The Better Hope (With which to end 1 year and begin another!)

"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God" (Hebrews 7:19).

Men and women have many false hopes in this world, one of which is that they can earn heaven by good works. Even though God's law is a perfect law, it can never make a person fit for heaven, because no one can keep the law perfectly. There is a better hope, however, and that hope is "the hope of salvation" (I Thessalonians 5:8) "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

This "hope that is in you" (I Peter 3:15) is indeed a wonderful hope. In addition to the one in our text ("better"), there are three other adjectives in the New Testament relative to our Christian hope:

First, it is called a "good hope." "Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father . . . hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace" (II Thessalonians 2:16).

Next, it is a "blessed hope." "Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:12,13).

Finally, it is a "lively or living hope." "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (I Peter 1:3).

It is true, of course, that our hope is centered on the eternal future, for "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (I Corinthians 15:19). Nevertheless, the proved resurrection of Christ makes it a good hope, a blessed hope, and a living hope. HMM

INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH www.icr.org

December 31, 2007