag, meaningless. Paul was an amazing God-fearing, commandment keeping, religiously  upright more than most-- read this--

Php 3:4  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 

Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 

Php 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith

Paul said that having ANY confidence in the flesh and acts of the flesh - EVEN good acts- meant nothing without Christ. Just as we've studied for a couple days here- our flesh, our carnal acts, anything we do of our self, on our own has no worth in righteousness.

Paul had to learn this and truly we do as well. May God HELP us to learn quickly so we may be wholly HIS, ever dependent upon HIM, always living in HIM through the Holy Spirit! May our Heavenly Father do all He needs to do in us so we can be HIS now and forever!!!!!!!

' If the children of God honestly strive for the life more abundant and are ready to accept God’s assessment of the flesh, they will not esteem themselves stronger and better than others, notwithstanding their extensive spiritual progress. They will not utter such words as “I of course am different from the others.” If these believers are disposed to let the Holy Spirit reveal to them God’s holiness and their corruption and do not fear to be shown too clearly, then hopefully they will come to perceive by the Spirit their corruption at an earlier time, with perhaps a consequent lessening of the painful experience of defeat. How lamentable it is, though, that even when one’s intention may not be to trust the flesh, there may yet lurk beneath the surface some little impurity, for such a one still thinks he has some strength. In view of this, God must permit him to encounter diverse defeats in order to eliminate even that little confidence in himself.' -- The Spiritual Man Page 124

1Co_15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Repeating- I am what I am.  Paul spoke those words. Paul said- 'I am what I am'; however Paul said it this way-

'But by the grace of God I am what I am.

His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain.

But I labor more abundantly than they all.

Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.'

What's this mean?

This mean we truly are what we are by the grace of God and may that grace not be in vain. May we LABOR abundantly for our GOD- but that LABOR truly be GOD laboring IN US! May God in us use us for His labor. May we believe in Him, may we have faith in Him enough to believe HE Is in us and ANY thing we do that is even remotely laboring in Him, is all because HE is in us and not that we've acquired the ability to be righteous, or labor on our own for Him. He labors IN US and all glory goes to HIM.  PRAISE BE TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST NOW AND FOREVER!!!!!!!

May We Live In the Spirit.

An excerpt from the book- The Spiritual Man.

'Many suppose the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin pertains just to the people of the world, for does He not convict them of their sins into believing the Lord Jesus? But Christians ought to know that such operation of the Holy Spirit is as important in the saints as it is in the sinners. Out of necessity He must convict the saints of their sins, not merely once or twice but daily and incessantly. May we more and more experience the conviction of the Holy Spirit so that our flesh can be put under judgment unceasingly and never be able to reign. May we not lose, even for a moment, the true picture of our flesh and God’s estimation of it. Let us never believe in ourselves and never trust our flesh again, as though it could ever please God. Let us always trust the Holy Spirit and at no time yield the slightest place to self.' Page 122

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 

Joh 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 

Joh 16:9  Of sin, because they believe not on me; 

Joh 16:10  Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 

Joh 16:11  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 

Joh 16:12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 

Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 

Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you

The Holy Spirit reproves the world of SIN, why? Because people do not believe in Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit will give us ALL truth!

The Holy Spirit works in us constantly, praise the LORD. We need to be ever guide, our spirit with the Holy Spirit teaching us, reproving us showing us every single time we give into temptation and sin.  We can't ever expect the Holy Spirit to stop convicting us, that we've reached a place where we need no conviction.  We need to be CONSTANTLY reminded that all our flesh is bad. To those who may be reading this and think that it can't be true that all our flesh isn't bad. We were born this way, we can't help who we are born. We can be good, our flesh can be good. I reply to you- you're wrong. That is one of the BIG deceptions of Satan, so big that scarcely any will comprehend. Why won't they comprehend? Because we do NOT want to believe we can be so utterly devoid of natural goodness. Our lives shout otherwise, right? We have numerous good deeds attributed to us, we naturally love to help and be of service in any way possible. We see a need we are quick to help out all the time. WE ARE GOOD, OTHERS ARE GOOD. We know atheists that are incredibly good people - they don't need to believe in God to be wonderful human beings. So HOW can we sit here and declare all flesh is bad? How can we say all the good we do and the good those who blatantly proclaim their unbelief in God and Jesus Christ-do, is bad? It's contradictory, it seems ludicrous on so many levels. The proof is in their actions, right?  But WHERE is their ability to do any good coming from? Has their ability to do good without being Christ's proved to them that they don't need Him? Does feeling good about ourselves help us believe we are Christ's? The truth is found in the word of God-

Isa_64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

ALL our righteousness are filthy rags.  How much of our righteousness is filthy? ALL of it!

Rom_3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

ALL have sinned.

Rom_4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Our righteousness is through FAITH, not through our good works.

We read these and still we hold fast to our deep seated belief that we - our flesh is good- we have goodness. We find it so hard to make the leap to the only good that can come from us is our steadfast belief in our LORD and SAVIOR and through the Holy Spirit with our spirit NOT our flesh, NOT our soul, but spirit! If our good actions are wrought through the Holy Spirit then the power of the Holy Spirit is working good through us!

Yet we cry out- we see the good actions of so many people they can't be bad! Honestly, we can NEVER judge the actions of others, God alone will determine their origin. We can't know whether or not the Holy Spirit is working in the lives of others - even the self-proclaimed atheists and others who deny Christ as their Savior. We have to examine our OWN lives only! We have to comprehend for ourselves where the origin of our own actions stem from. May we seek to live in the spirit- with the Holy Spirit always! May any good that comes from us be brought forth from the Spirit. All through the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord now and forever!

Our Faith Stands in the Power of God.

1Co 2:1  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 

1Co 2:2  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 

1Co 2:3  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

Our faith must stand in the power of God.

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

The power of God is the preaching of the cross, our faith must stand in the cross, in Jesus Christ and him crucified and nowhere else.

Each day we recognize that the world we live in is far from the world that we long for. As soon as Satan deceived Adam and Eve the glorious, perfect world was gone. They were thrust out of the perfect garden and put into a world that would be harsh. They chose to abandon God, to disobey God, to desire to be something other than created in the image of God, but rather gods themselves. All that was decided when Eve yielded to the temptation and disobeyed the single test that existed for loyalty, for acceptance of being created.

Often we talk about how parents must discipline their children and how God disciplines us, but we don't talk about children wanting to be their own parent too much. Yes, we know of cases where children who are older will sometimes go to court to be emancipated from their parents and take on their own responsibility for their own wellbeing, but this is rather rare in the grand scheme of things. Children will test their parents all the time, driving them to their limits of patience. And sometimes a parent may tell a child - fine, take care of yourself.  No, this analogy isn't perfect by far, but think about it. Created beings knowing they are created, knowing the Creator -NOT abandoned by Him, still decide they don't have everything they need because they aren't gods, they aren't creators themselves, they don't know evil. There is something being kept from them and they have to know what it is. It doesn't matter that they are told it is very harmful to them, they still want to know. A child comprehends they aren't in a position to parent themselves, they can't feed or clothe themselves, they can't put a roof over their own heads- the majority of children could never afford to take care of themselves in that way- they need a caretaker, someone older than them, someone more knowledgeable than they are. Yet, the children of God, albeit, adult children given a wealth of knowledge and ability still determine it is not enough.

Bottom line, every day we wake up to live in a world that is sinful, painful, and not the world we know should be. We live upon this earth as pilgrims, as travelers, as temporary sojourners, because we know there is a much better world for us.  Satan would have us not desire the world to come because he wants each and every one of us to be as Adam and Eve were, and yield to him. Satan doesn't want us preaching SALVATION from this sin-filled world and our sin-nature. Satan would have us preach anything but salvation found in Jesus Christ our Lord. Satan doesn't care a bit if we preach salvation by any other means, he is the master of deception and if he's got a person deceived he could careless how it comes about, through what method.

Paul's entire life after being converted to the truth was spent preaching to other how they too could find salvation in Christ Jesus and Him crucified.

Paul didn't care about how good he could speak, or if he seemed wise, all he cared about was declaring the testimony of God. He was determine to preach nothing else save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Paul was weak, Paul had fears, Paul trembled along with all those he was preaching too. He did NOT use words that enticed, that caught the attention of others through worldly wisdom. Paul lived a life that demonstrated the SPIRIT and power-God's power!  Paul taught that NO one should ever have faith in mankind, but their faith had to be in the POWER of GOD alone! Paul didn't want a single person having faith in what they perceived as being Paul's wisdom, according to Paul he had no wisdom, and he didn't want any wisdom of his own. He only wanted the power of God. He wanted God to live in Him, to work in Him, to be His everything!  He longed for any words he spoke to be given the power of GOD so they could be used by GOD to bring others to know His power, to know Christ crucified.

1Co 2:1  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 

1Co 2:2  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 

1Co 2:3  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

Our faith must stand in the power of God.

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

Glory Only In God.

1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 

1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Jer 9:23  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 

Jer 9:24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. 

*******

God looks for His Son in us to determine if we are His. When He sees His Son in us, all He sees is us forgiven, us redeemed! Christ in us, is our hope!

Col_1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory

Christ in us is our HOPE of GLORY.

We glory in the LORD, never in ourselves, never in the flesh.

If we are in Christ Jesus- Christ Jesus is wisdom, is righteousness, is sanctification, is redemption. We glory in the LORD.

Christ MUST be in us!

Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 

We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is our hope, we have hope in no other, not even ourselves. We must glory in Him alone.

If we find ourselves glorying in the things we do, in our lives, in our actions, in our thoughts, we have to stop. We need to find our GLORYING in Jesus Christ our Savior. Too often when we glory in ourselves we are setting ourselves up for a tremendous spiritual fall. We will always FAIL ourselves and therein our glorying in ourselves comes to a screeching halt. We instantly start to berate ourselves. We allow Satan to whisper in our ears telling us how awful we are, how we are bad Christians, because if we were good Christians we wouldn't be acting as we are. We focus on our badness and take our eyes off Christ, and then we hate ourselves even more for getting further away from our Savior. A vicious, evil cycle and we've promoted it ourselves by ever believing we are good in any way and our goodness is to be glorified. What would happen if we continued to believe in our awfulness, truly believe it, not get sucked into the 'I'm a good Christian' theme when we are truly doing all we can do in Christ's name. We were never told to glory in ourselves and our accomplishment.  Remember this--

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations

JOY- count it JOY when we fall into different temptations.  Why? Because of this--

Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Yet, do we stop as the temptations come and count them joy? Or do we fall victim to the temptations allowing them to because conceived in us and therefore sin? Do we take the temptations and count them as sins already- dooming ourselves when we haven't quite yet given into the temptations. Do we note the temptations assaulting us and let our hearts be filled with the joy of the Savior, knowing that somehow having to face that temptation and choosing Christ over the sin, we are letting the temptations work patience in us, patience that we need to be fully read for our Savior.

We know the closer to the return of our Savior our adversary the Devil will be working unceasingly to get every single person he can. Satan would have us look upon temptations as signed, sealed and delivered sins, but they aren't! The temptations aren't sin! We flail against the temptations as soon as they start interrupting our spiritual walk - thinking they are awful, miserable beasts to be despised. How can we despise something we are to call joy? We need to comprehend that temptations to sin will NOT cease, but by the GRACE of GOD through the HOLY SPIRIT we will be able to count the temptations joy- recognizing that they are but opportunities to grow ever closer to our Savior.

And, if we do fall into sin, we must quickly repent and seek forgiveness- NOT GIVE INTO DESPAIR!  Satan would have us give in to despair so we no longer live for our Savior.

May we truly glory ONLY in our God and not at all in ourselves.  All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!

The Power of God is in the Cross.

1Co 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

1Co 1:19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 

Preach the gospel NOT with wisdom of words.

If we preach with the wisdom of our own words, believing our words can bring anyone to salvation, we are NOT preaching the simplicity of the cross of our Savior!

We need to preach the cross because it only the cross that has the power of God.

The cross- where our SAVIOR sacrificed Himself for us.

The cross- the power of GOD- salvation through forgiveness, by grace.

God will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to NOTHING the understanding of the prudent.

1Co 3:19  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 

Mankind's arrogance is amazing. Each human being knows that they have a finite lifespan and yet so many seek to use their life for self-adulation. People seek the wisdom of the world over the wisdom of God, over the wisdom of the cross.

The smartest person alive- and yes, we have test to determine smartness- is truly the least intelligent alive if they do not have the wisdom of the cross. The brilliance of any person is simply nothing at all whatsoever without the wisdom of the cross of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet, people don't want to comprehend this, they want to hide behind their supposed superiority- being too smart to believe. They truly do count the preaching of the cross- foolishness. Salvation is foolishness to them. Grace is foolishness to them. Forgiveness given to us by our God, by our Christ, is foolishness to them. They may be the kindest, most generous people alive, giving of themselves completely to others, but if they choose to despise the cross and deny even the existence of God, then they are fools.

The power of God is in the Cross.