One Hope

I.               Introduction

A.  Collins’ Story[1]

B.  Definitions of Hope

1.    The world often uses the word hope in a flippant way.

2.    For Christians, hope is foundational to our faith.

a.    Romans 4:18 Abraham about promise of child

b.    Romans 5:4-5 character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame…

c.    Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope…

d.    2 Corinthians 1:10 …On Him we have set our hope that He will deliver us again.

e.    Colossians 1:23 we are told not to shift from the hope of the gospel

f.     1 Timothy 1:1 Christ Jesus is our hope

g.    1 Timothy 4:10 our hope is set on the living God

h.    Hebrews 6:11 we are encouraged to have a full assurance of hope

i.     Hebrews 6:18 we are told to hold fast to the hope set before us

j.     1 Peter 1:3 we are born to a living hope

k.    1 Peter 3:15 we are told to be ready to give a defense for the hope that is within us

3.    Hope is a confident expectation that God is the keeper of His promises.

4.    What is the one hope Paul urges the Ephesian brethren to remember?

C.  Background

1.    Again, I’ll remind you that the Ephesian letter is written to a congregation struggling to figure out how to get along.

2.    At the beginning of the letter, he reminds them of the blessings that God has given them in Christ.

3.    Now, he prays that they will open their eyes to see what he’s talking about- the hope they have in Christ.

II.            One Hope

A.  Hope in (15-18)

1.    God wants us to in our understanding of what He has made for us through Christ.

2.    He wanted them to open the eyes of their hearts to enlightenment to the hope that is found in the power of the resurrection of Christ.

3.    Until we really seek to see the world through the eyes of Jesus, there will always be things we’re missing. The world will be a little fuzzy and out of focus.

4.    When we grow to Christ, we God more and help others see it as well (Colossians 1:9-11).

B.  Hope in His (19-23)

1.    God has given us hope by showing us what He is of doing.

2.    Notice all the words Paul uses to emphasize God’s great power:

a.    Immeasurable greatness

b.    Power

c.    Great might

3.    God has used this power to save us.

a.    Illustration: Brian Shaw.[2]

b.    That’s impressive, but it’s nothing compared to what God can do.

4.    Paul tells us what kind of power God has…it’s resurrecting power.

5.    F.F. Bruce rightly observes, “If the death of Christ is the supreme demonstration of the of God…the resurrection of Christ is the supreme demonstration of His .”[3]

C.  Hope in His

1.    We have hope because of the that God will do exactly what he says He will do.

2.    Paul concludes with an interesting comment. He says the church is Christ’s body and “the fullness of Christ who fills all in all.”

a.    The idea is that we are so full of the presence of Christ that it can’t help but overflow from Him through us.[4]

b.    Illustration: What spills out?[5]

c .    When people bump into us in life, do they get a little bit of Jesus? Does He fill this congregation so much that when people bump into us, He spills out?

d.    Does hope spill out of your cup?

3.    Paul would remind us that our hope in Christ should always resides within us.

4.    The hope we have in Christ should be evident to those around us when life “” into us. (Galatians 2:20)

III.         Conclusion

A.  The Magnolia Foundation[6]

B.  Invitation