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The Place Of "Hope"

Text: Colossians 1:23

It is important for us to understand the place of “hope” when we speak of having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Once again we look at the text Paul wrote.

“If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast,
and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which
you heard, which was preached to every creature under
heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
Colossians 1:23

1. Faith and Hope

a) They are obviously closely related.

b) Faith is simply “belief”.

c) Hope is intricately wrapped up in the gospel.

2. The gospel which Paul preached

a) There was but one gospel message.

b) Paul and all other ministers proclaimed the same gospel.

3. The elements of Hope

The following elements may be highlighted:-

a) Qualification to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints (Colossians 1:12).

b) Deliverance from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13).

c) Transference into the kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13).

d) Redemption of our souls (Colossians 1:14).

e) Reconciliation with God (Colossians 1:20-21).

f) Presentation as holy and blameless (Colossians 1:22).

4. “Not moved away”

These elements represent the hope that we have when we speak of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

a) Paul was speaking of the problem of “drifting away”.

b) It is easy to end up “drifting away” because hope is essentially invisible to the eye.

c) But it is not impossible to remain grounded and steadfast in our faith.

i) God is involved and He will help us to become grounded and steadfast.

ii) Our part is to consciously determine that we will not drift away.

iii) Paul and many others have proven that it is possible to be solidly grounded and steadfast. Our challenge is to emulate their example!