https://youtu.be/credJt3bjWE
The Incredible Hope
Acts 25:23-27; 26:1-8
Paul before King Agrippa is the longest and most elaborate of the five trials that Paul endures.
King Agrippa- the son of Herod Agrippa, or “King Herod” who persecuted the Jerusalem church, having James killed and Peter imprisoned. Agrippa was well acquainted with Christianity.
Paul defends his Jewish roots as a Pharisee and he was on trial of the hope in God’s promise to all of Israel, which he and they shared, namely that God would sent the promised Messiah (foretold and foreshadowed in the OT) to rescue and redeem His people. Israel was still eagerly expecting the fulfillment of this promise.
To which Paul proclaims, this hope has been fulfilled in Jesus, whose resurrection was the proof of His Messiahship and the pledge of our resurrection too.
Why should anybody think resurrection to be incredible?
This is our incredible hope- the resurrection. The greatest event in the history of the world
“Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” Romans 8:23-25 NKJV
When we have hope we can expect and confidently anticipate the good things in the Word of God to become a reality in our lives. The amount of hope working in our heart determines how we view the circumstances around us as well as our view of the future.
That is the difference between faith and hope. Hope is a future reality or experience. It is something to look forward to that we desire, expect, or anticipate happening at some time in the future.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Presently, in the now of our life, we are not experiencing it or have not received it. It hasn’t manifested or become a physical reality yet. The things we hope for we are not seeing them physically in our possession or having happened. Faith gives us the confidence, the assurance, the full persuasion, that what we hope for will happen.
The resurrection gives us incredible hope for this life and in the life to come. Jesus said, “If you will only believe, you will see the glory of God!” What hope does the resurrection give us?
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men,12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
Those who have this hope in them (the hope of the resurrection) are to purify themselves and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
A Resurrected life looks different- we are not the “walking dead”, but dead men revived and made new
They didn’t recognize Jesus after He was resurrected. (Luke 24:13-35 ref for me only) Walk to Emmaus
v.32 “Did our heart not burn within us, while He talked with us by the way?” Mark records, “After this, He appeared in a different form to two of them as they were walking into the country”
If you do not look different after having proclaimed Christ- have you truly been converted?
Jesus gave parables about incomplete conversions- some seed fell among the wayside….
John 12:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.